Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-10-11
0bilolI .. Statesman,


50 The New York Legislaturehas passed an
act which not only requires conductors TO
wear uniform. but also brakemen, bag
gagemen and stationmen. It provides that
the company may withhold a portion of the
monthly earnings of the employe who does
max OF absurdity, it provides that any who
shall advise q railroad employe not to wear
such uniform, shall be answerable for a
misdemeanor. 1.
The Syracuse Standard touches the matter
as follows: Tf7i
| On the I'D of this month the conductors
of the Central railroad, in accordance with
the law passed last winter. will assume
their new uniforms. The uniform, we un-
derstand. Is to be a gorgeous affair. There
is to be blue coat, also blue vest like
wise exceeding blue pantaloons. Each of
the aforementioned garments are to be
literally garnished with the largest and
brightest of brass buttons-brass buttons
before, brass buttons behind, brass buttons
down the centre, brass buttons across the
midriff, brass buttons on the swelling tails,
brass buttons everywhere. SurmountiDg
the blue and the brass, on the cdput of each
fortunate possessor OF so much splendor Is
to be cap (blue of course), around which
will run two broad bands of gold /; and fur
ther TO distinguish and dignity the wear
ers Is TO appear in great letters the mystic
word, "CoDductor.n 60. s,o5s .isd sfi "a
Before such magnifcence we take off our
own simple cap and bow with profound
est respect Never was Major General, in
the early days of the war, before smoke
tarnished and powder blackened his outfit,
thus ,arrayed. The lilies of Solomon, even,
will have henceforth to hide their dimin-
ished heads. Think of an ordinary pas
senger daring to speak to one of these au-
gust personages, thus resplendent. His
awe-struck soul will not bear the encoun-
ter: There win be many case of lockjaw
from clear fright. We have been tolerably
familiar with some of these to be glorified
worthless, but we shall keep henceforth at
respectful distance. Never more shall we
venture to ask :. Frank how far it is to
Albany, or inquire of y Ed " our contiguitv
to Rochester, or converse with "Sammy"
on matters theatrical to while the tedious
ness of q trip. No; our lips will be dumb
before the newborn splendor of even
"Burdey," whom we played with as boy,
and have ventured to associate with ever
SINCE If e-were- -awed- before briga-
dier, what shall be our emotions on sur
veying uniformed conductor? '-
+ Seriously, isn't there something absurd
and vastly undemocratic in this new
tangled notion OF our law makers. Ip
Europe, where this system prevails, rail-
road officials are of vastly lower grade
FORE appropriate that they should appear
in livery, like any gentleman's servant.
But here they, are supposed to be gentle
men; they generally are. 1t, therefore,
will be exceedingly embarrassing for them
to appear in so conspicuous garb as the
one designated. They are not coachmen
or tootmen to whom badge of servility
appears symbol of honor, and the more
lace and fustian they can wear the better
they like it. The servant of Simpkins is
happy if his plush is redder and his buckles
brighter than those of the servant of Jen-
kins, tor the inference is obvious that Simp-
kins is richer than Jenkins, and conse-
quently there Is greater honor in the one
service than in the other.
These, however. are not the feelings
which animate our railroad officials, than
whom a more genial set of men live not.
Out of Difference to their feelings, flor no
other reason, we had hoped they might be
spared the infiiction of gaudy uniform.
They are sufficiently distinguished now;
we never heard any complaint that pas
senger could not find conductor-could
not make his wants known to him. In
whose brain originated this law we know
not. We cannot give him much credit for
common sense, however, and wonder where
the common sense OF the Legislature was
when it passed such statute. It is un-
democratic and absurd.