The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-18

of the new matter in his case. and the scalper
steps behind his counter and buys and sells
tickets as before, and the travellers are very
happy.
The G. P. and T. A. is not so very happy, and
he resolves TO get the better of the scalper by
making a contract that a ticket shall only be
good for the original purchaser whose name is
signed 10 Jne contract, and in case of a round
trip ticket is also signed again at the Office from
which return trip is begun. But the second
purchaser becomes contracted in his moral
views because of the contract on the ticket, and
argues that the eXtortionate rates between local
points is usury, and If, in declaring another's
signature to be his, he is guilty of forgery, why
forgery is no worse than usury, and he is no
worse than the g. p. and Il. A, and must fight
the devil one with his own weapons; and in ease
OF a return ticket, he would rather resign the
contract than resign the ticket. In spite of the
contract the scalper fourishes like a Green Bay,
Wis, fisherman.
When the general passenger and ticket agents
Oh the competing roads find that cutting rates is
not a good scheme, because travellers buy all
the cheap tickets and sell them to the s~calpers,
and local travellers would rather buv unused
secondhand portions of tickets from the scalper
at low prices than pay high prices for brand
new tickets at the company's Office: and that
each one of themselves is just as willing as the
other to go heels over head into debt, and SO
create for the stockholders a considerable credit
on the minus side of zero; and that She courts
cannot be induced to hold up their hands against
NS DSaAEE-f my VIZ AuAC lAACllSClNtS u bE NI0
makers and not the eaters of the feast, and the
result is, as the poets sang in the days of slang:
Each to the other the message has wired;
oh, gives us aresti you make me tired"
Then, in convention assembled, after a full
and clear discussion of the situation, and of the
necessity for railroads to back each other IN a
mutual defense against a plundering public.
with many n solemn or profane ejaculation, as
the case may be, they declare their intention of
adopting and maintaining a fixed tariff, and chat
n nina bvao EiDn fha an,an - ol,-
ing its agents to sell tickets for less than tariff
rates shall be prosecuted, prosecuted and lam
aged to the best of their ability so to do. Trav-
elers make a note of this state Of affairs, and
having had their rural recreation and luncheon
in the days of the G. p. and T. AS excessive
verdancy are able to bide their time until an
other opportunity for getting the best of the
railroad companies. Travel grows less on all
the roads, the passenger agents occupation IS
gone, and the ticket agent finds the virtue of
sticking to tariff rates to be it's own and onlyest
reward.
Now comes the scalper and whispers in the ear
OF the q. L. and L. A: "In time past / have
done thee much harm and now you should heap
Goals of fire upon my head to testify your Cor
giveness and kindly feeling: therefore, do as |
suggest and you will keep the letter of your
agreement with the other companies. increase
the travel over your road, and take the coneeit
outof people who imagine they are getting the best
of you in rates. Sell me you tickets at regular
tariff prices, and then allow me such a commits
sion for the purchase as will enable me to sell
the tickets at reduced rates and still make suf-
fcient profit to justify me in keeping up the
business" The G. p. and T. A. heaped the
Goals of fire as desired, sold his tickets, paid his
commissions and increased his traffic, for the
traders rejoiced at the chance to put their
money into the hands of their friend, the scalp
er, again, and to make journeys for less than
the regular charges, and all the other G. P. and
T.. AS did likewise as the first had done, and
the business of the scalper grew greatly in his
hands. Much more could l relate, my son, but
might say things the parties concerned would
rather not have known. Go thou and become a
scalper right speedily.