Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1905-05-26

ficisls and all the judges of the courts
should follow the example of Mr.. Van
Osdel and Mr.. Roosevelt, unofficial peo.
pie who have to pay their fare would
be able to travel more cheaply and the
public service would cease to rest un-
der the odium Of continuous bribery.
The issue between the people and the
railroads has become 80 sharply drawn
that the president. while opposing the
railroad side of the case. cannot con-
sistently accept favors from the cor
porations against which his official in
duence is arrayed. He will therefore
buy bis tickets when he travels. the
same AZ olher people do. and will be
freed from any sense of obligation for
favors bestowed upon him He exhib-
its commendable spirit of independ-
ence."
During the last session of the territor-
ial legislature at Bismarck. MIR. Van
Osdel was member, and paid his way.
refusing the usual complimentary
from railroads. Some Of the ''psss ac-
ceptipg" members thought MI. Van
Osdel foolish to refuse pass. He said
then as he says now, that the territory
paid his expenses. and he had no moral
right to take pay from the people whom
he served and ride on free pass He
thinks no man should ride on q free
pass to and from the seat Of govern
ment, and then accept pay under the
constructive formality of an obligation
for expense not incurred by him. yet
signing pay roll that such expense
was legally incurred and actually
made.
Since President Roosevelt has cut out
free passes no man in government en-
| ply, congressman or members of legis-
lative body, can consistently ride on
free passes and draw pay from the
people. ~,
A Dakota legislature without free
passes would last about 40 days, and
one third of the legislative expense,
which is enormous, would be saved to
the tax payer. =
Mr.. Van Osdel has never considered
it fad or anything beyond plain duty
In refusing free passes. He was mem.
Der Of the last territorial legislature at
Bismarck in 1887. and paid his way
there and back home from money pro.
vided by the territory and refused free
passes from oil railroads. He was not
posing as Z reformer then, he was sim
ply living up to his obligation as law.
maker elected by the people.
He said at Bismarck and the writer
remembers the occasion we'll. If I
draw pay from the territory for neces-
sary travel to and from the seat of
government in performance of duty,
the presumption is that the expense
was actually incurred because l sign an
obligation to that effect when I draw
mileage money. If Iride on free pass
how can morally sign that pay roll?"
The gentlemen, members Of the legis-
lature, to whom Mr.. Van Osdel ad.
dressed his remarks. had little to say in
reply, one however. said! 20, hi.
what's the difference THE differ
ence. said Mr.. Van Osdel, lis just how
you look upon right act and wrong
act"
Mr.. Van Osdel's refusing free passes
last winter and paying his fare to and
from Pierre, was the result of firm
conviction that If he rode on free passes
he had no right to draw mileage, and
he remained at Pierre while large
number of members were off on recess
jsunts.
If members Of the next legislature
are bound to ride on free passes they
should refuse to accept mileage from
the state. stG2R
The tax payers would save great
deal of money If members Of the legis-
lsture refused free passes. . E
Laxson Bros. have all the late styles
in suits double and single breasted. 47.4