The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-30
ANIl.PA ASS LAW
IN WISCONSIN.
It's Passage Has Resulted in Rails
ing Legislative Standard
Greatly.
ADOPTED ONLY AFTER
MANY LONG STRUGGLES
Everyone Agrees It Is Good
Thing There Are Violations,
but Only in Secret.
From a STAFF Correspondent.

From STAFF Correspondent.
Madison, Wis, Jan. sc. The railroad
pass question, now live issue in Min
nesota, is a back number in this embat-
tied state Of Wisconsin. It was settled
here six years ago, after q struggle
lasting eight years, and the Wisconsin
legislature is now deyoting it's attention
to the railroad rate question. IS
The Wisconsin law was passed in
1899, and in 1902 it was put into the
constitution by popular vote. 1t forbids
public officials from soliciting, accept
ing or using railroad passes. Since it
was passed the scandalous system Of
passmongering has disappeared from
the state capital, and the law is gen
cient test, and no one now talks seri-
ously Of retracing the step taken in
It has been claimed that the law is
evaded. That is not true. The law is
too broadly drawn for evasion. It is
violated, as many another law is, but
it is violated I'M secret, by means that
brand the beneficiary as tool and a
bribe-taker. It seems beyond question
that 80 per cent Of the lawmakers and
public officers Of the state have given
up using free transportation. It has put
public men on q higher plane. The anti.
pass campaign and the ideas that grew
out Of it, have improved the moral tone
and character sof the public service.
!! This is the general verdict Of the men
/ I have talked with, whether politicians
or private citizens.
! One thing isAlndeniable. The men
who now take free transportation from
the railroads, by covert means, are more
firmly bound to.the railroad service than
they were BIZ the passes. Public
servants whoz accept. these illegal
/ favoss acknowledge their debt to the
railr6ad, and cannot persuade them
selves that it is ttonIy O. courtesy
Fortunately, few legislators or public
servants care thus TO hand over theil
independ The number in Wiscon
sin who take free transportation is nc
larger than those who take money
brides in some other states.
: How Il Is Violated. Il
The usual violation Of the law is BY
the mileage book plan. The railroad
representative who plays the part Of
which are paid for out Of one pocket
and into another. The cost Of tn,
books is all ttrebated.'' He hand
these OUT quietly to the men who hay.
I6uII IsstSttOHt VI dCkAOua fattS
when one u Used hp 5ancaher is furnised
Some times, If tasbsmanas wanted badly
The gets stock of mileage books, NOR
than he can possibly use, 4 and $ 1t j
rumored that more than ncemoney ha
been raised on them. If the membe
I wants a ticket for one of his, friends
the railroad, -, 1,angel ''sbpys it sandzeixe
ticket goes into his expense account
Two years ago several members Of tn
Legislature: were travelling on mileag
books with yellow covers. The mem
bers who s; paying cash cash had tn tn
noticed the difference. The story Of tn
:. yellow books went around, and the:
were suddenly called in. Now, there
no way to tell the free books from tn
one selling at $40.
u The men who hold the free books ar
usually: voted as the companies desire
; Often there are close questions, whe
there is some excuse for their vote, bu
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