Denver labor bulletin., 1916-06-24
RAILROADS SHOW
ECONOMIC WASTE
Large Amounts Spent to In
fluenCe Legislative Bodies
Transportation Brotherhood Bureau
Gives Some facts that Explain 0p-
position to Granting S-Hour Day

Cleveland, o., June 2l-Ihe following
statement is issued by the Railroad
transportation Brotherhoods' Publicity
Bureau:
1t is suggested to the railroads that
an additional way of conserving railroad
funds would be to discontinue contribu-
tions to campaign funds and to save the
enormous sums that it costs the railroads
annually in the endeavor to influence
legislative bodies, etc.
Millions OF dollars are annually eN-
pended by the railroads in the endeavor
ito mold public opinion and to secure
the passage and defeat of laws in which
the officials or their friends might be in
terested.
An investigation which is now in pro-
gress by the Interstate Commerce Com
mission into the affairs of the Louisville
& Nashville railroad, shows that tremen-
dous sums have been expended for pur-
poses that are not provided for in the
charters OF the railroad companies.
Seeks to Control Legislatures.
1t might be assumed that the business
of a railroad company would be the
transportation of passengers and freight,
but Judging from the facts brought
out by the Investigations OF the Inter
state Commerce Commission, the officials
consider that the business OF the rail
roads is to provide laws for the various
states as well as to influence the cleo
ton OF state and county officials, that
are approved by the railroad officials.
In the course OF a single year, single
railroad--'The Louisville & Nashville
issued to or on account of members OF
legislative bodies and other public Off
cials-attorneys, newspaper representa-
tivcs and various other persons mot in
cluding officials and employees OF railroad
companies), as many as l,SO5 free
passes, involving 4,517, ,92S miles OF
travel. the value OF which exceeded
Sl3O,S39.
Pass Evil at Its Highest.
The Nashville. Chattanooga & st.
Louis Railroad, asubsidiary OF the Louis
vile & Nashville, during the same period,
issued 22.255 free passes, involving u
1873. .944 miles OF travel, the value OF
which was S209,4 APO.
The passes issued on account of mem
bers of legislative bodies and other pub
lie officials well distributed among
state senators, representatives and other
state officials, county and city officials
and Judges OF various courts.
These facts made public thru the
Interstate Commerce Commission inyes-
tigation, are doubtless indicative of the
widespread abuse OF the free pass evil
on the railroads in different parts of
the country.
Commission Condemns Practice.
The commission does not hesitate to
condemn this practice OF the carriers.
In well chosen words, the commission
saws such laws reveal the manner in
which these carriers have dipped into
practically every domain OF public and
private life by the instrumentality of
the free pass. There is scarcely a walk
OF life which is not represented in this
procession OF recipients of passes, from
the federal bench to the local politician
and the sheriff who summons the jury.
The threads represented by these passes
tie thousands of citizens to the carriers
thru improper relations"
'The lack of morality reflected by the
facts here compiled, is a menace to insti-
tuition OF a free people"
Avenue of Economic Waste.
No wonder the Interstate Commerce
Commission strongly recommends that
the practice of railroads in expending
their funds for the purpose OF influenc-
ing the laws of the country as well as
the abuse OF private car travel, be re-
stricted by the railroads.
If this recommendation were followed
by the roads, there would be less cause
for complaint as to the insufficient rev
enues. Protection to this one avenue OF
economic waste" in railway operation
would alone more than enable the roads
to establish the eight-hour day principle
in freight train service without addi-
tional EXPENSE.