Bribing Congressmen

In last week's Commoner was some correspondence given to the public by Congressman Baker of Brooklyn. It shows that the railroads are issuing passes to congressmen in spite of the Elkins law, and it must also be evident to any reasonable person that the railroads do not issue passes for the pleasure of issuing them.

Washington is so far away from the average constituent that the congressmen can help the railroads without detection, and evidence is not lacking to show that both the railroads and many congressmen understand this.

In the last congress a large sum was given to both the Baltimore & Ohio and the Pennsylvania railroads to aid in the construction of depots and the representatives of the road were hanging about the capitol freely using passes. One of the lobbyists had a record of the vote and rewarded those who voted for the appropriation and refused passes to those who voted against the company's demands.

Governor La Follette might add a paragraph to his Chautauqua lecture and show how the pass is used to bribe congressmen and representatives.

Mr. Baker, who calls attention to the pass custom, is from the state of New York. It is an encouraging sign that the protest comes from the east and it is to be hoped that it will be taken up by the congressmen from the west and south --The Commoner.

Secretary Hitchcock of the interior department has found a colony of grafters in his department and has canceled sales of Indian lands amounting lo $369,000. He has also summarily dismissed a number of government officials who have had to do with these grafting operations. These grafter's deals, taken in connection with the scandals of the post office department lend probability to the idea that has been expressed in various quarters that the same kind of gentry might possibly be found in almost any department of the government service if a little inspection was made. It looks as though the public service was of graft, by graft and for graft.

It seems to be the opinion of many who have followed the yacht races thoughtfully that Sir Thomas Lipton's failure to lift the cup is due to his crew rather than to any lack in the construction of his boat. Still just how he can get much satisfaction out of that point is not clear. In any event it seems it must be acknowledged that Yankee genius and ability are in the ascendant.

The American vice consul at Beirut has been assassinated while riding in his carriage. It is reported that President Roosevelt has ordered Rear Admiral Cotton with the European squadron to proceed there in order to be in position to support the government demand for the punishment of the murderers. The poor old Turk has lots of trouble, but he contines in spite of all to go right along with his unspeakable outrages and misgovernment. The jealousy of the European powers keeps him seated upon a tottering throne, licensed to continue his atrocious regime indefinitely.