Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-21
The Ticket Scalner

10 the Editor of The Evening Star:
Kermit me to take issue on a few points
with the writer of an article headed
ticket Scalping" In Fridays Star First
"heh you or T. wish to buy a ticket We
80 10 the scalper-the man unaccustomed
" travel goes to the railroad office any
one VINO does much travelling knows that
II Is cheaper to buy from the scalper than
rom the company, and all drummers or
others who travel Invariably go to the
scaiper; the green" man goes to the COM
pany.
me ticket sold you by an association
broker Is Just as good as though purchased
at the depot, as all his sales are g1,aran-
risks 'ou '"Ae ho
True, among the scalpers not members
VI tne association you may meet with the
Saline iate as You would in dealing with
any dlshonest merchant, or you NAV be
imposed upon, but with the legitimat e
scalper you need have no fear. AS for the
suggestion that If ii Were not for the
Business of ticket scalping tn rai,ronS
companies would reduce the rates of fare
L would like to ask who ever heard of
railroad company voluntarily reducing
ticket scalping is illegal you paw the maxi
mCm limit allowed by law. Take for in
stance, the Pennsylvania railroad On Y
div), which crosses the states of New Jer-
Illegal, and the company gets it all-are
your rates of fare any less? Not at All
On the contrary. in the interior cities that
are dependent upon this one 81 eat railroad a
round-trip ticket will not be sold, and the
maximum rate, cents per mile charged
because there is no opposition or nothing Ia
force them to it, and to points where q
rcund-trip ticket will be sold it is limited
to six days. In previous years the Penn
sylvania railroad would sell tickets during
the holidays at special rates. but the
New York division no holiday tickets have
been sold for some years past Thus, u
you wished to go from Philadelphia e
some other point on their lines in New
Jersey and wished to remain over New
Year you would have TO pay 3 cents pei
mile or make your return within six days
and this exists where there is no scalper
On the p, w. and b. and other lines ex-
tending through the territory where the
wicked scalper'' plies his trade you could
buy holiday ticket, good from Decembel
"a to January 4, at a reduced rate of fare
1t is absurd for any one to say that tt'
determination of the scalper is not solely
in the interest of the railroads.
And why has not the scalper as much
right to buy and sell tickets as the broker
has to buy and sell grain or any Other
| merchant the right TO buy and sell his
wares?
If wish to buy a horse and by buying
| two horses and selling one to some one
| else can save some money what right has
| any one to prevent me? II buy a round
| trip ticket to Chicago and don't wish e
return why shall not sell II to the scalpel
| ard why shall not the scalper buy II and
| Sell il over again?
This idea of the philanthropy OF the rail
roads is all wrong; the railroad has not ye'
! been chartered whose desire is 10 lesser
| rates. and the only hope the public have
! of reduced rates is the lively opposition Of
| a competitor. and this very city of Wash
! irgton can bear testimony Of this fact by
! reference to the time when the j. and %
! ba railrC sd entering the CltN
I Let us hope that the great railroads w nc
/ shape legislation TO suit their grasptns
! interests and who confiscate government
lards for their private use may never sue
! coed in depriving US of our right TO go will
/ the fellow around the corner and buy ant
sell our tickets where We please. c. A. j.