The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-12-26
Thc Tlckct.scnlnIng On.

1t Is unfortunate that honest railroad
ticket brokers are in the list of those
who come under the provisions Of the
antl-scalplng bill which passed the
house of representatives, but the pre-
ponderance OF dishonest ones through
out the country. and particularly in the
larger cities, brought reproach upon the
practice. rendered the calling demoral-
izing and made the law to break 1t up,
by placing adequate penalties upon 1t,
an absolute necessity. The effort has
been made for years to stop the evils
that accompany the traffic in transpor-
tatlon, but without success. The
abuses Of the scalplng business, and the
practice Of llllcltly obtaining the tick
cts sold, caused the crusade and
brought about the passage of the bill
by the house.
The members of the house of repre-
sentatIyes who voted for the legislation
necessary to correct the evils of the
business deserve credit. for the effect of
1t, II 1t passes the senate, will be to re-
lleve the railroad companies of the un-
fair competition caused by the sale OF
thousands of forged and fraudulently
secured or stolen tickets, and is de-
signed to safeguard the roads from the
imposition. as well as the travelling
public. But for the rascals in the bus
mess, who have engaged in illegitImate
means, the bill might not have been de-
handed, but fairness and honesty in
the sale OF tickets was ut discount;
hence the result.
The New York Tribune, commenting
on the action of the house, calls ntten-
ton to the fact. so well remembered,
that at the. hearings before the house
and senate committees on inter state
and foreign commerce during the last
session, 1t was shown conclusively that
the business of ticket scalping cntaIied
constant violation OF specific con-
tracts. and involved both the broker
and the purchaser in attempts to de-
fraud. 1t was proved that stolen tick
cts and passes had been dealt in, and
that limited tickets were sold under
conditions which made them void on
their face unless the holders resorted
to deception and forgery. 1t appeared
that there was no remedy in the state
laws, which were conflicting, and re-
course had to be to Congress, the only
power that can impose uniform regula-
tiony on commerce and travel between
the stntes." The Tribune continues:
II Congress, the railroads Justly argue,
can control and supervise the details OF
inter state traffic II becomes national
duty for that body TO t1kc. coEniEance OF
any irresponsible and Illicit interference
with the sale OF trnnspOrtaton--an inter
ference based. moreover, In many cases
on actual crime and fraud. II II to be
hoped that the sCuntO will find time dur
tng the present short scsslo1 to approve
the house bill, thus Eupprcsslng traffic
which not only inhlcts unmeritcd Injury
on legitimate business, but has been too
long an nffrOnt to public Integrity ana
public morals.
All Of which 10 true, all things con-
sldered. Recently the IntellIgencer re-
celved n volume containing photo
graphic reproductions Of forged rail-
road tickets and passes sold by ticket
scalpers in several large cities, and rep
resentlng losses Of many Thousands Of
dollars to the railway companies. Some
of tho samples indicated the conniyaHec
of the purchaser of the tickets, they
having been compelled to forEe the sig
natures OF the original possessors Of
passes in order to use them. There
were many bold, but sklllful frauds rep
resented md .thc showing made good
the claim that for years the railrond
companies have been vIctImlsed in this
manner. A business in which 20 broad