The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-05-13
LOT Of Complications.
They're Likely to Arise Over the
Enforcement OF the Anti
Scalper Law.
All But Two Roads In the Same
Boat as the Ticket
Brokers.

II II Duo TO Failure to Obtain Cersih-
oates for Agents and Licenses
to Sell Tickets
The anti-scalper law goes into effect TO-
day. and the ticket brokers' will keep open
In Montana aud continue doing business
Notwithstanding, relying on the fact th"t
the provision which was intended to shut
them up will, if enforced, do the same FOR
everv railroad in tho state except two. Inc
psrt of the law which was intended to op-
crate to prevent dealing in scalped tickets
by brokers makes II the duty OF railroad
and steamboat companies to provide their
AGENTS with a certificate of authority OF the
agent to make sales of tickets for that line.
The certificate must bear tho corporate seal
of the company and be kept posted in a con-
spicuous place in the agents office. Ten
days after the certificate ia issued a zee OK
RI must be paid to the secretary
of state. Then the secretary Issues
tho agent q license to engage In the ousl-
ness of selling tickets. The license
must also be posted in the agents ONCE
II is made unlawful for any person not IN
possession of q certificate and license SO
posted to sell, barter OK transfer within the
state for anv consideration the whole or
any part Of any ticket or other evidence OF
the holders title or right TO travel on any
railroad or steamboat, whether they be sis-
mated. operated or owned within or without
Aha limits of the state. A violation OF thls
il made a misdeneanor. and is p~unisnaple
by a fine not exceeding $500. and by Inn
prisopment not exceeding one year, OF
either or both, In the discretion OF the
court in which the offender shall! be con-
victed.
Up to the close of business yesterday only
two railroads doing business in Montana
had complied with this, the most Important
provision of the law. They were the Mon
lana Union. which took out eight agents
licenses. and the Northern Pacific, which
took out siahty-eight. None of the ticket
agents for the Union Pacific, the Great
Northern. the Montana Central, or the
Great Falls & Canada roads had applied Tor
q license from the secretary OF state. ana
the inference was that their certificates had
not been received from the headquarters o.
their respective companies. The agents OF
those roads, the s~cslpers claim arc IN e1-
ACklV Lu0 bAkuo AnV - ~
themselves; if they sell tickets without 3
certificate from their companies posted IN
their Offices, and without a license from the
secretary of state, they are violating the
letter of the law. just what Will be done Is
mot no, k m w. but ssd it is .s shGusn t,o ses t end take
STANCES on the law letting them
alone until the certificates arrive and the
licenses are obtained. The oversight was q
natural one, considering that the railroads
did not think that the law was aimed a,
ANYBODY except the scalpers. As it 10 al
INT The Northern Pacific and the Aontana
Union are in the same boat with the scalp
ers. 80 far az the wording of the law 10 COZ
cerped. Whether they mean to stay tnere
and make tho soalpers' fight their light. OF
whether they simply overlooked 1t, the fu-
turs will develop. So far as the ticket bro
kers are concerned they will pay no atten'
ton TO the law. but will let the initial step
If any il to be taken, COM from the autnor'
tiles.
Every agent residing OF acting within thu
states, authorized to sell tickets or osnel
evidence Of the holders title to trave
upon any railroad or steamboat, is required
by the law to exhibit to any person desiI'
ing to purchase a ticket, or to any of1cer O
the law who may request it, a certi1cate o
his authority TO sell, and his license. IN
ticket brokers will act IN the suppositiol
that q man who wants to buy a cheap tlcke
WALL " 1kAb1oV VIA oSSAAS
long as the ticket can be had for Less ina
If gotten at q railroad office.
There ia another provision OF law re
curing railroads to redeem unused parts Q
tickets over their lines. Every railroad q
steamboat situate or operated in whole Q
in part. in the state, is required to provid
for the redemption, nndor reasonable pre-
cautions, of the whole. or of any coupon c
coupons of any ticket sold by any author
lied agent which the purchaser for an
reason, other than tho expiration Of tn
expiration of the time limited in the tick
for its use, has not used, at cost. in case {
ticket not used, and in case OF . coupo
of q ticket partially used, at a rate Whit
shall be equal to the difference between -
price paid for the whole ticket and the 60
of a ticket between points for which II
used portion Of the ticket was actual
used; provided, that such ticket. or coupe
or coupons, shall be presented for redeml
ton to any authorized agent, before IL
time therein limited for its use shall ha'
expired; and the deposit of such q ticket.
part of ticket in the postot1ice, addressed
any agent, before the expiration of Il
time limited on the ticket or part of ticke
will be deemed a presentation; and the sa
BY any person of a ticket. or the unusf
portion of any ticket. or coupon or conpon
otherwise than by the presentation OF 1T Il
redemption, will be deemed u violation
the law, and any person guilty Of suoh
violation will be deemed guilty of a misd
meanor, and punished by u fine not excee
ing $500 or by imprisonment not e1ceedil
one wear, or either or both, in the d~lscreti'
of the court in which the offender ID co
victed, However, when any licensed tick
agent. or any common carrier subject to 7
PROVISIONS of the law shall sell, barter
transfer any mileage book or commutati
tickets or excursion ticket at any reduo
rate authorized by law. and when the mi
age book, communication ticket or excursi
ticket is, by its terms, limited in respt
of the time i'll which 1T is
be used, then tho mileage boz
communication ticket or exoursi
ticket is not to be redeemed. Any railto
or steamboat company. which by any of
authorized ticket agents within the sti
u~nreasonubly refuses to redeem any &C
non of a ticket. or any ticket as require
must pay to the state a nne not exceed'
$500 for each offense.
1t is declared unlawful foE any liceDR
ticket agent, or for any common carr
subject TO the provisions of the law,
charge, demand, collect or receive from,
to sell, barter. transfer or assign to. q
rerson or persons. firm. company, oorpo
ton or association. any ticket or tickets
any GLASS whatever, emitting the purcha
or holder to transportation by the comm
carrier issuing the ticket or tickets. fOl
greater or less price than is charged. {
manded. collected or received by the tic
agent or common carrier, subject to the
for similar tickets of the same class. A '
latlon Of this section constitutes a mis'
meanor and is punishable by q fine not