The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-08-21
FREE PASSES.
Congressman Baker Says Public Off
cials Should Refuse Them.
COURTEsIEs FOR PRIVILEGES.

Tho New York Congressman who
Returned Baltimore and Ohio
Pass Gives His Views
mt Length.
The attitude of Representative
Robert Baker, of the 9th New York
Congressional district, which is a part
Of Brooklyn, regarding the acceptance
by public officials Of railway passes,
has aroused no little interest and COM
mcnt throughout the country.
1t will De remembered that Mr..
Baker a few days ago returned pass
issued by the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad Company. Upon request of
the Sun he set forth his ideas on the
matter in detail, the necessary brevi-
tics Of a note returning the pass failing
to convey fully his opinions, Mr.. Baker
replies as follows:
The extent to which the evil of
free passes has peTmeatcd legislative
bodies was vividly portrayed on the
the occasion Of my spending Il. few
days upon the floor OF the House OF
Representatives as Il spectator Of It's
proceedings near the end of the last
Congress.
,.:. IN CONGRESS.
Among the mcarurcS acted upon
was the postoilicc appropriation bill.
1t was openly charged by those oppos-
ing one Of its provisions for Il
Southern fast mail that many of
those favoring this specific item we're
In the pay or were the recipients Of
favOrs such as passes from the railroad
which would be the beneficiary Of that
item In the appropriation. So vigor-
GUS and OutSpOkcn were It's opponents
that the finger Of scorn was pointed
at certain members and they were
openly charged with then having that
railroads passes in their pockets, those
accused merely sneercd cynically, one
even challenging the opponents to go
over and COUNT the railroad members
\ It was a truly ydiscol1raging exhibition
0f 0findifference to a serious charge.
Later personal discussion with several
members compelled the conclusion
that many were in possession Of passes
OF the various railroads. More than
one unhesitatingly advised their ac-
ceptance. AS one put it: Take all
you can railroad, telegraph or
anything else.'
NEW YORK LEGISLATURE.
"That Legislators resent any sug-
geStion Of the curtailment or abolition
OF the practice was clearly shown dur
ing the recent session Of New York
Legislature, where the attempt of IL
New York city member to prevent the
acceptance OF Pullman car passes re-
suited in his practical ostracism and
overwhelming defeat Of his measures
as Il punishment for his tcmerity.
Only a day or SO since Port Jervis
merchant informed me that immcd-
ately upon the election Of himself and
a friend to the local governing body
there four years ago they received
through the mail passes from the
street railway company.
SAYS IT is CoRRUpTING.
The widespread interest in the sub
ject is indicated in many commcnda-
tory letters from not only New York,
but Buffalo, Boston, Binghampton,
Syracuse, etc, among them being one
from a well-known New York lawyer,
a former president OF the State Bar
Association, who says, among other
things: Il know OF no influence at
work in the community more corrupt
ing in It's tendencies than the free
pass system. In going to attend a
niteting 6i commission appointed to
appraise property takcnNpy rallroad
company in condcmnatiG1 proceed
ing I rode in the car with ofie OF hfe
commissioners. He pulled o,'S> an an
nual pass as new and as clean as when
it left the company's Office. He nvca
on the line Of the railroad and iid a
great deal of travelling. This pass
was worth a good many hundred dol-
lars to him.
II rode In the car the other day
with gentleman who pulled out Il
bunch OF 'annuals" that would take
him half way over the country.
have sometimes bccn in car
where more than half the people were
riding on a pass. The other half were
paying the fares for all. Where Il
single annual pass is insufficient to
work it's purpose il pass for private
car often completes the work OF cor
ruption.'
IF a workman representing other
Workmen is TO be sent to Jail because
he accepts bribc money, certainly thc
men who ought to know better than
he and are supposed to have higher
ideals ought not to escape.
PLEA THAT IT is 'TuE CUSTOM"
''Thc only plea seriously advanced
in extenuation Of This demoralizing
practice is that it is the custom OF
railroad companies to send passes ta
public officials as an act OF courtesy,
TO those that advance this plea 1t is
appropriate to inquire wherein lies any
natural reason for railroads to do so,
any more than other large private
business? Why has the custom, If it
is such, arisen? We never hear OF
large department stores or OF big mcr-
camille houses informing Legislators
other public officials that they are at
liberty to choose goods from them free
OF charge, or that several hundred dol,
lars has been placed to their credit
against which they can draw al pleas
ure. Why, then, are railroads SO
generous?