New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-17
THE ANTI-SCALPING BILL.

In a recent letter to THE Louisville Courier
Journal President Milton II. Smith Of the
Louisville and Nashville Railroad, after present
ing the arguments in favor Of the Anti-Ticket-
Scalping bill, now pending in the Senate, calls
attention to phase Of public opinion which is
manifested whenever Congress or State Legis-
lature enacts laws the obvious purpose Of which
is to cripple or injure railroad corporations. The
moral sense Of the public, he says, has been or
is rapidly becoming blunted in matters affect
ing these corporations. Instances are cited IN
which State Legislatures have clearly and pal
pably Disseminated against the railroads in the
enactment Of general laws affecting the rights
Of employees, compensation for damages. powers
Of commissioners to fix rates and other details
Of railroad management and operation, and the
conclusion is reached that a perverted moral
sense on the part Of the public as to the rights
and duties of corporations is at the root Of all
the hostile National. State and municipal, legis-
laton. The consequence Of this apparent deter
minaton to treat the property Of railroad cor
porations differently from all other property in.
terests will be presently seen he thinks, in a
general disposition on the part Of railroad owners
to dispose OF their holdings at a fair valuation
!
responsibilities and risks Of operation as well
as Of the increasing probabilities Of total loss
This may be an extreme view Of the situation,
but it points out clearly the tendency of current
railroad legislation and the Interior purposes Of
the Populist demagogues who are urging it for
ward.
Meantime, It Is we'll to note that the efforts of
these gentlemen in the direction of railroad CON
fiscation and Government control by positive
legislation are supplemented by active oppos-
ton to any and all measures favored by the rail
road corporations themselves to remove causes
Of complaint on the part OF the public on the
score Of inequalities in rates, favoritsm, I'M
fair determinations and undetermined violation
Of the Interstate Commerce law. The Anti
Ticket Scapng bill. for instance, now pending
appears TO be, and no doubt is, intended TO put
an end to dishonest practices on the part Of GER
tain railroad officials who, with or without the
knowledge Of the responsible managers Of the
companies they represent. make n business Of
selling tickets at rates which clearly imply vio-
lation Of some of the provisions OF the Inter
state law Some Of these tickets come into pos
session of the scapers by sharp practice on their
part or that of the persons from whom they are
procured and some by open and fragrant dis
honesty. In either case they furnish grounds
for complaint or reasons for suspicion against
innocent corporations as violations Of both the
letter and spirit Of the law.
There Is no profit in this for the honestly man.
aged companies. nor is there any good reason
for suspectng collision on their part with the
ticket scalpers. All the same. they have to bear
the Odium Of IT and to experience the injurious
effects Of hostile legislation on account OF 1t.
They are practically unanimous in asking at the
hands Of Congress legislation which will make
end OF the scalping business and relieve them
from the charge Of unfair discrimination in
rates. The pending bill aims at effecting this
purpose. 1t is In the interest Of honest railroad
management as opposed to thickness and eva
sion Of law. The only objection to 1t comes from
men whose ultimate purpose 10 to bring about
Government control of railroads. and who con-
seQuently desire to keep alive every abuse for
which corporate management can be held re-