Page:The truth about the railroads (IA truthaboutrailro00elli).pdf/148

on the government machinery, and on the public generally would be good if the principles of the Interstate Commerce Law were applied strictly to the passenger business as well as to the freight business. That is to say, I would stop the making of preferential arrangements for transportation of passengers free or at reduced rates, because they occupy positions of more or less power, responsibility, and trust. As is well known, it is customary for the officers of the Government—municipal, county, state, and federal—to ask for and to receive more or less transportation, and some also for their family and friends. The revenue involved in this practice is relatively insignificant, because the great bulk of this travel would not take place if a free pass or reduced-rate ticket was not given. The effect, however, on the mind of the public is bad, and indirectly the impression is created that the railroad-owner, through the free pass, has a great deal more influence than he really has, that there is much more interference by the railroad in the machinery of the Govern-