The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1906-07-05
A snRiHkING TARcEi

After ali the now 10 tue seHdtc |
about the evils Of the railways Civ.
ine passes. and how the antl-pass |
amendment To the rate bill would |
correct the evil, 1t has turned out to |
be the worst kind OF a farce. There
seems 10 have been an understanding |
between the house and the senate To |
so manipulate this portion of the |
rate bill that there need he no en-.
barrasslnent To congress oyer the
railways giving transportation 10
their political Dealers. with loud ac-
claim the senate passed a very radical
amendment TO the rate BILL prohib-
iting the issuing Of passes absolutely,
but when the bill went to the house
for It's concurrence there were SO
many who drew mileage from the
government for their trips to and
fro from Washington, and then re-
ceived passes from the railroads, they
evidently concluded that they could
do nothing but take the radical SEN
atorial solons and lead them back TO
the pleasant fields of Eden
| The senate made an amendment
that was alright and waterproof
IL provided for the absolute abolish
ment Of free railroad passes inter
state commerce. Its enactments
would have struck a crushing blow To
the railroad political machines In
practically every state In the union.
| Manifestly IL was too radical to suit
| the house members. THIS Is the
first time In tho past forty years
when republican senate has been
accused of doing anything In the in-
terests OF the people that might by a
possibility he accused of being too
radical,
TO relieve the senate of their en-
harrassment and TO hoodwink the
people the committee took this
amendment In hand and the result
Is that passes may be given freely to
every one and any one excepting only
public officials. IL Is TO be admitted
that even this much Of concession
Is Of some benefit To the people.
Under the effects Of the house man
ipuldtion political healers and work
ers may have them Just the same a'
though congress had not spent al
most ali the session In trying To SCI
a railroad rate bill that would be o
some practical benefit To the countr,
and at the same time correct at lcas
a portion uf the existing evils. The,
may be given to shippers with les
chances of punishment than unde
the Elkins las. Political conv"n
: lions Gun Toe manipulated the same Il
has been the case heretofore by tn
free distribution Of passes. IL
= only the public oiiicials that mus
" pay fare, but while he Is u candidat
there Is nothing to hinder the rail-
) ways securing bis good will hy th
= free distribution OF passes
'e In other words, the amendment
l. converted into such shrieking fare
y that every congressman who had
y hand Ia It's constellation should b.
" defeated for reelection. regardless c
~ what ticket he may run on. he
" said TO the credit OF the democrats
: party, however. that the democrati
eongressmen voted unanimous
III against the rotten proposition, Raj
u way domination of this country
> due more a. the pass evils than an,
~ thing else. aud when the time com'
" that political parties and politics
" leaders eau not he placed under obi
=" cation To these corporations In I'll
u manner. then the shippers aud Il
AZ patrons viii have equal opportuniti
AZ with the railroads Ia the sight OF q
~ law