Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-04-26
PASS IN o U PICTURES.

SOME ofthe Mississippi papers are high
ly indignant over a circular (No. i is.
sued by F. Chandler, general passenger
agent Of the Chicago, St. Louis and New
Orleans railroad, with headquarters at
New Orleans. Chandler seems to be a
new man at the brakes, and imagines
that all the Mississippi editors and news.
paper publishers are in q league to beat
railroads out of passes. He has issued
this circular to instruct station agents,
conductors and Others that but one
pass will be issued to each weekly
paper, and that will be good only
for the person whose name is inserted,
and in order that conductors may know
that the right man rides on the right
pass, photographs must be furnished to
headquarters to be affixed to the passes
before issued. Therefore the editor who
makes up his mind to apply for an
annual pass, to be paid for in dead-head
advertising and local notices without
limit mot transferable, must make up
his toilet and his face in the way most
likely to stand for one year; for if he
should happen to sit for q picture in a
linen duster, with bis collar open and a
SLOUGH hat in his hand, and have that
pasted on his pass, it might happen that
by next Christmas, after collecting his
bills 10 Memphis, he might start of to
New Orleans to spend his money.
In which event he would probably
wear a plug hat, kid gloves, standing
collar, sids-whiskers, and carry a gold
headed zane aud q bran new valise. OF
course the conductor would stare at hin,
and probably reach for his bell-cord,
which would be mutually embarrassing
Mr.. Chandler, 10 attempting to enforce a
uniform %physiognomy upon the cOun
tsnances Of the Mississippi press, is sim
ply attempting the unattainable. he
might adopt some plan to identify the
genuine members Of the press, but has
missed it so far. Hs might devise a
system Of duplicate photographs, or Of
%penmsnship, might require grips, signs
and passwords, or have each mans
name stamped on his arm; but be ought
to 90 slow on the photograph business,
fer that is the most unreliable and
~changesble Of ell. 1t Is a poor rule that
will not work both ways. If passengers
must producs photographs, why not con
duclors, brakesmen, porterS, superin.
tendents and other employees Of railroad
corporations who are at the mercy Of
newspaper magnates2 We have heard Of
Independent newspapers making aud
unusking all sorts of people, but never
heard Of a railroad making a newspaper
or q newspaper man. There interest
generally harmonic. but seriously,
this man Chandler implies that Missis-
sippi editors misuse their passes BY
allowing others to travel on them
This should be resented. II ona
man, or half a dozen even,
violated the express or understood terms
Of a contract with the railroads it is no
reason why the entire fraternity Of the
press should be brought down to the
level OF dead beats. If the railroads
choose 10 advertise at regular rates and
pay for the same in tickets this is legili-
mate. There the transaction should end.
The editorial opinion and the right Of
expression should in no way be tram.
meled or restrained. There are sbyster
newspapers the same az shyster lawyers,
but honorable members Of the press who
observe business rules do not relish be.
ing classed with the few black sheep.