The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-09-16
EVIL OF The PASS
Governor Hoch Has Notion to
Do Something.
Frankly Says That Passes
Should Be Abated.
MAY RECOMMEND 1T.
Legislature Might Be Asked to
Take Decisive Action.
Pays for All His Transportation
BY Advertising.
Lieutenant Governor Hanna
Also Opposes Practice.

Governor E. w. Hoch said todav. in
speaking of the use of railroad passes
by public officials:
1T is my opinion that this whole
pass business is an evil, and that il
should be abated.''
The governor went further. and in
dicated that he might urge upon the
next legislature some decisive action
against the distribution Of political
transportation. He said:
Il believe the legislature might do
something to abate the use of political
passes, but SO far it has done nothing.
For my own part. will say that what
ever passes have used have paid for
ten times over with advertising space
in my newspaper.
cat this time don't care to go into
further discussion of this pass Ques-
ton. Some other time, when the cir
cumstances seem to call for further
statement, I may have something ia
say
This would indicate that Governor
Hoch is thinking Of advocating the
passage of some law such as the Prin-
gle bill which was defeated by the last
legislature. The Pringle bill provided
that no passes should be given for po-
should put in a general 2-cent a mile
fare on all Kansas lines.
Lieutenant Governor D. J. Hanna
of Hill City, who was in Topeka today,
said:
Il believe that the time is coming
when the legislature will either prohibit
the use of free passes by public officials,
or else make it mandatory that the rail-
roads give passes to the state officers
Personally, agree with Governor Hocn,
that the use of passes is an evil, and
that it would be better for the public
and for the railroads to have their dis
tribution prohibited by law.
IF passes We're prohibited, the people
who are busy travelling about on politi-
cal missions would stay at home. The
railroads could easily afford to make a
2 cent a mile rate, and their revenues
would not suffer. It would be a good
thing for the politicians in this way;
that they would be relieved of the sus-
picion which now rests upon them Of
being Influenced by railroad transporta-
ton. While I do not think that my
railroad passes make any difference in
my attitude toward the railroads, yet I
believe that it would be better to have
the distribution of passes entirely stop
ped
Carr Taylor, attorney for the state
board of railroad commissioners, feels
that his position in relation to the us6
of free passes has been naisconstrued. Al
Kansas City paper stated that he was
preparing to bring suit against other
state officers to compel them to give up
their railroad passes. The railroad laws
provide that there shall be no discrirni-
nation in rates between individuals, and
specifies a list of those to whom free
and reduced rates can be given. Mr.
Taylor holds, however, that this law is
not specific enough to warrant action
on his part. He says:
These citations of the law are not
new; have had my attention called
to them before. do not believe that
they could be construed to stop the
giving of the free political transporta-
ton. For instance. the citation from
the railroad law of the last session
would be construed by court accord
ing to what the legislature intended
The court would refer to the house
journal, and find that the Pringle bill,
which specifically prohibited the use
of free passes, was defeated by de-'
cisive vote. It would never hold that
the legislature by implication intended
to prohibit the use of passes when it
had gone on record for the exactly
opposite position.
''The Indiana law, as I understand
it, is a specific provision against ths
use of passes by public officials.
ST have also in mind that the in-
terstate commerce commission ha&
held in case very much like this
that the granting of q pass is not
'It seems that the law was intended
to prohibit discrimination in freight
rates. do not believe that 1t can be
stretched to cover the transportation
of people"
Concerning the charge that the at
torney general is using free transpor-
makes the attorney general the coun-
sellor and advisor of this board.
| take it that under this law, he is en-
titled to use free transportation on all
the roads in the state"