The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-11
Public Officials and the Pass Evil.

The recent address Of A. B. Stickney,
president of the Chicago Great. Western.
Railway company, before the Economic
society of Washington city on the de-.
fects Of the Interstate commerce law,
had some stings in that made public
men vince. Senator, Nelson has gone
to the pains of having the speech
printed as public document SO that
every member Of congress may have an
opportunity to read it. The speak er g
Indictment Of public men for violating
that provision Of the Interstate COM
merce law which makes 1t a INSIDE
meanor for any Individual not an officer
or an employee Of a railroad company
to use pass, was especially severe.
Attention was called to the fact that
the law was passed by congress and
approved by the president fifteen years
ago, and "as an individual rule of ac-
ton was ignored by the congressman
who passed it and the president who
signed it, Subsequently congressman
and presidents, the railroad man de-
clared, have, with rare exceptions,
ignored the provisions of the law; like
wise, the governors of states, many
judges-in short, all officialdom.
President Stickney declared with
force that reform ought to begin at the
top and proceed downward; and in line
with this suggestion he said the presl-
dent Of the United States ought to set
a good example by refusing free trans
portation over the railroads of the
country. .-..- 800 s.e.s..-, 80
MI. Stickney has certainly given the
president something to think about,
| assuming, Of course, that he is favored
lwith free transportation. AS, to this,
| we have no definite information, but
| are quite sure that the prevailing i'm
preston is that on his extensive tours
| thru the country President Roosevelt,
like other presidents before him, tray.
els as the guest Of the railroad compa-
MES over whose lines he passes. We
are equally sure the people generally
have not taken serious exception tC
the tender Of this favor by the rail
road companies and it's acceptance by
the president; but undoubtedly a knowl
edge Of the fact that the president die
not accept favors Of this kind woulG
strengthen the confidence Of the people
in him and make his attitude toward
railroad regulation more consistent. HI
is a public official, and every argument
in favor Of denying to public officials
free transportation applies to him will
peculiar force. Undoubtedly, too, tn
people would much prefer to pay TO-
suitable travelling accommodations TO
the president, whether his travels b.
. upon official business or not. @Th
travel Of the president is always O
public Importance and public interest
and should be provided for at the pub
lie expense. ~ y.T.- .: -.
, The action Of Senator Nelson in Sc
curing the publication Of Mr.. Stick
ney's speech indicates where our senio
senator's sympathies lie in this matte
Of determinations thru passes, rebate
and in other ways, and will contribut
, materially to the enlightenment Of tn
people and the development Of publ
sentiment. Our impression is, too, tina
Senator Nelson is in a position to fathe
a publication of this sort; that whe1
he travels on private business he paw
his fare; when he travels on publi
business his expenses are proper pub
! lie charge.