The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1890-12-13
A RAILWAY BLACKLIST,
Not Many Copies are Printed and
Outsiders Seldom See One.

SNV0AAOA0 . 0OAAOA 000 0A0s
A decidedly queer little pamphlet
is"The Confidential Memorandum y
which is intended "for the exclusive
use of those persons to whom it is
sent" The little book does not
bear the name of it's printer, pro-
prietor or compiler, and besides
having an exceedingly small circu-
lation it makes its appearance only
about twice a year. The persons
to whom it is mysteriously sent
keep it under lock and key and re-
fer to it in a surreptitious manner
as though the shadow Of Anthony
Comstock were across the thres-
hold. 1t passes through the mails
in a plain sealed envelope and letter
postage is paid thereon. Nothing
improper is printed in the Memo
randum," and yet its pages are
guarded with jealous care.
"The Confidential Memorandum
is neither more nor less than rail-
road blacklist and itcontains some
startling information about various
people whose names are not un-
known to the American public.
Number Forty is current, and only
the higher officers of railways can
obtain it. Some persons whose
names are contained therein might
consider the charges brought against
them libellous, and so to avoid re-
sponsibility 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 is a part proprietor
in the 'Memorandum," and those
who compile it draw their pay and
inspiration from the records Of hun
dreds of railroads in Uncle Sam s
domain. Little short of special
dispensation Of Providence enables
any one except railroad official to
see the book /; but reporter of the
World constituted himself COM
mittee on Ways and Means, and ex-
tracts from the volume are present
ed in to-day's World.
The book contains nineteen pages
of names Of delinquents and seven
pages Of the names of periodicals
and their editors who abused the
courtesies extended to them by rail
roads. Notwithstanding the edicts
of the Interstate Commerce law, an
uncommonly large number of per-
sons other than railroad men secure
passes and reduced rates from rail
roads; and it frequently happens
that the recipients dispose of these
favors to friends, scalpers, and even
to strangers 'for a consideration" F."
When a person is detected in loan
ing, selling, exchanging or altering
a 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 a fixed
smile and polite excuse. but never
the true one.
Unhappily there are found on the
blacklist the names and residences
of several clergymen, as we'll as
statesmen, who have abused the
privilege. The charges are in some
cases stated in almost brutally spe-
cific manner, and would prove ra-
ther shocking reading to the wives,
children or friends of the culprits.
Among the CAS-" are twenty-three
names, including that of a st.
Francis MINI. clergyman, who is
charged with altering and loanlng
half. fare permits. The list of sixty
eight names commencing with BIS
describes one as a theatrical agent
and I'd. b. first water"
There are sixty-fve names under
the head of "C'' among whom is
that of a man in Houston, Texas,
who represents himself as special
correspondent of New York news
paper and is summed up as a fraud
A Santa Fe preacher is accused of
altering a half-fare permit to in
clude his wife, and an ex-Represen-
tative in Congress is charged with
loaning his pass.
A member of Chicago's boasted
Citizens League is known to have
sold his pass to scalper, and who
will get no more such favors.
Hangers-on of theatrical compa-
MES, member of the lower legis-
lature and editors of small journals
are mentioned on the list. One man
is charged with gambling his pass
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