The Minneapolis journal., 1903-01-13
Railroads /!
THAT PASS LIMIT |
President Mellen of the Northern
Pacific Explains Restrictions
on Legislators Tickets.
Says Solons Abused Privileges AL
lowing Others to Use Passes
49,: Sometimes Sold Them.

President C. S. Mellen Of the Northern
Pacific yesterday gave the reasons for
the action of the Northern Pacific in put
ting a time limit on passes granted to
members of the state legislature. 1t
has been customary for the company to
give out passes to members good for one
year. President Mellen says:
1.-The time limit upon this years legis-
latiVe passes has been in some quarters SO
misunderstood that some public statement
Of the reasons for the same seems de-
sirable. ....-.
For several years it has been GUS
-omary to Issue passes. good in their sew
eral states, to members elect of the vari-
Gus legislatures. Such passes were a
courtesy, not obligatory in any sense, and
were issued without regard to the politics
of the recipients. 49,.
"Sometimes in previous years such
such passes have been loaned, without
consideration or for cash equivalent;
members have used such passes to the
capital the first of the week; and left
them with ticket brokers for sale for short
trips. receiving same back in season for
their return trips to their homes at the
end Of the week. At the end Of the ses-
'ion the passes have been sold outright
" those who had no further use for them,
md we have taken them up In the hands
Of improper parties on our trains. Many
times these parties were poor people, ig-
norant of the fact that the passes were
not good for transportation, who had
bought them in good faith because of their
cheapness, and were in distress in conse-
quence. Sometimes travelling men and
wholesale merchants have been members
and have used their passes in their busi-
ness to the serious damage of their COM
petitors in trade. In such case their com
petitors have charged us with unjust dis
elimination.
I'VE have been perplexed what course
to pursue for the protection of ourselves
and the community, and this year thought
to limit these abuses by making passes
good only during the session Of the vari-
Gus legislatures. i
I'VE have stated to all who have ap-
preached us that at the end of the session
the passes would be extended to the end
of the year to all who have not and will
not abuse the privilege.
I'VE have not thought it right to dis
criminate between the members at the
outset. Most are unknown to us.
1.-The passes are to enable members to
more efficiently serve the state by keep
ing In closer touch with their constitu-
ents than they would be able to if re-
qu1red to pay their fares out of the very
| moderate compensation allowed by the
state for their mileage and services.
THE abuses sought to be corrected were
confined to no state nor to any particular
members of any legislature, and those
who used their passes as intended were
to suffer no disadvantage, only those who
| misused them, as time should show, were
to be curtailed in their privileges.
I'VE submit to all fair minded persons
that the course pursued is proper one
| that 1t casts no reflection upon any one
| that 1T, in a measure, mitigates abuse:
! experience has shown to exist; that it il
| intended to protect, and does in degret
protect, both the public and the com
pany from the imposition the past ha
| shown to be prevalent.
| There are many reasons other tha,
given above why we should be glad t.
have the pass business seriously curtailed
| or, better still, discontinued altogether
but those referred to were all we had il
mind In adopting our policy this year re
| garding legislative transportation