The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-31
A REAU ANTTPASs RILL.


the legislature on the anti-pass ques-
number of the members, including a
majority of the railroad committee,
appeared extremely unwilling to give
up the little pasteboard "courtesies"
that mean so much to them; but a
majority of the house sincerely obey
ed the wishes of the people of Kansas
and stood for a real anti-pass meas
ure.
1t is, of course, much more impor-
tant that the people of Kansas Sc
cure just and equitable freight rates
than that an anti-pass bill be passed,
but this does not detract from the i'm
portance of an anti-pass measure that
will abolish the illegitimate use of free
transportation. In fact, it is generally
believed that abolishing the pass is
step towards securing just freight
rates, as it will do much towards re-
moving railroad influence from poll
tics. If railroad politicians no longer
have the right to grant these court
estes" local politicians will not be SO
anxious to perform ''conrtesies'' for
the railroads in return.
This paper does not believe that
every man who has accepted passes in
years gone by is corrupt, nor that they
have always been given for corrupt
purposes; but it cannot be disputed
that they are frequently used with a
pernicious influence in political and
legislative contests. 1t is true that
railroad politicians use them to Sc
cure their ends in conventions and leg
islatures, and the people suffer ac-
cordingly.
No one pretends to defend the Pol
ley measure which was recommended
by a majority of the house railroad
committee. 1t was evidently not put
forward in good faith, for there was
no effort made to adopt it. Even those
who put it forward tried to substitute
the Milligan bill for it.
The plea made for the Milligan bill
was that it was framed after the Hep
burn act, but it was so drawn that 1t
would allow the railroads to issue
passes right and left to attorneys and
agents under the guise of employees.
The objection to the Stone bill was
that it cut off railroad local attorneys
and surgeons from passes. Some may
have urged this objection in good
faith, but with others it was a mere
subterfuge to get the Milligan bill
through. If it would really work a
hardship on attorneys and surgeons
when they are actually working for
their railroads there might be legiti-
mate objection to it. but it does not.
When an attorney performs services
for an ordinary client. he charges up
his railroad fare and other expenses
in his bill. What is to hinder his do
ing the same when performing legal
services for the railroads? What diff
ference does it make either to the at
torney or to the railroads, so far as
legitimate expenses are concerned?
The house majority has done itself
proud in its support of the Stone bill,
measure that will accomplish what
the people desire, so far as passes are
concerned W. Y. Morgan, w. R.
Stubs, Robert Stone. the author of
the Stone bill, and other sincere ad-
vocates of railroad legislation COM
bined on the measure. but even then
the railroad politicians would have de-
feated it had it not been for the aid
of practically all of the Democrats.
1t is to be hoped that the senate will
do as well.