Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-05-10
" Ill ANTI-P ASS WORK
Some Madison Officials Think
They Can Get Free Rides.
But RAILROADS WILL OBEY LAW.

DO hAtLnuADS WILL UBEl IAN !.
So the Lawyers Say - Contract Rights.
However. VIII Protect Railroad Attor-
neys and Others ~ Passenger Pige.ss
Again Seen in Wisconsin wheA Gabe
Bonei and Carter Harrison We're In
Congress Other Interesting Gossip.
Madison, May s.-wiil the anti pass
law in practice abolish the pass is the
question of TIE hour.
A veteran officeholder ana ex-.eg.s-
lator puts this wa5:
Suppose l sn member of the legs
tatufe an influential state officer.
write TO high railroad official telling
him to send me 2,000-mie mileage
book and his bill. The bill never comes.
or get bill for 81 tinstead OF s25y.
Whose business is ii? or Who knows
about it2''
But it is in violation Of Law. YOU
can be sent TO PRISON for it,"
Yes, but who knows about it? Who
will start the prosecution?"
The railroad companies won't be
party to such bare faced violation OF
law
Railroads viii Respect the Law.
There YOU are on sound ground"
said one who knows the situation.
The railroad companies are not the
rascals some people think don't say
that some influential public official
whom they wished for friend, they
would not favor in any way They
could, perhaps make him an "attor-
ney'' or something of that sort. But
the idea that a railroad company would
run in the face of a state statute to
oblige some assemblymen from Christ
mas Tree county is a great mistake.
! This anti-pass law will be a big saw
ing to the railroads. Assemblyman
Hau estimates Ii at 5000, 900 year The
five members OF the board OF control
have Just equipped thmselves with mile
age on She three great systems-30. 900
miles in all-and this one item was $3.50
and the books will soon be used up.
Everyone knows the interstate com
merce act put an end to an immense
amount of free travel 1t pleased the
railroads Immensely. And this Wiscon-
sin act will prove a boon to legislators
and others who are fearfully bored by
constituents who ask for free passes.
With all the incidental and occasional
violations, the effect of the act will be
to discourage the free PASS. The great
body of new assemblymen for instance.
will be clumsy about how TO violate the
law, if they want to-
Who May Cling TO Their Passes.
The eos1Si rIfpfion Of he 10 49,
next thing of interest. There have
been scores of designations forwarded
to the governor already of notaries pub
lie, officials in the different counties
who enjoy free transportation. They
prefer free rides to the honors and even
fees of office although as rule they
are making their clerks notaries in
their places. 1t is probable the attor-
ney generals office will soon give some
opinion on what the law means. In
many small communities the station
agent is the biggest man in town.
Naturally he holGs Office He is com
stable or chairman &c the town board.
The question comes UP whether he
may travel free and hold his Office.
Some of these notaries who are resign
ing, are they not entitled to their trans
portation as bone fde employees of the
railroad companies? 1t is said New
York court ruling holds that they are.
that is, railroad officials in fact mot
employees for deceptive purposes) travel
free as necessary incident of their
connection. They cannot be said to be
using passes. This would certainly
seem sound reasoning.
But there are other cases. Take the
case of a regent of the state university
or normal schools, who may be rail-
road attorney. 1t is surprising how
many of the best lawyers of the state
are pre-empted by these corporations.
Judge Gibson was no sooner off the
bench than the Northwestern road Sc
cured him as Fond du Lac local coun-
sci, a position he gives up to go on
the tax commission. So ii happens
that some of these regents have rail-
road conneetions-they are railroad le-
cal advisers. They hold annual passes
Now it is very doubtful If the anti
pass law can compel them to surrender
.nen If anyone is disposed to force the
issue; for the possession of the D. SIS
appears to be feature of a contract.
The company employed this lawyer. one
Of the conditions being the comforting
Of an ann val pass. Whatever may be-
come of the right for next year, the
sacred nature of a contract seems to
protect the user for this year.
The officials of Attorney General
Hicks office, from the chief down, have
rel'giotsly refrained from the use of
railroad passes. So too, Governor SEQ
field pa..sss lis fare like the untitled citi-
zen. Another aspect of this perplexing
law comes up, however, in connection
with Governor Scofieiu, and no doubt
other extensive lumbermen. The st.
Paul and the Northwestern systems
We're given right of way years ago
through his big land holdings. That
was befe"e he held office and when he
never expected to be more than a hard
working lumberman all his life. One
of the conditions was that the owner
OF the land should forever enjoy free
transportation over the lines so ia
vored. 1t was a great benefit he con-
ferred upon them. and there is little
doubt that We're he land others similar
ly situated) disposed to sickle on their
rights, the sacred claims Of contract.
which DAME! Webster enunciated in
the Dartmouth college case would wind
stHtiiistlNts dbuuL the interested parties
Ike a protecting aegis.
ScofieId Pleased with the Legislator
Speaking OF Governor Scofieid he is
In as good spirits as man can be with
a beloved son SO critically ILL., The
trip to the Pacific coast did the execu-
tive much good. He is naturally graft
fled with the results of me session. The
universal approval of his choices for
the tax commission pleases him, and
now he Is trying to find a suitable sue
cessor to the late Judge Mann, probate
Judge OF Milwaukee county.
BY the way. isn't it strange what may
hang on little things? In fact, fellow
.ften doubts if there are any little
things in tits worlG. they so often are
the hinges FIR critical events. As ev-
erybody knews, Governor Scofield is the
father of the taxation of life insurance
companies In this stitte, for the previous
driblets from this source can hardly be
called taxes. Mr. Hall and Mr. LaFol-
lette sfall have abundant credit for
agftating corporation taxes; but it was
Governor Scof1eid who put his finger on
the tsNorthuasfern AIufuaio and said