The record-union., 1898-12-08
Passes a Bill Putting an End to the BusI-
ness Of Ticket ScaIplng.
The Measure Adopted as Reported
Amendments Offered Being Ac-
cepted-Most Of the Senate's
Time Devoted to Executive Ses-
sion.

! to-day passed the anti-ticket scalpina
bill by a vote of 119 to 101 This action
is the elimination of a ten yeas strug-
gle on the part Of the railroads to put
an end to the business of ticlxe. scalp
| ing The Interstate Commerce Com
mission first called attention to the SUBJ
| ject in its report of 1888, and it has
been before Congress ever since, in one
form or another During the last ses-
sion extensive hearings were given both
/ to the representatives of the railroads
and the scalpers, and Sherman of New
York secured ia pledges for the meas
ure. 1t was, however, deemed mad
visable to bring the measure forward
until the present session. The debate
to-day lasted four hours, and was
spirited upon both sides. None of the
amendments offered were adopted, and
the bill passed as reported by the COM
mittee.
The bill to carry into effect the rec
concentrations of the international
American Conference by the incorpora-
tion of the international American
Bank at the last session had been
made a special order for to-day, but
who had charge Of the measure, Walker
of Massachusetts, Chairman of the
Committee on Banking and Currency,
asked that it go over for one week
without prejudice.
There was no objection, and it was so
ordered
The resignation of Warren B. Hooker
of New York, who has accepted q
Judgeship in New York, was laid be-
fore the House.
Payne of New York asked unanimous
consent to consider the Senate bill to
amend the laws relating to American
seamen, but Hepburn of Iowa demand
ed the regular order. This was the call
of the committees.
The first committee called was the
Committee on Interstate Commerce.
and Hepburn called up the anti-scalping
BILL
Hepburn offered to make an arrange
ment regarding the time to be occu-
pied in debating the bill.
White of Illinois said there was op-
position to the measure.
Adamson of Georgia, who made the
minority report was absent.
Bland of Iowa said he desired to raise
the question: of consideration, but the
Speaker announced than it was too late.
Bland said that an important bill like
this should be debated at length, and he
objected to the offer of an hour on each
side
All efforts to effect an agreement as
to time failed, and Hepburn was there
upon recognized for an hour. He
yielded to Sherman (R.) of New York,
who explained that the bill was very
similar to the one passed by the House
during the last Congress. The changes
were mainly restrictive upon corpora
tions.
The bill required the carriers sub
ject to the Interstate Commerce Act to
provide each agent authorized to sell
tickets with a certificate, and made it
unlawful for an officer of such carrier
to supply these tickets to any but au-
thorized agents. 1t made the violation
of these provisions a misdemeanor, and
provided for the redemption of unused
or partially used tickets, and also pro-
vided penalties for forging or altering
tickets
Sherman said this legislation had
been repeatedly recommended by the
Interstate Commerce Commission; that
it had the support of newspapers and
commercial bodies, and that over
5000 petitions in it's favor had been
presented to the House during the pres
ent Congress. The business commune
ties had come to look upon the ticket
brokerage business as illegal. The
of nd
would startle anyone unfamiliar with
the facts.
Brundige CD of Arkansas offered as
an amendment a proviso to the effect
that the Act should not apply to tickets
that are issued by any railroad or other
common carrier for the purpose of
being transferred.
The bill was opposed by Little CD of
Missouri, Bodine CD of Missouri, Bart
lett CD of Georgia and Gillett (R.) of
Massachusetts.
The latter said that all the court de-
cisions thus far had been in the di-
rection of the unconstitutionality of the
proposed law. He said scalpers could
not do business if the railroads did not
supply them with tickets.
Marsh (R.) of Illinois and Connen (R.)
of Illinois opposed the bill in vigorous
Hepburn, in charge of the bill, re-
piled to its critics. 1t was not designed
to stifle competition.
On a rising vote the Brundige amend
ment was defeated-7O to SO.
The vote was then taken by yeas and
nays. The amendment was defeated
1O1 to 122.
The vote then recurred on Corliss'
amendment. It was also defeated
to 60. 81
Adamson (D.) of Georgia, Gaines CD
Of Tennessee and Todd R.) of Michigan
opposed the bill. The latter made a
vigorous onslaught upon the railroads,
after which the bill was placed upon
it's passage.
The bill was passed-119 to 101-the
of the result being re-
ceived with applause.
Then, at 4:55. the House adjourned.
IN THE SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 7.-No business
was transacted by the Senate to-day IN