Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-06-16
THE BROTHERHOOD.
SUGGEST WAYS FOR
RAIL WAYS TO SAVE.

the transportation brotherhoods:
1t is suggested to the railroads that
AN additional way of conserving rail
read funds would be to discontinue
contributions to campaign funds, and
to save the enormous sums that ii
costs the railroads annually in the
endeavor to influence legislative bod
les, etc.
Millions of dollars are annually ex-
pended by the railroads in the en-
deavor Ito mold public opinion" and
to secure the passage and defeat OF
laws in which the officials, or their
friends, might be interested.
An investigation which is now in
progress by the Interstate Commerce
commission into the affairs of the
Louisville G Nashville railroad, shows
that tremendous sums have been ex-
pended for purposes that are not pro-
vided for in the charters of the rail
road companies.
1t might be assumed that the bust
ness OF railroad company would be
the transportation of passengers and
freight, but judging from the facts as
brought out by the investigations of
the Interstate Commerce commission,
the officials consider that the business
of the railroads, is to provide laws for
the various states, as well as to infiu-
ence the election Of state and county
officials, that are approved by the rail.
road officials.
In the course OF a single year, one
railroad-the Louisville & Nashville
issued to or on account of members of
legislative bodies and other public Of
ficials, attorneys, newspaper repre-
sentatives and various other persons
(not including officials and employees
of railroad companies), as many as
11,S05afree passes, involving 4,577 ,92S
miles of travel, the value of which ex-
ceeded $13O,S99.
The Nashville, Chattanooga & st.
Louis railroad, subsidiary of the
Louisville & Nashville, during the
same period, issued 22,255 free passes
involving 7,133,944 miles of travel, the
value of which was $2O9, ,420.
The passes issued on account OF
members of legislative bodies and
other public officials were distributed
among state senators, representatives
ard other state officials, county and
city officials and judges of various
courts.
These facts, made public through the
Interstate Commerce commission in
vestigation, are doubtless indicative of
the widespread abuse of the free pass
evil on the railroads in different parts
Of the country.
The commission does not hesitate to
condemn this practice of the carriers.
II welhehosen words, the commissioa
says "sGeh laws reveal the manner in
which these carriers have dipped into
practically every domain of public al
private life by the instrumentality of
the free pass. There is scarcely a
walk in life which is not represented
in this procession of recipients Of
passes, from tine federal bench to the
local politician and the sheriff who
summons the jury. The threads rep
resented by these passes tie thousands
OF citizens to the carriers through inn
proper relations"
"The lack of morality reflected by
TIE facts here compiled is menace
TO the institution of a free people"
No wonder the Interstate Commerce
commission strongly recommends thar
the practice of railroads in expending
their funds for the purpose of infu-
encing the laws of the country as well
as the abuse Of private car travel be
restricted by the railroads.
If this recommendation we're follow
,CTnNAT DISTRICT 7