The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-08-21
SCALPERS' HARVEST TINE
How the Willy Ticket-Broker Coins
Money Out of Railway Excursions.
Endeavor and Pytbian Tickets-More
Charges Against the Alton.

CHICAGO, Aug. 20.-It has not yet been
decided whether the special agent of the
lnterstate-commerce Commission will In.
vestigate the Western passep ger-rate stu
alton. with view to convictipg certail
roads of discriminating. in selling rickeu
at cut rates to brokers. In the present
state of affairs it is only natural that the
brokers should be stocked with tickets
which they are enabled to sell very cheap
When excursion tickets were selling CT $la
to Denver and return the scalpers were not
slow to see their opportunity. The return
portions of these tickets were good until
Oct. II. Chicago brokers bought mp whole
blocks of these round trip tickets. ing
the full price of Sl2 each. and sent them.
unused, TO their agents at Denver The
business of the Denver broker was to de-
tach the return portions and sell them TO
east-bound passengers at less than the reg
ular rate. The present one-way
rate from Denver to Chicago 10
about S25. SO that the scalper
could well afford to pay the full price for
the round-trip ticket and sell the return
portion at a reduction of the regular East.
bound rate. Furthermore. he could afford
to lay In a pretty large stock of them with
out risk, since the tickets are good for re-
turn passage until Oct. IL. One road.
which was accused by competitors of deal
ing with brokers, has just discovered that
seventy-fiye OF it's knights Templars
tickets were purchased by one scalper q the
manner referred to. Christian Endeavor
tickets were manipulated in the same way,
and now the s. round-frlp tickets issued on
account OF the knights of Py tbias encsmp-
m a or q al hal rfox,o IL
bought by brokers. All the leading roads
are victims of this sort OF competition on
the part of the scalpers and it Is probable
that an investigation would result in the
discovery that not q single railroad COM
pany or any of its agents had been guilty
of selling tickets to brokers at less than
the authorized rates.
General Passenger Agent Townsend. of
the Missouri Pacific. has replied fully TO the
charge made by the Chicago & Alton that
his company was selling Knights of Pythias
excursion tickets at 81 for the round trip
between ST. Louis and Kansas City. In
telegram to Chairman Caldwell, of the
Western Passenger Association. Mr.. Town
send says: The action of the Chicago 81
Alton IN attempting TO force 81 round
trip rate. st. Louis to Kansas City, and to
place the responsibility on this line is now
fully explained by the fact of the Alton
having contracted with the German Vet
eran Association, of ST. Louis. for special
trains leaving Saturday. Aug. 20. at q per
capita rate of 81 for the round trip IN addi-
ton TO which they carry oand of twenty
eight people free. practically making a round
trip rate Of about SO. As evidence of this
statement. we have IN our possession Chi
caRo IL Alton tickets dated Aug. 20. reading
st. Louis to Kansas City and return. and
good until Sept. 15 for which we paid g..
We will meet the competition offered by the
private rates, and will also use this rate for
basiDg purposes in the sale of round-t trip
tickets TO points west OF the Missouri river.
good until Sept. 15." Chairman Caldwell
has authorized all the interested roads TO
take similar action.
President Roberts Will Remain In Control.
PHILADELPHIA, Aug 20.-The Inquirer
tomorrow will publish denial of the re-
port of probable change in the presi-
dency of the Pennsylvania railroad. which
first gained currency in the West. The
paper will say: A high authority. of tn.
company said last night "Mr. Roberts
went TO Europe to rest and he has
thrown off the shackles of official
business" He emphatically denied the
report that the consummation of the
Reading coal deal caused q friction IN the
financial affairs of the Pennsylva or
that it affected President Roberts's position
among the moneyed men of this country or
Europe. ION the contrary" he said, Ibis
the only matter of concern is to retain
him as president of the road"
This, however, states the Off DIAL.
will be done. The stockholders
will bring sufficient pressure upon him 10
AGAIN accept the post. 1t is also positively
asserted that Mr.. Cassatt has not met
President Roberts in Europe. The presi-
| dent of the Pennsylvania was on the con-
tinent when MIR. Cassett landed at Liver
| pool and the latter has not left Liverpool.
He will meet President Roberts on tho
| boat on their way home.