The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-12-10
THE PASSING OF THE FREE PASS.

THE PASSING OF THE FREE PASS.
There is sometimes an element of
pathos in the doing away even with a
long standing abuse. Old privileges.
however corrupting and inexcusab'c.
come with time to their poSseSsors
to seem almost as right. When. in the
end, they are taken away the grief
that they cause is out of all proDor-
ton to their intrinsic value. OF this
class is the privilege of the free pass.
Conceived in the beginning doubtless
as a cheap sort of payment for ooli-
CATION. it grew with use into power
of the most seductive corruption: IN
the end, when it became apparent that
its purpose was understood. its value
to influence those who were worth
while decreased in proportion to the
growth of popular understanding of
it's intent; so that it survived only
as a sop to incipient self-importance
and as salve to those who. with long
usage, had come to look upon the
free ride as a perpetual perquisite. SO
that though they fought for the right
to bestow the passes as they saw fit.
even the railroads are now giving up
the practice as having outlived its
usefulness. With the great Pennsyl-
vania system in the lead for pass abo-
lition. with the New York Central
contemplating the change and with
the large allied lines of these systems
,sia oil tn
the price of "a ticket. the purely com
plimentary" pass seems to be rapidly
approaching its unhonored place in
the dead history of railroad develop
ment. ta.I..ts ...ss,r s.,
Gratifying as the result is to all
who know the erstwhile abuse that lay
in the system the habit of the
railroads to summon formidable bodies
of apparent Responsibility to influence
legislation without cost. the practical
purchase of good men who could not
be otherwise bought by the giving of
a privilege of free riding that appealed
to their sense of vanity and of con-
nection with large enterprise, still
in the case of the great array of small
and harmless grafters there is some
what of sadness in the thought that
their day has passed. Along with all
it's evils. the railroad pass contributed
not a little to the perennial joy of
numberless little fellows who
through it alone were able to poke
their heads above the mediocrity i'll
which they swan. Once on the train.
arrayed in his best. his patent leather
shoes cooked with assurance on the
plush of the Pullman smoker. your
small one with the pass felt within
his breast the glories of the world
and the plaudits of time. Once away
from his native heath, greatness stole
upon him like the sound of music on
the classic bed of violets. He was a
parsonage Trainmen bowed in out
ward Difference, if they laughed be-
hind his back. Thrifty drummers
eyed the studied nonchalance of his
pass display with open eyes of envy.
He was isolated in his greatness yet
condescending and affable. 1t was as
if Jove stopped and shook hands. He
accepted a cigar with gracious smile
that promised a foreign mission or
a Job in the insurance company. For
time. until he was off the train. he
lived i'm rosy dreams and peace that
was undisturbed by the troubles he
had left behind The grind of the
wheels was as melody to his conceft.
The train, enveloped in its cloud of
smoke, spoke to him of love and con-
quest He was a part of the system.
Great little CRATER!
But time moves and with 1t goes
the small parasite of a corrupt prac-
tice. Summer has passed from his
heart. Bitterest of all must 1t be to
him that the railroads have found
him a nuisance. Even his services are
not wanted. No longer can be button-
hole officials, or stand with look
of desperate abstraction about the
lobby or the committee room. Along
with his badge of power has gone also
his collar of servitude but. deep in
his cringing little heart. he would
not be free. Suddenly it occurs to
him that he never did any good
and can do no harm. Pitiful little man
no pass. not even a small revenge in
compensation.