The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-05-17
Ticket scalping.

The developments In the recent trials
of railway conductors in Philadelphia
and elsewl ere for embeZzlen ent bring
to light a new feature in the so-called
business Of ticket scalping, and explain
very clearly one of the principal reasons
for the crusade which is being waged by
the railroad companies against the gen.
try whose boast it is that they can dis
count the standard rates of the compa-
MES. There was for long time an ele-
ment of mystery in this peculiar traffic,
which was partially dispelled when the
methods of the scalpers were ventilated
| in the courts and by the clear exposi-
tions Of railway officers on the subject.
1t is apparent that the scalper derives
some of his support from some of the
various links, large and small. of the
| longer lines between distant points. AS
matter of course, rates 10y the various
lines between important centres must
be uniform, and the longer lines, by
reason of their greater length and time
of transit, could not, and very properly
so, hope to obtain any considerable pro-
portion of the through traffic save by
the operations of the scalpeT, who buys
for the intending traveller who falls into
his hands regular ticket by one of the
longer routes, sells it to him for dollar
or SO less than it cost, collecting bonus
from several of the short lines cempos-
, ing this route as a reward for diveIting
the traveller from more direct lines, and
pocketing fair profit on the transac-
tion, although the passenger may not
| be so fortunate, as the greater length
3 of time consumed on the trip, and con-
t sequent increase in cost Of meals and
sleeping accommodations, may more
r than cover the saving in the cost OF the
ticket, and the traveller has no compen-
sation for his lost time.
!, But this and other operations which
r the scalper is wont to consider "legiti-
mate" would scarcely explain the mag
=, nitude which his profits must assume TO
a maintain him in the traffi;, and these
late trials furnish the information neces-
d sary to complete a solution of The mys-
g terry. The testimony showed that the
II railway employees retained the tickets
a collected from passengers and sold lh-m
! at nominal rates to the scalpels, who re-
/. sold them to travellers at discount
10 from standard rate s, the company thus
. carrying two or more passengers on the
1t same ticket.
These disclosures emphasize with
painful clearness the moral character Of
the scalpiDg enterprise. For years past
it has been the aim Of railroad compan-
rs les 80 to adjust their rules aud regula-
" tions as 10 relieve conductors from even
4 the slightest imputation of dishonesty.
9 Whether this has been from moivts OF
= sef-interest or not Is lmlna elial to the
III point of issue. The result has been ap-
1t parent in the esprit du corps and the
morale Of their employees. The feeling
In that, in view Of the safeguards thrown
around them, they were above suspl'
cion, has wrou- ht remarkable cham c
u in this class of employees, and has made
Or the position of railway conductor 9
IL highly honorable, as it is u responsible
anu exacting calling. But just as thu
II condition of things has been 30 happily
~ consunmated, a new element OF eVl
Isl arises, and it is not strange that amongs
or such host of employees SOME should bt
IT. found willing to listen TO the tempting
pe of the scalper, and become eventual.
Ie- his willing but guilty tools.
In the cause of morality, and in be
III half of an important and deserving
lat class of railway employees, we Can cor
ng daily endorse the efforts of the trans
ed portation lines to utterly abolish thi
lEdllC, WHICH, HAS lOuS DOoh q hhiobShhSu
nor in Pennsylvania, and we earnestl
iy- hope that the various States will speed
IT lily take cognizance of the growing ev
:" and, by statute similar to Pennsylvania
IN put the scalper under the ban Of tn
,ot law and compel railroad companies t
i"V redeem for cash, from passengers, thei
as unused or partially used tickets. l
ess the meantime the traveller will do we
ill to consider whether he can conscient
ously aid the scalper or incur the ris
III Of riding on stolen ticket.