The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-12-08

OF scslping Bni Passes the Hous. ~.
swsIi Malapity

vote ot lis TO i0l. This action IL Qhs cul-
mmaion OF a ten years etruggle on ,hs
part Of railroads to put an end 10 ,bs
business OF ticket scalpIne. The inter-
state commerce commission nrst called AZ.
tention to the subject IN It's report of 1879
and Il has been before congress ever since.
In ono form or another. During the last
session extensive hearings were given both
TO the representatives Of the railroads and
the scalpers, and Mr.. sherman. OF New
York, secured iH pledges for tho measure
Il was, however, -efested. The debate
today lasted four hours and was spirited
upon both sides.
The biii requiring the carriers subject 70
tho inter-commorcc act to provide each
agent authorized 20 sell tickets with a GER.
uhcate, and made 1t unlawful Tor an Of
icer Of such carriers to supply tickets to
any but authorized agents 1t made yio-
iaton of these provisions a misdemeanor
and provided for the redsmI Aon OF unused
| or partially used tickets. and also provia.
ed penalties Tor foregoing or altering tick
cts. Mr.. Sherman SAID this legislation
had been repeatedly recommended by the
Interstate commerce committee. that II
had the support Of commercial bodies, ana
that over 5000 petitions in its favor had
been presented TO the nouse during the
present congress. Tho business commu-
miles had come to look upon tho ticket
brokerage business as Illegal 1no amount
.of fraud practlced, II known, would startlo
any one unfamiliar with 20 facts.
Mr. Brundige, Dem, Ark, offered aa
an amendment a provision to tno effect
that the act should not apply to tickets
that are issued by any railroad or any
other common carrier for the purpose OF
being transferred.
In explaining his amendment Mr..
Brundigo said that the purpose OF tho bni
was TO prevent certain railroads from
placing tickets iu to hands OF scaipors
for the purpose OF beng transferred. The
provision relating TO forgery was unnee-
ceasory. Every state had statutes against
the issue OF forged Instruments.
Mr. Hepburn I'm advocacy OF the bnl,
said there were but two sources OF opposi-
tIon TO tho pending measure, tho ticket
scalpera who made money ou, OF the busl-
ness and certain railroads who succeeded.
through tho scalpers, IN violating the in
ter-state commerce law. He said that
there were roads which did 20 per cent OF
their business through scalpers, and he
appealed to the friends Of the bill not to
allow the amendment to prevail
Mr.. Mann said there were some weak
roads which would not be able to compete
with their strong rivals except through
tho agency of the ticket brokers. For
some years, he said. taere had been N
movement Tor the passage OF a law to 10
galize pooling Of freight rates. This was
a bin TO authorize the r. ways to pool
their passenger business.
This legislation. he said. Nas In the In
erest of the largest ranroada.
Mr.. Bland, Dem Mo. said he favored
he bin, but was opposed to the bin as q
whole
T.OsE WHO OPPOSED.
Tho bin was opposed by Messrs Little,
Bodin, Bartlett, and Dulett. Tho latter
said that an the courts dec.sions thus far
had been IN the direction OF the unconsu-
uuonality Of the proposed law. Ho said
icalpers could not do bt iiness II tho rail-
'oads did not supply them with tlokets
Mr.. Corlisa. Rep. Mich. said that this
'il would not prevent discrimination. II
would simply transfer the right 20 dis
from the scalpers TO tho auth.
)rized agents. He gave notice o. an am.
'ndmcnt he would oIser TO make any auth
'rlzod agent OF any railroad equally liable
with an unauthorized agent for selling
tickets below published rates.
Mr. UpdegraM Rep. Iowa, made warm
'peech In opposition to the bill Ho could
he said' allow SO monstrous proposition
as the bin contained TO pass without a
word IL ought 10 DO entitled a bill TO
suppress competition I'm passenger traric.
lie had loved the republican party. had re-
ioiced I'm its achievements. Il rad done
much 70 elevate mankind ana was now
riding high ou the tide Of popularity. This
BIN would mark the beginning Of its de-
cadence. Its passage would impair In the
minds Of the masses tho honesty and Ia
tegrity Of his party
Mr.. Marsh, Rep Ills. and Mr.. conley,
Rep. Ms opposed the bnl.
Mr Hepburn. IN charge Of She bill. re-
piled 20 its criticisms. II was designed 20
stine competition.
on a rising vote tho Brundlg amend.
ment was defeated, - 70 IS.
Tho vote was thea taken by ayes ana
uayes
The amendments wero defeated The
vote then REQUIRED upon Mr. Corliss, am
endment, it was also defeated.
Mr Adamsou, Dem. Ga. Mr. Galnes.
Tenn. and Mr. Iodd. Fusion Mich. op-
posed tho bill the after
Gus Onslaught upon tho railroad, after
which the bin was placed upon It's passage.
The BIN was passedt he announcement