The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-02-10

1
the Inconvenience to which they are sub
Jected.
| The railroads and the scalpers have been
| carrying on n warfare for years, the former
| finding necessary various protective meas
ures to prevent inroads into their bust
| ness, Originally the railroads sold un-
limited tickets, good until they were used.
and with the privilege of stopping over
at points on their lines. This was most
convenient in many ways, and the public
| appreciated 1t; but when the scalpers. or
ticket brokers. came into existence, the
railroads found it necessary in order to
protect their interests to adopt the lin
tied ticket. This change not breaking up
| the scaiping business. they went step
| further aud issued the ironclad signature
| ticket-which the travelling public has
found annoying; then they required de-
scrptive mileage tickets, and withdrew all
stopover privileges. Thus the worst vic
tim in this struggle has been the traveller,
who is subjected to numerous annoyances
/ in order to assure the railroad companies
protection from scalpers. The former have
lost money and the public has been incon-
venenced simply that the scalpers might
| plumber the railroads.
| Mr.. +. s. wilkins. general secretary of
the Baptist Young Peoples association
/ WIN III tHltGEO,
| the committee on commerce Il few days
ago, apropos of the anti-scalping bill now
before congress. as follows:
ION behalf of our constituency OF 000,-
900 or more the Baptist Young Peoples
Union of America promote the passage OF
the anti scalping bill. We are utterly OPP
posed to all improper manipulation Of
tickets. which our experience In holding
our large annual conventions demonstrates
| lie "a CO nr0 nc oh gcol In
ers exist We fully believe ii for the best
interests of the public that such leglsla-
tion as is now before congress should be
enacted
Mr.. wilkins Is right. The railroads are
| prevented from giving better rates to con-
ventions, and to other public gatherings of
| that kind. simply because they know that
II they do IT will be playing into the hands
of the scalpers
| New Orleans and all the other COM
mercial centers of the country are thus
| deeply interested In getting rid OF the
scalpers, for as long as they prey on the
| revenues of the railroad companies II is
impossible for the latter to grant reduced
round trip tickets TO the larger cities
| Take our carnival, for Instance. Thous-
ands of dollars are expended here annually
to attract visitors from the North and
West The rates could be made far lower
| than they are, and more people brought
here. but for the scalpers.
| New Orleans is further injured by the
withdrawal of the stop-over privileges that
passengers enjoyed before the railroads
abolished 1t to protect themselves. The
passenger going from New York to San
| Francisco. or vice versa, Is way OF New
Orleans, would be almost certain to stop
over here few days and sec the sights;
| but, unfortunately. he can not do so. His
ticket is Limited his trip must be con-
| tinuous. and he can not stop anywhere en-
route. The railroads would be very glad
to return to the old system OF stop
overs" but they can not do so as long al
this privilege gives the scalpers new OPP
portunities to plumber them. And thus in
| order that a few scalpers may live at the
expense of the railroads thousands of pas
sengers pass through this city annually
| without spending an hour or dollar here,
when they would like to do so, and when
a score of businesses would be benefited
If they were allowed to stop here. The
travel through this city between the At
lantic and Pacific has grown to immense
PROPORTIONS of late years. but New Orleans
opioys from II none OF the advantages 1t
| should-,and all because OF the scalpers
New Orleans is not In the line Of the
| short rate making route between densely
populated portions of our country or lfad-
ing commercial centers. These short lines
make the rate. Emu lnt bhHAhtSS Pa1HiHt
through this city is rated by the lines
in interest. who do not receive as high a
rate per mile. Stop-over privileges, there
fore are impossible as long as the scalp
ers carry on their trade.
| II Is the same as to mileage tickets.
Our commercial bodies would like to have
the rates reduced, the tickets made inter
changeable and more available; but II Is
impossible to entertain this idea as long
] al,N.,- &c morn
these tickets as he would certainly do.
| We find, therefore, that the scalplng
husiness has injured the railroads, cutting
off profits in their passenger business and
reducing their dividends, that II has done
away with the stop-over privileges FORMER
llv enjoyed, prevented cheaper. more avail
able and more convenient tickets. prevent
ed reduced rates for conventions. festivals.
etc. and subjected the general public to
great ANNOYANCE, inconvenience and en-
nense. Taking New Orleans as an example,
IL has prevented thousands OF people from
coming here who would like TO do so. and
Thousands OF others from stopping over
who desire to- When 1t is considered that
,ha only beneficiaries OF the system are
Cow scalpers carrying on their trade main
liv las side issues) in cigar shops and sim
tiar nlaces. congress Is certainly acting In
I've nublic interest when 1t proposes 10
hrsaL I'm the business. allowing the rail-
soaSs ali they are entitled 20 for passenger
TRANSFORMATION and assuring the public
cheaper rates and greater convenience In
travelling. The public and the railroads
vi, ~ the law Is passed. divide the prof
~, wn now pocketed by the scalpers. The rail-
roads can afford to reduce rates and yet
aet more from their passenger business
s. ,hev do now the profits OF the scalp
80 being eliminated; and the pubiic VIII
n,oy further advantages and privileges.
'N Eor these reasons all the pressure pos
.,,le particularly from New Orleans.
shc,,id be brought 70 bear on congress "