Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-15
TICtkEr-SCALPING.
The DemOraiiziDG Effect On Railroad
Employees OF This Business.

Philadelphia press.l
The developments in the recent trials
Of railway conductors in Philadelphia
and elsewhere for cmbezzlcment bring
to light new feature in the so-called
business of cket-scalping, and explain
very clearly one OF The principal reasons
for the crusade which is being waged by
the railroad companies against those
whose boast it is that they can discount
the standard rates OF the companies.
There was for a long time an element of
mystery IN this peculiar traffic, which
was partially dispelled when the methods
of the scalpers were ventilated in the
courts and by the clearexpositions of rail
wav officers on the subject.
1t is apparent that the scalper derives
some of his support from some of the va
rious links, largeand small, OF the longer
lines between distant points. As a mat
ter OF course, rates by the various lines
between important centres must be uni
form, and the longer lines, by reason Of
their greater length and tine OF transit,
couId not, and very properly so, hope to
obtain any considerable proportion of
the through traffic save by tue operations
of the scalper, who buys for the
intending traveller who falls into
his hands o regular ticket 10y one OF
the longer routes, sells it to him for
a dollar or so less than it cost, collecting
o bonus from several OF the short lines
composing this route as a reward for di-
verting the traveller from more direct
lines, and pocketing n fair profit on the
transaction, although the passenger may
not be SO fortunate. as the greater length
of time consumed on the trip and conse-
quent increase in 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 scarcely explain the mag
nitude which his profits must assume TO
maintain him in the traffic, and these
late trials furnish the information neces-
sary to complete a solution of the mys-
terry. The testimony showed that the
railway employees retained the tickets
collected from passengers and sold them
at nominal rates to the scalpers, who re-
sold them TO travellers at o discount
from standard rates, the companies thus
carrying two or more passengers on tie
same ticket.
These disclosures emphasize with pain
full clearness the moral character Of the
scalping enterprise. For years past it
has been the aim OF railroad companies
SO to adjust their rules and regulations
as 10 relieve conductors from even the
slightest imputation Of dishonesty.
Whether this has been from motives of
selt-interest or not is immaterisl TO the
point at issue. The result hes been
apparent in the esprit du corps
and the mordfc 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 en-
ployees. and has made the position Of
railway conductor highly honorable, rs
il is a responsible and exacting calling.
But Just as this condition of things has
been SO happily consummated new
element Of evil arises, and it is not
strange that amongst such host of en-
ployees some should be found willing 10
listen to temptings and become eventual
ly guilty tools.
In the cause OF morality, and in behalf
of an important and deserving class OF
railway employees. we can cordially en-
dorse the efforts Of the transportation
lines to utterly abolish this traffic, which
has long been misdemeanor in this
State; and We earnestly hope that the
various States will speedily take cogni,
zance OF the growing evil and, by statute
similar 10 our own, put the scalpor under
the ban OF the law and compel railroad
companies to redeem for cash, from pas.
sengers, their unused or partially used
tickets. In the mean time the traveller
will do we'll to consider whether he con-
scisntiously can aid the scalper OF incur
the risk Of riding on stolen ticket