Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-11-03
BRIBERY AND PERJURY,

ON FREE PASSES HONESTLY
ASSUME" THATTHE STATE OWES
THEM TWENTY CENTS FOR EACH
MILE TRAVELED?- GOVERNOR
HASTINGS APOLOGY FOR A VETO
CONSIDERED.
In tine contested election case, Saun-
ders vs. Roberts, Governor Hastings
after disappearing of the items fol-
reimbursing members of the ele 'tions
committee for sums alleged to have been
expended in railway fares, uses the
following language: THE items are
disapproved, but in withholding my ap-
proval deem it only fair to say that
the appropriations made to the mem.
bers Of the committee were made upon
what believe to have been the honest
assumption that they were legally en-
titled to mileage"
This Is lame and most impotent
conclusion on the part .bf Governor
Hastings. 1t is weak and base apol-
ogy, beneath the dignity of a chief ex-
ecutive whose duty it is at ali times
to guard the interests of the people
from attacks of legislative despoilers.
Governor Hastings knows what is
patent to all who frequent the halls OF
legislation, that the members of the
Pennsylvania legislature are furnished
passes upon all railroads within. and
on some railroads without the state
He knows that at every session of the
Legislature the first to appear are the
railroad lobbyists, some of whom pose
as newspaper correspondents. He
knows, too, that these lobbyists are on
hand for the express purpose of cater
ing to the impecunious members who
want passes for themselves, their fam
lilies and their friends. He knows that
in the pockets of each and every mem
Der of the legislature is a pass on near
ly all the railroads travelled by men,
bers, and that these free passes are
good for every day the Legislature Is in
session, and for many days afterwards.
THE CONSTITUTION.
1t may be that since the adoption
of the constitution of 1873 a legislator
or perhaps two legislators have found
their way to the halls of legislation at
Harrisburg, sat out the entire session,
and returned home without having
Travelled on free railroad pass 1t is
not impossible that few sterling leg
isators have sat at Harrisburg deplor-
ing the legislation and refusing free
passes, but the rule is, as aptly stated
by lawmaker-"take all the passes you
can get and ask for more"
1t is provided in Section 8, Article
XVII, of the state constitution, that
mo railroad, railway or other trans
portation company shall grant free
passes, or passes at a discount to any
person except officers or employees OF
the company" The language of the
constitution herein quoted is too em-
phatic and plain to be misunderstood
by any member of the legislature who
does not regard himself as an officer
or an employe of a railroad corpora
tion, rather than a servant of the peo-
Ile for whose protection and benefit the
constitution was framed and adopted.
Section 20 of Article 3 of the state
constitution expressly provides against
corrupt solicitation on the part of leg
islators as fololws: "A member of the
general assembly who shall solicit, de-
mand or receive, or consent to receive,
directly or indirectly, for himself or for
another, from any company, corpora
ton or person, any money, office, ap
pointment, employment, testimonial, re-
ward, thing of value, or enjoyment. or
of personal advantage, or promise
therof, for his vote or official infiu-
ence, etc., ETC.. shall be held guilty OF
bribery within the meaning of this
constitution, ETC."
Language cannot be more explicit
than this, and yet, in the very teeth
of such unmistakable declarations, rail-
road passes are solicited, given and
taken bymembers of the general assem-
bly,, who have solemnly sworn or af-
firmed to obey and uphold that very
constitution whose provisions they i'm
medfately set at defiance.
Bribery and perjury conjoined is Of
SO common and notorious a part of
Pennsylvania legislation that he wh1
would openly declare to the contrary
in or about the state capitol would be
set down as a credulous fool, fresh
from the woods. To solemnly swear
or afnrm TO obey and uphold the con-
stitution. with railroad pass snugly
slowed away in the pocket of the
swearing or affirming legislator, has
grown to that extent as to compel rail-
road lobbyists to believe the corrupt
exudation of corrupt minds, that all
men have their price, and that some
men can be bought cheap.
Under the laws of Pennsylvania rail-
road corporations can not charge their
passengers at rate per mile in excess
of three cents, and yet there are legis-
lators so bold and shameless as to
charge the state at the rate of 20 cents
per mile, an excess of II cents per mile.
allowing, for the unbelievable, that they
actually paid any railroad fare.
ILLEGAL LUXURIES.
True 1t is that to ride in a palace
car entails an additional expense, even
to members who travel on free passes;
and true 1t is that meat and drink cost
money on buffet car; but there is no
law wherein provision has been made
whereby members of the legislature
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