The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1890-12-18
A RAILWAY BLACK Isl.


Not Many Copies Are Printed and Out
siders seldom See One of Them.
A decidedly queer little pamphlet is
1.-THE Confidential Memorandum, which
! is intended "for the exclusive use of
those persons to whom it is sent" The
i little book does not bear the name of its
| printer. proprietor or compiler. and be
sides having an exceedingly small circu-
lation it makes its appearance only about
twice year. The persons to whom it
is mysteriously sent keep it under lock
and key and refer to it in a surreptitious
manner. 1t passes through the mails in
plain sealed envelope, and letter post
age is paid thereon. Nothing improper
is printed in the Memorandum, and
yet its pages are guarded with jealous
care.
The Confidential Memorandum" is
neither more nor less than railroad
black list, and it contains some startling
/ information about various people whose
names are not unknown to the American
public. Only the higher officers of rail
ways can obtainit. Some persons whose
names are contained therein might con
slider the charges brought against them
! libelous. and so to avoid responsibility
and evade law suits the names of the
publishers and the place Of publication
are not printed upon the title page.
Nearly every railroad IN the United
States is u part proprietor in the Mem
orandum," and those who compile il
draw their pay and inspiration from the
records of hundreds of railroads in
Uncle Sans domain Little short of a
special dispensation of Providence en-
ables any one except II railroad official
TO see the book.
The book contains nineteen pages Of
names of delinquents and seven pages of
the names of periodicals and their edit
ors who abused the courtesies extended
to them by railroads. Notwithstanding
the edicts of the interstate commerce
law an uncommonly large number of
persons other than railroad men secure
passes and reduced rates from railroads,
and it frequently happens that the re
cipients dispose Of these favors to friends,
scalpers and even to strangers for a
consideration.
When u person is detected in loaning,
selling, exchanging or altering pass,
his name appears in the next issue of the
Memorandum" and when he next APP
plies to any road for fayors he is met
with fixed smile and polite excuse,
but never the true one.
Unhappily there are found on the
black list the names and residences of
several clergymen, as well as statesmen,
who have abused the privilege. The
charges are in some cases stated in an
would prove rather shocking reading to
the wives. children or friends of the cul-
prits.
Among the LAS" are twenty-three
names, including that of clergyman,
who is charged with altering and loan
ing half fare permits. The list of sixty
eight names commencing with 81 de-
scribes one as theatrical agent and a
I'd. b., first water
There are sixty-fve names under the
head of &C." among them is that of a
man in Houston, Tex, who represents
himself as a special correspondent of a
New York newspaper, and is summed
up as "a fraud" A Santa Fe preacher
is accused of altering half-fare permit
to include his wife, and an ex-represent-
alive in Congress is charged with loan
ing his pass
A member of Chicago's Citizens
league is known to have sold his pass to
scalper, and so will get no more such
favors.
Hangers-on of theatrical companies, a
member of the lower legislature and
editors of small journals are mentioned
on the list. New York World.