Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1884-04-04
Volume XL.---No. 4.
Select Reaninr.

/
and elsewhere for embezzlement bring
to light new feature in the so-called
business Of ticket scalping, and ex-
plain very clearly one of the principal
reasons for the crusade which is being
waged by the railroad companies
against the gentry whose boast it is
that they can discount the STANDARD
rates of the companies. There was
for long time an element of mystery
in this peculiar traffic, which was par.
TALLY dispelled when the methods of
the seal pers were ventilated in conrts,
and by the clear expositions of railway
officers on the subject.
1t is apparent that the scalper de-
rives some of his support from some
of the various links, large and small,
of the longer lines between dis
tant points. AS ma ter of course,
rates by the various lines between i'm
portant centres must be uniform, and
the longer lines, by reason of their
greater length and times of transit,
could not, and very properly so, hop.
to obtain any considerable proportion
of the through traffic save by the ope
rations of the scalper, who buys f"r
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
a bonus from several Of the short lines
COM rosing this route as reward for
diverting the traveller from more dire.t
lines, and pocketing fair profit OH
the transaction, although the passen-
ger may not be so fortunate, as the
greater length of time consumed on
the trip, and consequent increase cost
of meals and sleeping accommodations,
may more than cover the saving in the
cost of the ticket, and the traveller
has no compensation for his lost time.
But this and other operations which
the scalper is wont to consider "legiti-
mate" would scariely explain the
magnitude which his profits must as.
sumo to maintain him in the traffic,
ard these late trials furnish the insor.
nation necessary to complete q solu-
tion of the mystery. The testimony
showed that the railway employees re.
tainea the etieL..r--i'--.<-'"--- "----I"><s-,
gers ana sord them at nominal ra.
to the scalpers, who resold them to
travellers at discount from standard
rates, the companies thus carrying two
or more passengers on the same ticket.
These disclosures emphszize with
painful clearness the moral character
Of the scalping enterprise. For years
past it has been the aim of railroad
companies SO to adjust all their rules
and regulations As to relieve conduct.
ors from even the slightest imputation
of dishonesty. Whether this has been
from motives of self.interest or not, is
immaterial to the point at issue. The
result has been apparent in the esprit
du corps and the morale of their en-
ployees. The feeling, that, in view of
the safeguards thrown around them,
they were above suspicion, has wrought
remarkable change in this class of
employees, and has made the position
of railway conductor highly honorA-
BILE, as it is responsible and exactly
calling. But just as this condition Of
things has been so happily consummat-
ed. new element of evil arises, and
1T is not strange that amongst such
host Of employees some should be
found willing to listen to the tempt
ings of the scalper, and become event.
ually his willing but guilty tools.
In the cause Of morality, and in be.
half of an important and deserving
class of railway employees, We can cor
daily endorse the efforts of the trans.
portation lines to utterly abolish the
traffic, which has long been a misde.
meanor in this State, and we earnestly
hope that the various States will speed
lily take cognizance of the growing evil
and, by statue similar to our own,'
put the scalpers under the ban of the
law and compel railroad companies to
redeem for cash, from passengers,
their unused or partially used tickets.
In the meantime the traveller will do
we'll to consider whether he can con.
scientiously aid the scalper or incur
the risk of riding on stolen ticket
Philadelphia Press.