Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-24

| of favor would guarantee the honest return
of the moral obligations that go with the favor,
but the contrary is the fact. Anything to
| .'beat" the railroads appears to be the univer-
sal motto among the classes that most
favored by them.
| All the railroads prior to the enactment OF
the interstate commerce law granted passes to
| clergvmen; members of the Senate, House and
state legislatures Cor those that would accept
them); editors OF the provincial press; men,
/ bers of the theatrical profession; to say moth
ing of the legions of poverty stricken impor-
| tuners and railroad employees The granting
\ OF passes had grown to such gigantic proper
tions that those conyersant with the actual
situation believe the railroad corporations were
/ the prime movers the formation and pass
/ sage of the interstate commerce law. This
/ law forbids the issuance OF passes to any but
l employees. but later decision OF the commits
| sion created by that law allowed the giving of
passes in return for debts contracted by the
corporations in the shape OF advertising.
The great protest that went up from the rail-
roads over the adoption of the interstate COM
| merce law received with knowing shrug
of the shoulders by those who understood the
situation. At the present time passes are
granted, but in such comparatively small num-
Der as TO lack the great importance of bygone
days.
A CONFIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM.
Areporter of The EVENING STAR one even
ing recently Glanced across a general passen-
ger agent of one Of the big roads who was
| brought to Washington on business connected
with the Ii. A. Il. encampment In the course
! o. a conversation about the pass system and
the many violations thereof. he said:
IF a man violates the privileges of pass
/ issued to him by railroad company and such
violation is discovered that individual can
never under his own name secure another pass
from any railroad company in the country.
This may seem strange. but 1t is true, and
| it Is made possible by the issuance to all rail-
/ road officials who have authority to grant
/ passes of what Is known as the Confidential
/ Memorandum for the exclusive use of those
| persons TO whom it is sent. The publication is
| lasted Mt intervals now; before the passage of
| the inters ate commerce act, which curtai ed
| the ISSUANCE OF pass 5, 1t came forth monthly.
| 1t bears neither the name of the editor nor
/ publisher. There is an air of mystery about
| 1t. rev people know even the city where it is
| printed 1t is, in fact. black list containing
! the names of persons reported for abusing the
! privileges OF pass.
| The opportunities afforded to inspect this
/ Confidential Memorandum are few and far
| between. When one has read over the list Of
/ names of deIinquents the reason for all the
secrecy and mystery IL at once apparent. 1t
Is, OF course, the prominence OF the deliu-
quents and the specific acts OF their violations
that render the extreme caution necessary.
WHO VIOLATE PASS CONDITIONS.
ut is a strange fact that the greater number
of delInquents are clergymen. All denomina-
tons are represented. There is no invidious
comparison to be made by asserting that mem
beas OF one sect do and OF another do not be-
tray the pass privilege. They are all tarred
| with the same brush. The magnitude of the
| offense is not apparent until one has examined
| the specific charges. Then 1t seems strange
/ that there are many in good standing who hav,
| forged and altered passes as well some who
have been found selling loaning or aIterin 4
| them.
Mex: in rank to the clergymen among the
vloIators come the politicians. These include
members OF the legislature OF nearly every
state i'll the Union. The number of violator.
of the railroad courtesies among newspaper
men nearly equals that OF the politicians.
The the atrical profession plays its part and
| has many dellnquents on the black list. Mem
| bers OF other callings are of course. repre-.
sented but the four already mentioned. as they
receive the greater number OF favors. are found
| in excess of any other class.
| placed opposite each mans name upon the
| list Is the specific violation. The derelictions
make exceedingly interesting reading. Such
words as these are frequent: Sold to a sea-
| per-, altered to include another date ex
| tended misre presented case loaned trans
ferred,' forged another's signature dead
beat, first water "A fraud and 'gambled his
/ pass away. This latter offense is generally
fonnd recorded opposite the name of some
western or southern politician"
| ''sciLpERs" WILL NOT BUY PASSES.
Between scalpers and the railroad companies
there is an understanding to the effect that
any pass offered for sale shall not be bought
but the name thereon taken down and imme d.
| ately telegraphed TO the headquarters from
which the pass was issued. In this way the
pass Is at once made null and void and the
N MS fly nod IN full hi.
favor .drned down by the conductor after the
scalper has returned it with an innocent smile
and an answer that no customer for it had
shown up. OF course, such an offender is for
| ever blacklisted
An employe of one OF the big press associa-
| tions recently fell into the trap arranged be-
| tween the ''scalpers'' and railroad and a
| greater surprised man would be hard to mag
! Inc. He was located in q western city. but re-
| signed his position and decided to come east.
A pass was forwarded him by his association in
return for past services and desire to re-em-
pioy him in the east. he was considered a
| tTst-cass man i'll his profession. Reaching
Cincinnati, he decided to work there few
! months and not needing the pass at that time
decided to sell ii. Going to the 'scalper" he
met the usual rejoinder that he should leave it
and call the next day. The next day it was re-
| turned to him. the ''scalper" saying no GUS
| toner had appeared. In this way all the
"scalpers' in the city visited. but the
coming. At last the pass was stored away in
the holders pocket book until six weeks later.
! ne owner OF the pass then decided to con.
tinue his journey to New York and Rugged
himself with satisfaction over the fact that he
| had retained the pass and could now enjoy
free'transl ortation to that city. But his sur.
prise was great The very first conductor that
confronted him &c * up the pass and demanded
tuli fare. He, OF course. fretted and fumed
but as 1t was a of pay or get off, the
money was finally paid under protest
Upon his arrival in New York still another
surprise awaited him. He was given a most
Wholesome lecture upon the evils of migrate
fulness. the selling of the pass the int ending
to do so incident retold to his great astonish
ment and CONSERVATION and future employ
meat by the association refused him.
PRESIDENT ROBERTS HAD TO PAR.
Writing Of passes, the following good story
is told at the expense Of the president of
leading road, who is q great stickler for dis
cipline.
Some time ago, while on his way to a western
city. the conductor of the train bowed as he
passed without asking to zee his ticket On
coming through the train again the railroad
niagnste touched his arm and said: ''Why die
you not ask for my ticket?'
Rather abashed the conductor replied tina
he presumed he had his pass.
"Doyou know who l amp he asked.
Yes, sir, replied the conductor, ''you are
the president of the road"
Granted that am. +, II is your duty to ALLOW
nobody to ride over this road without sho wins
a ticket. Always bear that in mind"
..y.- L Al