The Lexington progress. (Lexington, Tenn.) 1884-current, 1916-05-05
FREE R. R. PASS
INVESTIGATION
HoWIing Farce Pulled
Off in Nashville
ROBERTS AND HARE
Are Asked to Verify Number
Of Posses Issued at their
Instance In 1918
ROBERTS AND HARE


There never has been pulled off a
bigger farce than the alleged investi-
cation Of the corrupt use Of railroad
passes by the Nashville, Chattanoo-
90 & st. Louis and Louisville &
Nashville Railroads, during the Leg
islature Of 1913.
Numerous members Of the Senate
and House of that General Assem-
bly, have been summoned to Nash
vile to testify to facts that they
have never been denied--t be ask
ed if they did not ride on annual
passes themselves and secure num-
erous trip passes for their friends.
All answered in the affirmative, but
none, Of course, could give the num-
Der Of passes secured, since no mem
Der was ever known to keep such
list, which, however, have been will
ingly we suppose, furnished by the
L. & n, and the NC. as there has
never been anything secret or Sc
reptitious about the issuance Of said
passes.
In almost every case the legisla-
tor was asked if the passes secured
by himself did not represent a GER
tain amount Of money which, we
contend, was not so, for the trains
were running anyhow, no extra pro-
vision was made for the holders of
the passes, and the expense incurred
by the railroads because Of the issu-
ance Of the free passes, was uncon-
sequential.
The further question was asked if
the witnesses did not believe that
legislators were influenced in favor
Of the railroads by the issuance Of
passes in order that the legislators
might give to their constituents the
pleasure Of trips to Nashville. That
would depend on the quality Of man
asking the extension of a long-es.
tablished courtesy or favor to any
number of his friends who had ask.
ed him to simply do as members
had done almost or quite since the
railroads of Tennessee were built
Senator Hoyt 7. Stewart, Of Cannon
county, was asked how he woult
like to try case against a railroad
before a judge and jury having theil
pockets full Of passes. We do mo-
know about the jurors, but we opin'
that Mr.. Stewart has had severa
such cases before before judges hav
ling passes in their pockets-just a
good judges as the State has eve
had. Hon. P. 0. Roberts, forme
member of the House, stated tina
he had ridden on a pass and hat
procured them for others and Sena
tor Hare said he had so many call
for passes that he thought Of on
time employing a free pass secreta
Try. Senator Hare and Floater Rob
erts are both honorable men, VIII
are not ashamed of any act Of their
while they were members Of tina
General, Assembly.
This investigation is a needles
expense, an inexcusable squandel
ing Of the peoples money, from tn
fact that any witness examine
would have stayed at home and iad
mitted the allegations that they ha
J themselves ridden on free passe
and asked any number Of passes fo
their constituents. So far the iT
! vestigation has revealed nothin
not already known by everybody
! the State and long ago admitted b
the railroads.
P. S.: Hon. P. @. Roberts bore hi
own expenses ON the trip, $.3'
which was not paid to him-an
bought a nickels worth Of sho'
strings on his own II responsibility.