Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-21
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Replying TO card OF Railroad " in
Sundays Dispatch, referring to the bill
now pending and entitled an act TO pre-
vent frauds upon travellers. TIE nnder-
signed would say that be has carefully
read the bill entire, understands all its
provisions, and is familiar with its work
ings in Pennsylvania. Knowing a this,
he would unhesitatingly state that the
bill itself is fraud upon the people ;
that its title is misncmer, and that its
passage in other States was obtained 10y
Misrepresentation and false pretences.
In the first place it does not make it
obligatory on the railroads that they re-
deem their tickets. In the next place
the rate at which the bill says they should
redeem, deducting local fare for the p0r-
ton used. would generally give the
owner much less than the ticket is worth,
and in many cases give him nothing, but
bring him in debt To the road. In the
next place most Of these unused tickets
are issued by railroads outside of the
state. and as the issuing road Is to re-
deem its own tickets how IS the State Of
Virginia 10 have any control over these
foreign corporations? In my opinion
this redemption clause is put in to make
the bill palatable TO a lOng-suiierlng
public, and don't amount TO anything.
This whole thing Is supertuous legls-
lation. Asa matter of fact there are no
frauds committed on travellers IN the
sale of railroad tickets in this Sta1e.
The tIcket-broker gives the public the
advantage Of competing rates aud sells
on commission for some roads who fur
nish hlm with tickets. All railroads are
not opposed to ticket-brokers and not a
few oIe glad to avail themselves Of his
services in selling their tickets.
There are many people who do not
understand the business Of the broker,
but let me say that all this talk about his
handling stolen tickets, acting as a
fence, conspirihg with conductors, &c,
Is the merest bosh. Nothing Of that kind
could continue for any length Of time,
and | do not believe that stolen or
counterfeit ticket has ever been sold IN
/ this State. The ticket-brokers here have
never been charged with any crime,
and It is q base slander 10 intimate that
their business IS not conducive 10 honesty
aud morality. | do not think there are
many conductors in our state who would
| he guilty of reselling tickets, and J an
quite certain that ii there was, and he
/ should try TO sell the stock TO any mem
/ Der Of the American Ticket Brokers As
/ sociation, he would be reported i'm
mediately, not only 10 his road but tC
/ every member Of the association through
out the country. / want to inform
Railroad of three things Ii be does
not know them already
/. That niue -tenths Of the travelling
men of the country would rather TAX,
the simple word OF reputable broker
than the written guarantee or statement
Of the biassed agent Of any railroad com
pauy.
?. It is a well-establishod fact thai
stealing of tickets has almost entirely
ceased since the advent Of the ticket
/ broker. Self-prOtectiOn cOmuels him tC
report any such irregularities coming tC
his notice.
3. That Interpretations are no
I daily made in the sale OF tickets by
brokers, but that they are more careful
and truthful in their statements thar
most any other class Of businessmen.
II these ticket brokers were what som,
people seem TO think they are the,
would have worked their own destruction
long ago
The fact is, however, that the bulk o
their business all over the country Il
selling tickets furnished to them by th'
weaker lines. They do a large business
and hold the balance Of power in pas
senger travel. The Pennsylvania Rail
road Company does not pay commits
sions, and by exterminating the broker
they crush their competitors who sci
through brokers'
This is where its mOnopolistic hant
comes in, in Senate Bill 299, now pend
ing. CITIZEN.