River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1898-07-21
The Pass system.


railroad passes to members of the
legislature and other public officials
will receive considerable attention a
the hands of the people during the
approaching state campaign in Wis
cOnsin. Much interest is being
manifested in this matter in many
localities, and there seems to be al
increasing sentiment in favor of thu
abolition Of the pass system, so faI
as il affects the public officers.
The Pierce County Republican
Convention in 1894 took a stand
against the system, and the Repub
lican State Convention did likewise
in 1896, but the strongly Republic,
an legislature in 1897, much to it,
discredit, failed to sustain the posi-.
ton taken by the state convention
In condemning the pass system the
JOURNAL is not only in line with its
party, but it is favoring the uproot-
ing Of an evil which is gradually
undermining the just rights Of the
great mass of common people.
Legislative members who would
scornfully reject the proAer Of cash
bride, are unduly and perhaps IN
consciously influenced by a plenti-
full supply of railroad passes, and
for this reason the pass system is a
most insidious foe TO the general tax
payer whose taxes are increased by
undue favors shown to corporations
by legislative bodies whose official
actions are far too often influenced
by railroad passes and telegraph
and express franks.
As affecting a sound public policy,
the issue of railroad passes to public
officials is without a single redeem
ing feature and wholly indefensible.
Legislators carefully see to it that
mileage is provided for officials
whose duties require them to travel,
and whenever they travel upon pass
es they draw their mileage from the
public treasury, and at the same
time place themselves under obliga-
tons to transportation companies
who expect that in one way or an
other such obligations viii be met,
and they are seldom disappointed.
1t is idle for any person to assume
that millions Of dollars worth of
transportation is annually issued to
public officials by transportation
companies without expectation OF
reward therefor, And it would be
equally idle to pretend that such re-
turns are not realized. That passes
to public officials are paying invest
ments as a whole is evidenced by
the fact that such investments are
being continually naodo IN tho light
of a long experience.
Many illustrations might be given
in support Of our position, and we
will briefly recite couple Of them
A gentleman residing in a neighbor-
ing state, when private citizen,
vainly endeavored to obtain railroad
passes. 1t so happened that later
he was elected to the legislature
after which more unsolicited passes
were sent to him than he could
make use of. The legitimate infer
ence is plain. Again, an acquaint-
ance Of ours recently applied for a
pass which was refused upon the
grounds that issuance of such pass
would be purely complimentary
and therefore contrary to the rules
and regulations of the company. If
the rules and regulations Of railway
companies do not permit the issuing
Of purely complimentary" passes,
what must be the character Of those
issued to public officials who draw
mileage from the public treasury?
The people will advance their own
interests without encroaching upon
the Just rights of corporations by
electing no one to the Legislature
who will not unequivocally pledge
himself to stand steaifastely by the
proposition to submit an anti-pass
amendment to the constitution to a
popular vote. The entire process of
eliminating the railroad pass, and
telegraph and express ranking
brides from our body polite is a
very simple one, and ought to be
easily accomplished. No one will
attempt to defend this Ubiquitous
system employed for the purpose OF
corrupting public officials, unless he
has been, is now, or expects to be-
come a beneficiary of a system
which is opposed to the public good,
which leads to unjust discrimina-
ton in favor Of corporate powers.
This problem is in no sense a par
tisan one, although it has been taken
up by the Republican party, and
the reform proposed can be consist
emily supported by men ofall shades
of political opinion.
Have you seen the Quaker Bread
Pan? 1t bakes a rich, moist, sweet
loaf, marked for slicing-attractiye
to the eye, delicious TO the taste
comforting to the stomach. It's a
wholesome, satisfying, senSe-delight.
ing bread. For sale at klein's.
ONO.
Joe Mortimer has been visiting his
parents at Alderlev, Dodge CO., Wis.