Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-28
AGAINST TICKET SCALPERS
Anti-scalping Bill Passes the House by a
Vote of 142 to 5l.
ONLY AUTHORIZED AGENTS SELL TICKETS
Measure Applies to Interstate o""-
merce transportation A~lone-Fihes
md imprisonment Provided
for ~Scnipers.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27.-The house, after

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2.-The house. after
a five hours struggle today, passed the
anti-railroad ticket scalping bill by a vote
OF 142 to 81. The adversaries OF the meas
ure resorted to flibustering tactics, out
they were defeated by an overwhelming ma
FORTY. The bill applies only to interstate
commerce transportation. 1t requires all
carriers subject to the interstate
act to provide agents authorized to sell their
tickets with certificates, and makes 1t a
misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $1,000
or Imprisonment for one year, for any per-
son not duly authorized to sell tickets. 1t
requires carriers to redeem unused tickets,
and makes the forgery or counterfeiting
Of the tickets punishable by Imprisonment
for two years.
A number Of other bills were passed dur
ing the day, under suspension Of the rules.
Mr.. sherman, republican of New York.
from tho committee on interstate commerce,
called up the anti-ticket brokerage bill. This
action aroused a how of protest, ana Mi.
Terry, democrat of Arkansas, raised the
question OF consideration against II. inc
house voted, 1853 to 70, to consider the Dill
MIR. sherman demanded the previous ques-
tion, and a flibuster was naugurated by
Mr.. Powers, republican of California, VINO
moved an adjournment, The motion was
lost. b to 176. The previous question was
ordered. 1871 to so. Under the rule, twenty
minutes for debate was allowed on each SIDE
MIR. Sherman then took the floor and ex-
planned the provisions of the bill. The bill
to carry out the basic principle
OF the interstate law-llhe com-
pensatIon for like service.
Mr.. Patterson, democrat OF Tennessee, de-
clared this bill would protect the railroads
In their discrimination against non-com-
p~etitive points.
HELPS RAILROADS.
Mr.. Terry, democrat of Arkansas, said
ahe measure should be entitled a bill to
strengthen railroads" The bill originated
with the powerful railroad companies.
Mr.. Northway, republican OF ohio, called
attention to the fact that the pains and
penalties of the bill were all to be imposed
on innocent passengers or unauthorized
agents.
Mr.. Mahany, republican or New YORK ue-
noupeed the attempt to railroad throuSh a
bill which affected the whole travelling pubic
Mr.. HeDburn. republican of Iowa, In closing
for the bill, said 1t interfered with no rights
which the holder of a ticket had under MS
contract. 1t was a bill to prevent dlscFlmi-
nations.
After further debate by Mr.. Wheeler, dem
ocrat OF Alabama. in favor Of the bill, and
by Messrs. Dockery, democrat CT Missouri,
Mcguire, democrat of California, and Elicit.
democrat CT Virginia. in opposition to it. the
vote WIS about to be taken on the passage of
the measure. Mr.. Elicit demanded the regd-
ing OF the engrossed copy. As the bill had
not been engrossed, the vote could not be
taken. The engrossing clerks at once went
to work to engross the bill.
A jcint resolution was adopted to prevent
the Introduction and spread OF contagious
and infectious diseases, 1t empowered the
inspection OF vessels and persons from sus-
pected ports and was passed as a precaution
against the introduction OF the bubonlc
plague.
While an unimportant land bin was beIHg
considered. the engrossing clerk hurried IN
with an engrossed copy of the anti-ticket
brokerage bill. After the engrossed bill had