The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1905-02-24
clarksburg, W. Va, Feb. "a, 1905
FREE PASS QUESTION.

There has been much discussion about
Legislators being given railroad passes,
as well as similar courtesy TO all public
officials. Nothing has come of it in
this state, except that tine Legislature
has removed tine imputation upon the
judges of this state that they were sub
iect to influence by the free pass. Tae
free pass business extends far beyond
legislators and public officials generally.
II goes even TO private citizen, business
citizens VINO are always scheming to get
free ride and who continually nag
others to get them free pass over the
railroads. Another feature OF the pass
business is an instance within the past
year, where legislators went over the
land denouneing tine railroads ami other
corporations, and yet they were caught
with free passes on them and did not
hesitate to use them. If tsiey were sin.
sere in their denunciations of the rail
roads, those passes certainly did not
corrupt them. There at least it il
soown that the free pass is not sufficient
within itself to brige public official so
within itself to bride public official. So
subject certain it Is from our under.
standing of it that nothing has been so
we'll said as tine following by the Char
lesion Mail:
"The Legislature mas wisely removed
an imputation upon the judges OF this
state. Two years ago bill was pass.
ed in which judges OF the state war
prohibited from accepting free rail
road passes, "a improper. TIE ques
ton naturally arose. if II was improp-
er for the judges to accept free passes,
why was it not equally improper for
the other public servants, including the
members of the legislature, to accept
free railroad passes. 1t could never
be understood why the Judges were
singled out as the only class of our
public men VINO were likely to be in.
huenced by accepting free passes. AMI
the legislature mas, We think. done
wisely in removing what, under the
circumstances, looked like an imputa.
tion on the judiciary.
The question then reverts to the
Hstter of the acceptance of free passes
by public officials. It Is generally un.
dsrstcod that they all get them; there
IS an impression abroad that the OBJ
jet of tine railroads is to stand in with
the public servants. to make ami keepl
a friend at court These views may b.
erroneous but they are general. Some
persons may be susceptible to influence
in that way; the great majority. We be-
iieve, viii not be. Efforts to do away
with the free pass have failed. and win
Always fail. The free pass has come
to stay.
Having the free pass eternally with
us. the next QUESTION that comes up
is to rob it Of all its terrors, how to re-
move all imputation Of wrong in.
tuenees that might aow from the u.e
of free railroad passes by public off.
walls The remedy seems to be simple.
Let law be passed requiring railroads
operating in the state to furnish public
officials with free passes. This win not
hurt the railroads. bscause they DO that
already; but it will protect the holder
OF free pass from the imputation of
being Influenced by accepting free
pass; because; tne free rsss eeihih5 10
rim A. BY law and by right, there is no
inducement for him to stand in with
th. railroads in order 60 receive or to |
hold a free pass.
aWe understand taat this is TIE law
in the state of New York. and has
bsen so for ten years or more. but we
ars not able TO vouch for the correc-
ness Of this statement"
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