Sacramento daily record-union., 1883-09-18
CUT OFF THs DgADHRADs.


CUT OPP THR DEADHRADs.
It is proposed by the Directory of the
State Agricultural Society to abolish the
"season ticket" This is wise, and should
be carried out. It is notorious that the
season ticket is the subject of the grosaest
abuse. 1t is made the means of defraud-
ing the Society out OF large sum of
money, and of encouraging the disposition
TO steal The man who uses the ticket
wrongfully is apt to regard his act as some
people do white lies. The sentiment is
abroad that it is legitimate to "beat " the
Society if one is not "caught at it.
It has been known that by passing
tickets out after being once used, three.
four, five and even six different families
have passed the doors on one ticket. At
the Park it was common thing to drop
the season ticket from the upper terrace Of
the grand stand to some one on the outside,
who would "come in on it and repeat
the operation for another friend, and SO
on for a score of others. The State
Society represents the State of California.
Il is its duty to secure the largest possible
income from the expositions consistent
with reasonable charge for admission. 1t
is its duty to require all citizens to pay for
the privileges of the Society, and 70 make
no discrimination between persons. In
this matter it is aware of the fact
that the State is annually swindled
out OF thousands of dollars. 1t is
therefore its bounden duty TO put a stop to
the frauds by which this is accomplished.
Lot il therefore abolish all season tickets,
reduce the admission price to the lowest
possible figure consistent with self-main-
tenance of the Society, and require all men
to pay. Let it utterly abandon distinctions
and determinations between persons en-.
titled to admission, except as to officers,
employees and actual exhibitors, and let
these be designated by badges that cannot
be readily counterfeited, and which shall
bear the name of the wearer, or other
means of Identification. The whole sys.
TEN of complimentary tickets should be
abolished. There is no earthly or other
reason why complimentary tickets should
be issued with the hberality with which
thsy have been dipensed in the past. In
ninety-nine cases out OF one hundred, the
recipient of complimentary ticket is just
the man above all others who should con-
tribute to the support of the fair, and is
able to do SO, Why, for instance, should
members OF the Legislature and State off.
cers and their deputies 60 free to the en-
tertainments of the Society, and the labor
ing man be compelled to pay the full fee
from his hard. earned income Why should
wealthy men, and leading capitalists, and
publishers of newspapers, or reporters
and editors, and especially the riff raft
that forces itself TO the front as attached
to the press," be dead-headed into the Pa
vilion or Park? Let these men pay just as
Others do. Ii they have any reason for at.
tending the fair in business point of
view, it is purely selfish one, and proper
enough-that is to say, they desire good
reports for their papers, and the competi-
tion between papers, if it is worth any
thing at all, is worth the price of admis-
sion. The newspaper of this day that can
not pay three or four dollars for weeks
admission of its representative to the State
Fair, can neither benefit nor damage the
Directory, by any reports it cax make.
The newspaper charges the Agricultural
Society for It's advertising, and is generally
glad to get it. The free admission, there
fore, cuts no figure in the consideration.
II the complimentary " is given to secure
"good " notice, it is an insult to any
journalist worthy the name, and shame
to the directorate. If omplimentaries
are distributed among legislators and State
officers TO secure their friendly aid, the
sooner it is known the better. The State
Society is no more justified in passing in
hundreds OF "deadhsads to It's annual
exhibitions than would be any other State
department in abating in favor of any class
OF citizens obligations they should by law
discharge. If independence of criticism,
perfect fairness and equality is desired, let
the whole complimentary business be
wiped out, and let it be understood that
everyone, rich and poor alike, shall pay.
The "deadhead business at the State
Fair ia monstrous incubus, and nene real
ize this fact more sensibly than the officers
OF the Society. Let them cut it off with
out fear. The fairs will be more succesz-
full financially, snd the Society will be more
respected by the people generally.
Our Of over 900 volumes loaned out Of the
Boston Free Library in the past fiscal year, but