The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-05
EVIL OF FREE PASSES
rrrpENcY TO CORRUPTION n
 FoRCIBxY POINTED OUT.
Public ofacials and the Judiciary Should Not Be Permitted to Ac- cept Passes, Says John
 Fl. Cantrell.

Chattanoosa. Times.
 Jotn n. Cantrell, Esq, gave to reuresentative of The ChattanooeA Tirnes yesterday an interview on the subject of issuance of free passes on railroads to public officials and judges of courts that is of general interest Mir. Cantreil in his interview says:
 "The editorial paragrapher in tnis mornings Chattanooga Times, criticis- ing a member of the Alabama Cohsti- tutional Convention. tor wanting q clause in the State Constitution of Al abarna to prevent railroads from issu- ing free passes te newspaper men, moves me to ask space for a word or two on the same subject, or more prop erly speaking, on q somewhat different branch of the same subject.
 "Possibly the subject of free passes to pewsnaper men may be safely left by the framers of the proposed new Consultation to be dealt with by the legislature. can't say that I have any very decided opinion as to that.
 However. there Is one feature of the free pass business that ought not 10 DC left to the legislature.
 NO judge of any court, member Of the legislature, or other public official. should be allowed to directly or indi- rectiy ask, demand, accept, receive or consent to receive for his own use or benefit, or for the use or benefit Of another. any free passes, free trans portation. or discrimination in rates upon or over any railroad in the land.
 New York Constitution Right. <
 Flight States, namely, Arkansas, Cal- ifornia, Kentucky. Mississippi Missou- ri. Pennsylvania, Washington and New York, have clauses in their respective Constitutions prohibiting the use of railroad free passes by members of the legisiature and other public officials. Such clauses, however, have had but little influence. as general rule, where it has been left to the legislature to enact laws to carry them into effect.
 The New York anti-free pass clause is drastic and self-executing. and it is said to have accomplished great good in that State. Reports from reliable sources say that 1t Is being enforced.
 Before the Alabama Convention.
 Hon. Leslie E. Brooks. an able. ex- perienced and patriotic member or the Alabama Constitutional Convention. from Mobile, mas introduced a self-ex- ecuting anti-free pass ordinance, copied verbatim from the New York Consti- tuition, adopted by the people of that State in 1895. Every honest and intel ligent man in Alabama ought to SUD- port it. It is in the interest of de- cency and good government. and sincerely hope it will be put in the new Constitution and made a part of the fundamental law of that State.
 The People Would Ratify.
 'Tf MT. Brooks anti-free pass amend ment is submitted to the people as q part of the Constitution. I take it there will be no question about its ratifca- tion by the people of Alabama. Be- sides. 1t will doubtless operate as a great booster for the entire instru- ment.
 A Source of Distrust and Corruption.
 "I would that Tennessee had the New York anti-free pass clause in It's Constitution. It would certainly pre- vent a great deal of distrust on the part of the people. and put a check on the stinkingest system of ring politics that ever cursed any State. It would tend to put the people somewhat on an equal footing with their masters. the office holders.
 How Officials Donate.
 "As indicated by the testimony of M H Smith President of the I,nuiS-