The Dickinson press., 1890-12-27
A RAILWAY BLACK LIST.
Not Many Copies Arc Printed and Ou,
slders Seldom SEQ Ono Of Them,

siders Seldom SEQ Ono Of Them.
A decidedly queer little pamphlet is
'The Confidential Memorandum, which
is intended "for the exclusive use of
those persons to whom it is sent" Tho
little book does not bear tho name of its
printer, proprietor or compiler, and be-
sides having an exceedingly small circu-
lation 1t 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 q surreptitious
manner. It 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 arc guarded with jealous
care.
1.-THE Confidential Memorandum" is
neither moro 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 tho charges brought against them
libelous, and 80 to avoid responsibility
and evade law suits tho names of tho
publishers and tho place of publication
arc not printed upon the title page.
Nearly every railroad in tho United
States is u part proprietor in tho "Mem-
orandum," and those who compile it
draw their pay and inspiration from tho
records of hundreds of railroads in
Uncle Sans domain. Little short of a
special dispensation of Providence en-
ables any ono except u railroad official
to see tho book.
The book contains nineteen pages of
names of delinquents and seven pages of
the names of periodicals and their edit
ors who abused tho 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 oven to strangers "for a
consideration"
When a person is detected in loaning,
selling, exchanging or altering q pass,
his name appears in tho next issue of the
Memorandum, and when he next ap-
plies to any road for favors he is met
with a fixed smile and polite excuse,
but never tho true one.
Unhappily thero are found on tho
black list the names and residences of
several clergymen, as we'll as statesmen,
who have abused tho privilege The
charges arc in some cases stated in an
almost brutally specific manner, and
would prove rather shocking reading to
the wives. children or friends of the cul-
prits.
Among tho GAS" arc twenty-three
names, including that of a clergyman,
who is charged with altering and loan
ing half-fare permits. Tho list of sixty
eight names commencing with "B" de-
scribes one rs u theatrical agent and a
I'd. b., first water"
There are sixty y-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 rs IA fraud" A Santa Fe preacher
is accused of altering half-fare permit
to include his wife, and an ex-represent-
ative in Congress is charged with loan
ing his pass.
A member of Chicago's Citizens
league is known to have sold his pass to
a 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 arc mentioned
on tho list.-New York World.