Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-08-13
ON THE
PASS evil AS IT
EXISTS IN SOUTH
Public Utilities Commission
Receives Report on Is
suance of Passes by the
Southern Railroads.

The public utilities commission 10 in
receipt of the preliminary report of the
interstate commerce commission sub
mitted to the United States senate
dealing with the issuance OF passes by
the Louisville & Nashville Railroad
company and the Nashville, Chatta-
nooga &c st. Louis railway. The re-
port is made in compliance with q
resolution passed by the senate. 1t
shows the evils of the issuance OF
passes and substantiates the stand
taken by the Idaho commission in re-
fusing to allow the issuance of passes
by common carriers to state officials
and others.
This report contains some astound-
ing figures. The interstate commerce
commission finds that during the year
ending Dec. 81. 1918. the Louisville g.
Nashville issued to or on account of
members of ,gislative bodies and other
public officials, attorneys, newspaper
representatives and various other per-
sons, IL, sos free passes, involving A.
577,92S miles OF travel, the value of
which was $3.50, s39.65. OF this total
number Of passes 657S went to mem-
bers Of legislative bodies and other
public officials. The value Of this num-
Der of passes amounted to SCI. 72759.
almost half the total.
During the same year the Nashville.
Chattanooga s. ST. Louis issued to
members of the legislature, state Off
Gals and others. 22.255 passes involv-
ing 7,133,944 miles Of travel, the value
of which was $209,42 OF this number
16, $50 went to members of the legisla-
ture and other public officials who trav-
eled on them 5,579,1S5 miles at a cost
of $16452
Many passes were not kept track of
when used so that the mileage is lower
together with the cost. The commits
sion comments on the pass evil in the
strongest terms saying in part:
Commission Brands Evil.
'In order to properly compile the re-
quired information lists of pass holders
in the various classes were prepared.
Such lists reveal the manner in which
these carriers have dipped into prac-
tically every domain of public and pri-
vate life through the fundamentally of
the free pass. There is scarcely walk
of life which is not represented in this
procession of recipients Of passes from
the IeQeTdl DenCn TO lNe local pollllCldn
and the sheriff who summons the jury.
The threads represented by these
passes tie thousands Of citizens to the
carriers through improper relations.
The lack OF morality reflected by the
facts here compiled Is a menace to the
institutions of a free people. These
citizens who sell their influence quite
as much as though they accepted money
brides seem TO be as willing to be tied
as the carriers are ready to tie them.
Men pledge their influence quietly in
the home or school or club. in the pro-
fessions, In business, in city councils. In
administrative boards, in courts of
justice, in legislative halls, and at the
polls.
THE financial magnitude involved
is as nothing compared with the i'm
pairment Of public and private morality
shown to have resulted from this Civ
ing and receiving of free passes.
We have had in progress for
some time general investigation of
free transportation. 1t is our intention
in that investigation to issue an order
dealing with that practice"