Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-11-19
RAILWAY BLACKLIST.
y OF Many Copies Are Printed. and Out
siders seldom Can Catch IA Glimpse OF
Gne.
Ns,C York World.

Ns,0 York World.
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 little book does not bear the name
of its printer, proprietor or compiler,
and besides having an exceedingly
small circulation, IL makes its appear
ance only about twice year. The
persons 10 whom IL is mySteriOuSly sent
keep ii under lock and key and refer to
IL in a SurreptitiouS manner, as II the
shadow Of Anthony Comstock were
across the threshold. IL passes through
the mails in plain sealed envelope,
and letter postage 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
blacklist, and ii contains some startling
information about various people whose
names are not unknown TO the Ameri-
can public. Number Forty is current,
and only the higher officers of railways
can obtain ii. Some persons whose
names are contained therein might con-
slider the charges brought against them
libelouS, and so to avoid responsibility
and evade lawsuits the names OF the
publishers and the place of publication
are not printed upon the title page.
Nearly every railroad in the United
States in part proprietor In the
Memorandum" and those who compile
it draw their pay and inspiration from
the records of hundreds of railroads in
Uncle Sans domain.
The book contains 10 pages of names
of delinquentS and seven pages OF the
names of periodicals and their editors
who abused the courtesies extended to
them by railroads. Notwithstanding
the edctS 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-
ciDientS dispose of these favorS TO
friends, ScalperS aud even TO strangers
for consideration" When person
is detected in lOaning, selling, exchang-
ing or altering pass his name appears
in the next issue of the Memorandum,
and when he next applies to any road
for favOrs he is met with fixed smile
and polite excuse, but never the true
one.
Cnhappily there are found on the
blacklist the names and residences OF
several clergymcn, rs well As statesmen,
who have abused the privilege. The
charges are in some cases stated in an
almost brutally specific manner, and
would prove rather shocking reading
10 the wives. children or friends of the
culprtS.
Among the LAS" are twenty-three
names, including that of a ST. Francis,
Mimi, clergyman, who is charged with
altering and loaning half-fare permits.
The list of Sixty-eight names commenc-
ing with "B" describes one as theat-
rical agent and ID. b." first water"
There are 81 names under the head
of &C. among whom is that of man
in Houston, Ten, who represents him
self as a special correspondent of a New
York newspaper, and is summed up rs
"a fraud" A Santa Fe preacher is ac-
cused ofaltering a half-fare permit to in
clude his wife, and an eX-repreSentative
i'm Congress is charged with loaning his
pass.
\ member of Chicago'S boosted Citi-
zcnS' League is known TO have sold his
pass TO Scalper, and so will get no
more such favorS.
llangerS-on of theatrical companies, a
member OF the lower Legislature and
editors Of small journals are mentioned
ON the list. One man is charged with
gambling his pass away.