The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-08
ANTI-scALPING BILL.
It Passes the House After Spirited De-
bate Of Several Hours.

bate OF Several Hours.
Washington, Dec THE House to-
day passed the anti-ticket scalping bill
by a vote of 119 to 1O1 This action is
the elimination of a ten years strug-
gle on the part of railroads to put an
end to the business of ticket scalping.
The interstate commerce commission
first called attention to the subject in
its report of 1888, and it has been be-
fore congress ever since in one form or
another During the last session extern
sive hearings were given both to the
representatives Of the railroads and the
scalpeTs, and Mr.. Sherman of New York
secured ia pledges for the measure.
1t was, however, deemed inadvisable to
bring the measure forward until the
present Session. The debate today lasted
for hours and was spirited upon both
sides. None Of the amendments offered
We're adopted, and the bill passed as re-
ported by the committee.
The bill to carry into effect recon-
mendations of International American
conference by the separation Of the In
ternational Bank, which had been made
a special order for today, but on ac-
count of the absence of Mr.. Hill of
Connecticut, who had charge of the
measure, MI. Walker Of Massachusetts,
chairman of the committee on banking
and currency, asked that it go over for
one week
Mr.. Payne Of New York asked unani-
nous consent to consider the Senate
bill to amend the laws relating to
American seamen, but Mr.. Hepburn of
Iowa demanded the roll call. This was
the call of committee. The first called
was the committee on Interstate COM
merce, and Mr.. Hepburn called up the
anti-scalping bill. Mr.. Hepburn offered
to make an arrangement regarding the
time to be occupied in debating the bill
All efforts to effect an agreement as to
time, however, failed, and Mr.. Hepburn
was thereupOn recognized for an hour.
He yielded to Mr.. Sherman, republican,
Of New York, who explained that the
bill was similar to the one passed by
the house during the last congress. The
changes were mainly restrictive upon
corporations. The bill required the car
riers subject to the Interstate COM
merce act to provide each agent author
lied to sell tickets with a certificate,
and made it unlawful for an officer of
such carrier to supply to agents any
thing but unused tickets. 1t made it a
mlsdemeanor and provided for the re-
demption Of unused or partly used
tickets.
MI. Brundiee Cdem) of Arkansas Of
fered as an amendment as a proviso
that the act should not apply to tickets
that are issued by any railroad or COM
mon carrier for the purpose of being
transferred. In explaining his amend
ment. Mr. Brundige declared that the
real purpose of the bill was to prevent
certain railroads from placing tickets
in the hands Of scalpers for the purpose
Of being transferred
Mr. Bland said he favored the Brun-
dige amendment, but was opposed to
the bill as a whole. The bill was OPP
posed by Messrs Little (dem.) of Ar
kansas, BOdine (dem) of Missouri,
Bartlett (dem) of Georgia, and Gillette
(rep) Of Massachusetts,. The latter
said that all the courts decision thus
far has been in the direction of the I'M
constitutionality of the proposed law
He said that scalpers could not do
business if the railroads did not supply
them with tickets.
Mr. Updegraff (rep) of Iowa, made a
warm speech in opposition to the bill.
He could not he said, allow so mon
strous a proposition as this bill con-
tanned to pass without word. 1t
ought to be entitled a bill to suppress
competition in passenger traffic. He
had loved the republican party; had
rejoiced in it's achievements. 1t had
done much to elevate mankind, and
was now riding nigh on the tlde OF
popularity. This bin would mark the
beginning of its decadence.
On rising vote the Brundige amend
fnent was defeated 70-SS The vote was
taken by ayes and noes. The amend
ment was defeated 101-l22.
The bill was finally passed 1l9-l0l, the
announcement of the result being greet
ed with applause. Then at 4.55 the
House adjourned.
Washington, Dec THE House COM
mittee on banking and currency was
to have held its first meeting today, but
no quorum appeared. Chairman Walk
er says it is not likely that the commit
tee will have any further hearings on
financial affairs or win take further ac-
ton in shaping currency legislation. A
currency and banking bill, framed by
a special committee, headed by Repre-
sentative McCleary of Minnesota, is on
the House calendar, but some difference
of opinion exists within the committee
as. to the regularity with which tins
bill was reported. and steps have been
taken to have it withdrawn from the
calendar