The news & observer., 1897-02-12
FRIDAY. February L, 1Se
THE ANTI-FREE PASS BILL.

Last night after spirited debate, the
Senate. by a vote of 81 to 10, passed
on its second reading the bill to prohibit
the acceptance of a free pass by any pub
lie official in North Carolina. 1t is copy
of the provision in the constitution Of the
State of New York, which only few
weeks ago passed the Tennessee Legisla-
ture, and which is the law in other
States.
The State of North Carolina expends
between $4,000 and $4,000 biennially
to pay the way of the legislators to and
from their homes They are given ten
cents a mile to Raleigh and ten cents
mile to go back to their homes. This is
sum sufficient to pay the way home
and back to Raleigh of each member
twice during the session, as the railroad
fare is 314 cents mile.
He is a very blind man who does not
see that the railroads employ their
highest priced officials of late, not be-
cause of their knowledge of railroading,
but because Of their skill in manipulate
ing legislatures and Congress. He has
taken little note of passing events il
he has failed to note that the domination
of legislation by railroads has become Il
menace to free government. We are
face to face with the question whether
the government shall control the Fail
roads or whether the railroads shall con-
issue presses to the front! The people
elect officials to fight the continued rail
road domination.
Charged with the duty Of fighting the
aggressions of these corporations, ought
these public officials to accept favors of
the very men they are elected to curb
in the interest of the people? The public
officials are forced to pass upon ques-
tions in which the interests Of the rail-
roads and the people conflict. II they
had, on a jury of twelve, accepted IA
,ors from litigants, they would be guilty
of crime. In equity, ought they to ac-
cept fayors from those upon whose
claims they are to pass?
Six years ago the Legislature of North
Carolina was impressed with the impro-
priety of judicial officers accepting cour-
tesies from railroads which frequently
had cases pending in their courts. After
mature deliberation, that Democratic
Legislature provided for the appropria-
ton Of $3.50 per annum for every Judge
in the State Gin lieu Of travelling expens-
es." Why was this done? Why do we
pay out $1,000 to these Judges every
year. when prior to that appropriation
they had free passes, unless, at least,
that it IS improper for Judge to accept
fayors from these who will be litigants
in the courts osac Which he presides.
The same reason underliess the payment
OF mileage Ii members receive passes
and receive tlMn as a right, then the
expenditure Of $4,000 or $4,000 for mile
age ought to be saved to taxpayers.
w ny w AdAAOttAo SAfC pSNSoSS ~ popiAN
officials? 1t is because they expect IA
yors from them. 1t is true that many Of
fcials have accepted passes, who have
been not in the least influenced by them
in their official conduct. 1t is also true
that railroad men often say Of such hon
orable men: "They had the indecency
and ingratitude to accept our courtesies
and then to vote against us" That is
the way the railroads feel about it and
talk after the Legislators go home.
We believe that these gentlemen who
regard the bill as reflection upon the
integrity of public officials are greatly
mistaken. 1t was not regarded as any
reflection upon any honest officer in New
York, Tennessee and other States which
adopted this law, nor will it be so regard
ed in North Carolina. Legislators ought
TO reflect that th.re are now pending
many measures in whicii the people are
yitally interested which the railroads
antagonize. So deep-seated is their op-
position that they have now in Raleigh