, 1889-02-07
BLOW AT SCALPERS.
No More Commissions for Ticket
Agents.
Their Occupation, Like Othel-
los, Will be Gone.
The Propo cd Amendment by Judge Coo
ley to tho Interstate Com
merce Act.

Dispatches from Washington TO the
REVIEW indicate that the interstate COM
merce commission 10 about to strike Sc
we're blow at scalpers and coupon ticket
sellers. The kilograms state that un
amendment is to be made to the original
interstate commerce law, to prohibit all
payment OF commissions on the sale Of
tickets, for interstate business, except by
regular agents Of the carriers. That will
effect every coupon ticket seller In the ter
ritory and will be death blow TO scalp.
ers.
"The amendments proposed by Chair.
man Cooley to the interstate commerce
act that went into effect April I, 1887, will
knock out the agents and scalpers. 1ttakes
away the commissions which they now
have FROM other roads for selling tickets over
their lines and leaves them nothing for
doing so. When they sell ticket from
any place in this territory to Chicago,
they get commission from the road from
st. Paul by which the passenger goes.
This induces them to distribute the busi-
ness equally over all the lines from St.
Paul to Chicago, where otherwise they
would be Indifferent what road passen-
ger went by and the best known would get
the bulk Of the business. The roads are
in favor of the amendment. as it forms o
serious drain on their earnings from pas
senger travel and 1t is to their benefit Ia q
general way to dispense with it. II will
knock out the scalping business completely.
WILL 1T STOP DIsCRIsirNATIoNp
"Does the new move apply only to pas.
senger businessp" WAS asked of local
railroad man.
mo; it includes freight business also. "
'You think there is no doubt that the
act will be amended in the way Judge
Cooley sugRestsp"
mot the least. The roads are in favor
Of 1t, and no man In congress will stand
up in defense Of the scalpinR business.
Everybody knows 1t works an injustice on
the travelling public, because it admits OF
inequalities in the fare different individ.
uals pay for the same transportation. The
present system is entirely against the
spirit of the interstate commerce act, and
| for one will be glad TO see the public
treated on a square, honorable basis"
And the railroad man drew himself up
and assumed virtuous air that was truly
edifying.
And do you suppose the passage OF
such an amendment will effect the objects
desired and prevent discrimination 2"
The railroad mans countenance under
went an immediate change. With a
childlike and bland smile he oracularly re-
marked: "What has been will be-"
Another railroad man said he did not
belive it would make a particle OF differ
ment were enacted into law. II might
stop scalping, but he felt perfectly certain n
ticket agents would lose nothing by the de-
privation of commission.
1T will all come back to them in one
shape or another. | worked In ticket OFF,
ces for twelve years in the East where such
q law Is in effect with very stringent pro-
visions as to the penalties tor infringe
ment. But the agents got the equivalent
of commissions one way or another. There
are more ways than one of whipping the
devil round the sumo"
NORTHERN PACIFIC CHANGES.
The following circular has been issued
by the Northern Pacific railroad to its
agents:
The esignation of J. M. Buckley. as
sistant general manager western divisions,
at Tacoma, on account OF i'll health, is AN
nounced and reluctantly accepted. His re.
tirement will take effect February LIST, and
will be followed by the discontinuance Of
the three so called grand divisions of the
Northern Pacific, as well as the titles of
assistant general managers controlling
such divisions. For this the following ar
rapgements were substituted:
The jurisdiction Of s. r. Ainslie, for.
merly stationed at Livingston, now assist
ant general manager eastern division. to
be extended over the entire main line and
branches, with the title of general super
intendent. headquarters at st. Paul. He will
have direct charge of road and transpor-
tation and will report TO the president
and general manager. The superintend-
ent of transportation and the division
superintendents will report to the general
superintendent. or his assistants, and be
governed bg his authority in all matters
pertaining to transportation and mainte-
nance of road and structures. The super
intendent of motive, wer, machinery and
rolling stock will continue to report to tn e
president and general manager.
N. d. Root, now assistant general man
ager, middle division, to be assistant gen.
ersl superintendent. with headquarters at
Helena; jurisdiction to be hereafter de-
fined.
The second vice.president at Tacoma
will continue to exercise the general au-
thority heretofore delegated to him ip all
affairs OF the company in Washington
territory, Oregon and Idaho (see circular
No. q aside from the direct supervision
of the road and transportation.
(SiRned) IT. +. OAKEs,
President and Gen'l Mgr.
The Northern Pacific contemplates
building a line from Jefferson, Montana,
to Butte, and has instituted proceedings to
have ground condemned for that PURPOSE
PALOUsE PROSPERITY.
Visit to u. w. Reeds Model Stock and