The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-09-22

railroad company was the other party
in interest. The judge had carried the
pass oil the railroad company Tor years.
II am not trying to bride the court,
said the maker OF the check, "Dut III
the pass is of value and has Influence,
then want to put up value that VIII
offset that influence SO that will be
on equal footing before the court. Ii
you retain the pass, please retain the
check. But II you return the chech,
please also return the pass
Ex-Governor l-arabee OF Iowa, speak
ing OF how pass is regarded by rail-
road officials, says, "The railroad pass
when presented by public Official or
even by any public man is now IN nine
cases out OF ten. certificate OF ais
honor and token OF servility, and is
SO recognized by railroad officials
The free pass has swayed Eany
judge have no doubt OF that. In
this state, | am informed, that the
whole judicial system from top to bot
tom is mantled with the free pass sys-
TEN. Not only the judges, but many
OF the jurors and court officials are al
fected by it. Not only the machinery
OF our courts, but the officials In every
department OF our state are affected
by it. Say what you viii, you can not
get impartial administration that way
The pass system has created gulf be-
TWEEN the people and their government
1t must be abolished. and the man who
is not ready to support movement Tor
the abolition OF the free pass system
is unworthy to sit in the legislature,
on the bench. or in the executive cnalr
The pass system should be abolished
because 1t will be better for the rail-
roads and better for the people. II
may seem to the railroads tnat they
can WELD an influence and with it pro-
tect themselves, but have railroads ever
thought how public sentiment Is ar
rayed against them on account ~ the
pass? People don't like to be discriml-
mated against; people love fair play.
The railroads have their property In
the state, in fact own more property III
the state than any other one person
or corporation. Their property de-
serves protection. Their interests
should be regarded as sacred as those
OF the most humble private citizen. NO
fair-minded man will dispute that, and
no railroad will deny the citizens OF
the state the right to regulate by law
the railroads. Fairness Is what we
want here, nothing more, nothing less.
AS long as the railroads are permitted
to be managed as private property and
used by the stockholders for specula-
tive purposes and private gain, just
so long must the people regulate them
by law.
II lis unfortunate that In this regu-
lation there has been so much friction
and clashing OF interests. | am firm
in the conviction that ii we approach
this question, not as partisan OF
either side, but with spirit OF fairness
and reasonableness, that 1t is possible
to do what is right between the rail-
roads and the people This should be
the endeavor of every public Official.
The very fact, however, that regula-
ton is difficult, in my Judgment, will
hasten the day when railroads will be-
come in fact as we'll as in theory pub
lie highways, to be owned and operated
by the government Ii / should make
a prophecy, | would say that following
a period of attempted regulation will
come government ownership. Until
that day comes it should be ouf en-
deavor to find out what is right and
what is just between the people and
the railroads, and then courastcusly
do that which will protect the interests
OF both.
Another agency, which has helped to
put our state government out OF the
peoples hands, is the lobby, Men are
elected to the legislature, and state
officials are elected to administer the
affairs of the state These officials say
they want to do what is right. They
say they favor wholesome laws. But
let measure come up and the lobby
appears. BY one method or another
good laws are repealed. and ban laws
are passed. Sometimes The lobbyist
uses money: sometimes he uses passes;
sometimes he uses promises OF political
reward but always this influence Is
pernicious and deadly. The interest OF
every private citizen and the interest