St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-02-07
THE ANII-SCALPER BILL.
"A Long Night Session on 1t by thu
House LAWYERS

"A Long Night Session on 1t by the
House Lawyers.
A public hearing was held last night
by the house committee on judiciary OH
II. T. 1913, known as the anti-scalpers
bill. A large and deeply interested au-
dience was present to hear the argu-
ments of friends and opponents of the
bill. This measure is distinctly the
great bone of contention so far the pres
ent session, and the indications are that
the fight on it will he Ito the DEATH" as
Conductor Farnham put it in his adj
dress last night.
Supt. Bronson, Of the union depot,
made the first argument against the
bill. 1t was based Oh the legal aspects
of the case, holding that the bill, if
passed, would be unconstitutional. lie
submitted his plea for the consideration
of the committee in the shape of a
brief.
Mr.. Boggs, of Duluth, followed in
lengthy argument for the conductors
side of the matter. He had gripsack
packed to repletion with evidence
against the alleged methods OF the
scalpers. The Duluth member made
long and powerful address, his remarks
being interspersed with much merri~
ment, elected by the grip and its con-
tents A vote of thanks was rendered
Mr.. BoggS OH motion of Mr.. Horton.
Conductor S. E. Farnham, of the
$780," was then heard. Necessarily his
argument covered mainly the ground
gone over in his former addresses be-
fore the railroad committee of the
house. He produced ticket sold re-
Gently by st. Paul broker and Gifted"
by conductor: also telegram telling
of the taking up OF trip ticket OH all
other train, when the passengers watch
was taken as security for his ride.
Here arose question as to the differ
ent kind OF tickets, and Mr.. Gitt, of st.
Paul. maintained that the tickets re-
ferred to were legitimate commodities
of trade. This statement, lie said, was
made on the authority of a railroad Off
cial. whose name he could give to the
committee if necessary. Mr.. Gifts as
sertion was contradlcted by Conductor
Mills, who held that there was no differ
ence between trip tickets and passes. -,
George Nj. Mckenzie, of Chicago, was
then granted hearing, but MIR. Cotton
jumped onto him rough-shod, declaring
that the Chicago broker had deliberately
attempted to miSlead the committee at
a former meeting. The gentleman from
Duluth was very emphatic, hostile, i'll
fact, expressing in hot words his resent
ment at what he asserted was a false
statement made with vicious intent.
The Chicago man tried several times
to State his position, and finally the
! chairman and several members Of
| the committee interfered in his behalf.
He was then allowed to proceed, and
addressed the committee at some
| length. The railroad companies and
not the brokers, he held, were guilty OF
discrimination. If any one should be
arrested and prosecuted it should be
| the railroad officials and not the scalp
ers.
The committee then went into eXecu-
| tive session and took up proposed sub
| StItute, which differs from the original
| bill in that it would make it mandatory
| on railroad companies to redeem unused
transportation, whether sold in this or
any other state, if offered in Minnesota
for redemption. There is no provision
for redemption pro rata, however, in
| that the companies would only have to
pay anything over the regular rates be-
tween the points travelled. There is
also provision in the substitute for re-
demption of all ''iaWfui'' tickets in the
possession Of brokers at the date the
bill might go into effect.
Mr.. Howard argued that the bill on its
face is unconstitutional, and quoted
numerous apparently convincing decis-
ions on the point.
An informal discussion was partici-
pated in by all the members. A motion
| to report the bill as constitutional was
voted down. Z to 5. The final decision
was to refer the whole matter to the
subcommittee on constitutional law for
investigation, they to repor; to the full
committee on the question of constitu-
| tionality.