Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-12-20
VIOLATING The Law.

VIOLATING THE LAW.
by the Interstate Connie
sion ut Chicago Shows = Systematic vio-
lation Of Law by Railroad Companies-
Heroic Treatment win be Adopted to
Cure the EVIL.
CHICAGO. Dec. 12.-Not since the Inter-
State Commerce law was passed has an
investigation by the Commissioners re-
vealed such an amount OF crookedness on
the part Of railroad companies as the one
now being made in this city by Chairman
Cooley and Commissioners Morrison of the
methods pursued by the railroads in trans
acting their passenger traffic. The evil,
dence already obtained is sufficient to con-
vict nearly every road centering in this
city OF q willful violation OF the law, not
only as regards the long and short haul
clause, but also as to discrimination between
passengers. The charges heretofore made
that nearly all the through passenger traffic
Of tho roads had been done through scalp
ers for the express purpose OF avoiding
another reduction and to keep up the rates
between local points were fully substan-
tiated. Not one of the large number Of
railroad officials who were examined were
able to give a plausible reason for selling
to scalpers at q much lower rate than they
sold at their own offices nor tell why they
persisted in paying enormous commissions
for the sale of tickets to scalpers, hotel
runners, hack drivers and others who
could command any business. Their only
excuse was that they had to do it because
their competitors were doing it.
The Commission has now como to tho
conclusion that heroic measures are re-
quired to bring the railroads to q realixa-
ton of the fact that they can no longer
violate the law with impunity. The prac-
tice Of doing their through business through
scalpers. who admitted that their business
was carried on in violation Of the law, will
have to be stopped and the method of pay
ing commissions for the sale of tickets
either to scalpers or coupon ticket agents
will also have to come to an end, as it is
intimated that the Commissioners will
render a decision that these practices are
contrary to the letter and spirit of the
law, and whatever rates are made over any
road by scalpers or other parties must be
made at the regular ticket offices of those
roads and intermediate rates must be made
to correspond with the through rates.
whether by the scalpers or the railroads
themselves. Thus, if commission is paid
and the commission if used to cut the reg
ular rate by scalper or anybody else the
road will be guilty of a violation of the
law unless it reduces it's regular rates COR
respondingly. This will surely end tn e
VI SCalpoIS anu OGUoTS euSdSoO
in the sale of railroad tickets, as railroads
coul Id not afford under the circumstances
to sell them tickets at reduced rates or pay
commissions.
The large assembly room of the Central
Traffic Association in the Rookery build
ing was packed with railroad officials at
the hour appointed for the meeting with
Judge Cooley and Colonel Morrison of the
Interstate Commerce Commission yester-
day. There were presidents, vice-presi-
dents, managers and general passenger
and freight agents, representing not only
all the roads entering Chicago. but many
outside lines. The Texas association, in
session at the Grand Pacific Hotel, adj
journed that it's members might hear the
wholesome advice which no one doubted
would be freely given by the venerable
chairman of the Commission. It was evil
dent that when Judge Cooley entered the
room that he was 'Ioaded for bear'' and
there was a feeling prevalent that he
would bring down the game. When he
took the floor he kept it for about an hour
and it is a safe thing to say that never
since the Interstate Commission began it's
existence have the railroads had the law
laid down to them in such forcible terms.
He confined his remarks to the passenger
rate business and addressed the roads
west and northwest of Chicago. con-
demning the practice of some of the gen.
eral passenger agents in placing blocks of
tickets in the hands of ticket brokers to be
sold at rates below those charged over
their own counters. This, he said, was
discrimination against that portion Of the
public which procured its tickets from the
regular agents of the roads in question
and was clear violation of the Interstate
law. It was a pernicious practice; it BEN
Gifted nobody in the long run; it kept
rates in a demoralized condition and
brought on wars which were always dis
astrous to the roads engaged in them.
The Interstate Commission, the Judge
said, had heretofore dealt leniently with
the railroads, giving them time to adapt
their tariffs to the requirements of the
law, but the time had come when heroic
measures must be taken, if necessary. to
stop the abuses which had arisen from the
encouragement given to scaIpers by pas
senger agents. Evidence was not want
ing that such abuses had been carried to
excess in Chicago and elsewhere. The
markets were flooded with cheap tickets
and the traveller who patronized the
brokers' Office instead of purchasing his
ticket from the authorized ticket agent
saved money; this was contrary to law
and it had to be stopped. The roads were
advised to make none but open rates and
they were given to understand that if
they refused to heed this advice the law
would he strictly enforced whenever a
violation was detected.
The Judge explained the construction to
be placed upon the provisions of the law
in regard to discrimination, and intimated
that in future no excuse would be accepted
for an infringement Of its provisions.
The remarks were listened to with
marked attention, and Immediately after
the adjournment of the meeting the gem
eral passenger agents convened in the
same room with j. III. Abbot in the chair.