The Scandal of the Railroad Passes
A local editor challenges a federal land officer for accepting corporate kickbacks while deciding coal land claims.
Time passes and still Register Knutz, although repeatedly called upon, makes no explanation for traveling about on railroad passes. If he is not a corporation man, why should he accept passes from the St. Paul as well as the Tacoma office of the Northern Pacific railroad? In these days of an interstate commerce commission, railroad passes are issued only to those who are employees of the company or who can render valuable service in return. Coal land cases, involving very valuable rights, are soon to come up before Register Knutz to pass upon. The Herald does not believe that Register Knutz, after accepting gifts which have a monied value from one of the litigants, is qualified to impartially pass upon the testimony adduced, or render an unbiased decision.
“The Herald does not believe that Register Knutz, after accepting gifts which have a monied value from one of the litigants, is qualified to impartially pass upon the testimony adduced.”
This 1891 editorial highlights the early struggle against corporate capture of federal land offices, a theme that echoes in contemporary debates over regulatory agency ethics and the influence of private interests on public land management in the West.
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