The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-11-23
CHAPTER XXX.
(Concerning Passes. )


When Beatrice Harraden wrote
"Ships That Pass in the Night
it is not understood she had in mind
the representative of the ships Of
state who pass not only in the night,
but in the day time as well; who pass
not only on intra-state Journeys, but
also on Interstate journeys.
The book was written when passes
were a symbol of aristocrasy, tie
holder of which was not then, as now.
under suspicion unless he be a rail-
road man, or one of the excepted
classes.
OF course these minions of the law
are supposed to pass or be passed
only upon official business.
The Interstate Commerce Law says
that passes shall not be granted or
used except to certain privileged per-
sons, who are, in the main, railroad
employees.
The law under which the Kansas
utilities commission is organized, and
passed by the last legislature, says:
ANY member of said board while
acting in the performance of his Off
ciaI duties, together with such attor-
ney for the board, secretary, stenog-
raphers, accountant. expert or other
agent whose services said board may
deem to be important in the discharge
of their duties, shall have the right of
passing at all times over all the roads
and on all railroad trains or any part
thereof in this state free of charge. -
Statutes Of 1905. chapter $40
This law is rather specific in grant
ing free transportation to the mem
bers of the Board, their secretary and
assistants ''in this state free of
charge
But what about this free transporta-
ton on an Interstate journey? Have
the members of the Board, their secre-
tary, or assistants any right to use this
free transportation, excepting to cover
a journey entirely within the state?
If they have not the right, why do
they violate the law? Why can they
violate law with impunity. when the
ordinarv citizen is not permitted to do
so?
Last week when the Transmississip-
pi congress met in Kansas City, Mo,
at least two individuals who are con-
nected with this utilities commission
used their passes so far as the Kansas
state line. Then they hurriedly left
the train and completed their inter-
state journey over another line.
Is it right for these people to do
this sort of thing? They are certain
ly violating the spirit of the law and
the State Journal believes they are
violating the law itself
The members of this Commission
above referred to left Topeka for the
sole purpose, it is believed, of going
to Kansas City, Missouri. They had
no journey wholly within the state in
contemplation. When they reached
the last station on the railroad with
in Kansas, they were somewhat con-
cerned, it is understood, as to whether
they would have time to wait for the
next train and get to the meeting in
the convention hall in Kansas City,
Missouri. in season for the opening ex-
ercises.
Will Governor Stubs take cogni-
zance if these questionable transac-
tions on the part of members of his
administration?
William Allen White says: (See
Chapter XVIII, November 22.)
THE governor sees the right so
plainly, abhors the wrong-in ques-
tion-so violently, that he cannot see
how men may take another view and
maintain intellectual and moral in
tegrity-"
(Chapter Xxx tomorrow
srN-nu A rr,rTrN-S- rrfN xx7r11r,,,,