The Evening critic., 1884-03-27
TICKET SCALPING.


The DemOraIizIDg Effect on Hnil-
road Employees of This Question
able Business.
From the Philadelphia Press.
The developments in tho recent trihls OF
railway conductors In Philadelphia ami else
where for embezzloment bring TO ligl1t new
feature in tho so-callod business 81 ticket
scelping, and explain very clearly one Of tho
principal reasons for tho crusade Which is be-
ing waged by the railroad companies against
tho gentry whose boast II Is that they can dis.
count tho standard rates OF thdcompanies.
There was for long tlmo an element of mys.
terry In this peculiar trafilc, whidh was partl-
ally dlspelled when the methodsof tho scalp
erB were ventilated In tho cOurm and by tho
subject
It's apparent that the scalpef derives some
OF his support from some OF tle various links,
large and small, OF tho longof lines between
distant points. AS matter otcourse, rates by
the various lines between Important centres
muet be uniform, and tho logger lines, by rea-
son Of their greater length aud time OF transit,
could not, and very propos1y 80, hopo 70 ooo.
through traflc save by Tub operations Of the
ecolper, who buys for tho intending traveller
who falls into his handsp regular ticket by
ono OF tho longer routesI SELLS II 90 him for
doller or so less than II cost, collecting bonus
from several OF the ehorElines composing this
route as reward for dfyertlng tho traveller
profit on the transactDn, although the pas.
senger may not be 80 f0ftunate, as the greater
length OF time congumen on the trip, aud con-
sequent increase I'm coa OF meals and sleeping
saving In the cost OF fhe ticket, and tho tray
oler has no compensation for his lost tlme.
But this and other operations which tho
scalper is wont to Consider as Legitimate"
would scarcely explain the magnitude which
his profits must asgimo to maintain him In
the trafIic, and these late trials furnish the
Information necessary to complete solution
OF the mystery. Tho testimony showed that
the railway cmployes retained tho tickets col
lected from passengers and sold them at nom.
inal rates to tho ecalpers, who resold them 10
travellers at dkcount from standard rates,
the companies Vfus carrying two or more pas
eengers on tho ehme ticket.
These disclofnres emphasize with painful
clearnese tho Moral character OF the scalplng
enterprise, IBr years past It has been tho
aim OF railroap companies 80 to adjust their
rules and regulations as to relieve conductors
from even thdelightest imputatlon OF dlshon-
esty. Whetlfr this has boen from motives OF
self.interest6r not is immaterlal to the point
at Issue. Tne result has been apparent In the
esprit du c0lE and the morale OF their employ
ees. The Ceiling that, In Wow of the safe.
guards thrown around them, they were above
suspicion, has wrought remarkable change
In this clafs Of employees, and has made the
position a railway conductor highly honor
able, as itis responsible and exacting CALI
Ing. BuWust rs this condition OF things has
been so happily consummated, q new clement
Of evil sfises, and 1t is not strange that
amongsyeuch a host OF employees some should
be foundwilliDg 10 listen to the tomptings OF
the scalper, ana become eventually his willing
but guIty tools.
In tho cause OF morality, and In behalf OF au
importnt and deserving class of railway em-
ploye&w can cordially indorse the efforts OF
The Interpretation lines to utterly abolish this
trafilofwhich has long been a misdemeanor in
this State, and we earnestly hope that the
variuts States will speedily take cognizanco
OF tip growing evil and, by statute similar to
our 6yn, put the scalper under the ban of tho
law Sud compel railroad companies to redeem
for cash, from passengers, their unused or
partially used tickets. In tho meantime the
trafeler VIII do well TO consider whether he
can conscientiously aid the scalper or Incur
the risk OF riding on stolen ticket.