St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-03-07
ANTI-SCALPERS' BILL.
A Railroad Measure to Eliminate
ScaIpers Argued in Committee.

A Railroad Measure to Eliminate
ScaIpers Argued in Committee.
The judiciary committee of the SEN
ate held lengthy session yesterday
afternoon, lasting from 3until O'clock.
Two important measures were under
consideration, the Leavitt bill, provid-
ing for the repeal of the law under
which the mining companies of North
ern Minnesota. which are now alleged
to be escaping taxation to a certain eX-
tent, and Senate File No. 420, combining
the sale of railway tickets to authorized
and licensed ticket agents. The first
measure was argued by Hon. Cy
Wellington in favor of its pas
sage, and c. A. Severance in
opposition. Mr.. Wellington devoted
ihe main portion of his argument TO
demonstrating the unconStitutionaiity,
as well as the Justice, of the present
law, claiming that the Leavitt bill was
demanded in the interests of the people
Of the state. Mr.. Severance contro-
verified these arguments. claiming that
The law was constitutional and de-
handed in the interests of the develop
ment of Northern Minnesota.
Senate File No. 420, generally
known as the ''scalper's bill" next came
ap. and George A. Mackenzie, of Chi
cago, made lengthy argument in OPP
position to its passage, claiming that
The bill had been devised by the rail
way companies in their own interests,
and if passed would be a damage to the
people. MIR. Mackenzie made a vigor-
ous and carefully prepared speech on
the subject.
Tine opposition" SAID he, son the
part of railroad managers to the buSi-
nf hrnl-arc
from their desire to save themselves
certain peculiar sources of profit. For
Instance commissions are paid by almost
all railway companies TO the ticket
agents of connecting lines on sales of
coupon tickets. The agents salaries
range from So to $50 per month, and
he holds his position in many cases upon
the condition that he will pay over to
ane officer VINO appoints him the sums
realized from commissions"
These commissions, the speaker de-
clared, would amount to as much as
100000 per year OH some great lines.
his revenue has been cut down by the
ticket brokers, and the people have re-
ceived the benefit. Comparing this to
the fast freight lines he said that it was
another example of a wheel within a
wheel. The stockholders never re-
ceiyed cent of profit.
There are now" he said. ga large
number of tickets from ST. Paul to Chi
cago in the hands of brokers in this
city purchased by them at low rates
and sold to customers at $3.50, while
the regular rate is Sl1.50. If this
bill passed they could only be
redeemed at first cost. thus confScat-
8 ing large amount of property and
) taxing the people an additional s. on
each ticket. The section providing for
the redemption OF unused tickets refers
only to those issued by companies with
in this state. All other tickets would
be vaIueless. condition of the con-
tract made in Ohio is that ticket shall
be transferable. This is an element of
its value and would be destroyed. The
Ohio act defines the ticket as an ''evi-
dence of the holders right to travel"
If the ticket presented for redemption
had coupons attached reading on fines
outside the state, the question of agency
would not be involved. The Mime
sofa railroad company would not be the
agent, but the principal over its own
line. This same bill has been defeated,
he alleged, in New York, Virginia,
Colorado, Ohio. Kentucky, Georgia,
California, louisiana, Washington. and
last of all in the United States
congress. Years ago. when the
Pennsylvania Railroad company
controlled the state of PENNSYLVANIA
this same law was enacted, but it has
never been enforced because the senti-
ment of the people would not submit to
1t. Pennsylvania, Indiana and Illinois
are the only states having such law,
and III all these it is dead letter and
the people can dispose of their property
as they see fit. Under the rules of the
American Ticket Brokers' association
any member buying stock passes is
liable to fine and expulsion. Thefts of
tickets are guarded against, and means
are taken TO protect the people, the
railroads and the brokers,
IF the courts and the people, said
the speaker in conclusion, Twill not
sustain this law in other states, what
hope is there for different result in
this free and enlightened state?'
John Z. Built. Jr.. of the Northern
Pacific, declared that certain statements
made by Mr.. Mackenzie were false as
far as General Manager Mellen, of the
Northern Pacific, was concerned. and
w. III. Dixon, of the Milwaukee and st.
Paul, took up that side of the fight.
1T has been hinted," he said, THAT
the Milwaukee is not in favor of the
passage of this bill. Now | am here TO
state that it is unqualitiedly in favor of
it. as are all of the ST. Paul and Chicago
lines"
After a brief controversy between
Messrs. Mackenzie and Dixon as to
what were strong and weak lines, the
former asserting that the weak lines
furnished the Scalpers so per cent of
their tickets SO that they might live, and
the latter taking the contrary position.
the hearing adjourned.