The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-04
ANTI-SCALPING BILL.
senate Committee to Report 1t Fav-
orabIF az Amended


Washington, Feb. 3.-The Senate COM
mittee on interstate commerce to-day au.
thorfzed a favorable report on the anti
scalping bill with amendment. The most
important of these amendments was the
following, offered by Senator Tflman, re-
lating to railroad passes
That giving free transportation to per
sons or property, except as allowed by
section twenty-five of the act To regulate
commerce. approved Feb. 4, 1897, shall be
deemed an unjust discrimination under
section two of said act, and shall be pun
ished as provided in section ten of SAID
act, and in addition to the penalties upon
individuals provided in section ten, the
corporations which may be guilty of any
such offense shall be punished by fine as
in said section, provided
That all free passes issued by or on be-
half of any railroad corporation subject
to the provisions of said act shall be
signed by some officer of the corporation
authorized by vote of the directors to sign
the same, and every such railroad corpo-
ration shall keep Il record showing the
date of every free pass. the name of the
person 10 whom it is issued, the points
between which the passage is granted,
and whether a single trip or time pass
and If the latter the time for which it
is issued; and this record shall at all
times be open 10 the interstate commerce
commission or their representatives, who
may be duly authorized i'm writing to ex-
anime the same"
The House bill was used as a basis of
proceeding and section of that bill was
amended so as to remove all restrictions
as to the person to whom the ticket can
be sold.i This proviso was made to read:
of ral,1
ticket in good faith for personal use in
the prosecution of a journey shall have
the right to resell the same"
Section 8 in the bill was also amended
so as TO reduce the penalty for the first
offense against the provisions from 81 900
TO $500, to eliminate all provisions for i'm
prisonment and provide a penalty of 81 600
for the second offense
The proceedings of the committee were
of a more amicable character than those
of any previous meeting and the decision
70 report the bill was reached without di-
vision
The amendment regulating the issuance
of passes was strenuously pressed by
Senators Tfllman and Chandler
Mr.. Tillman said in reply TO question
from Senator Wocott that he thought he
would vote for the bill If this provision
was Incorporated Senator Chandler is
the author of the amendment He intro
bill several years ago. Senator TiHman
resurrected 1t to-day and through the as
sistance of Senators Chandler and Chill
ton, and others, secured its incorporation
into the BILL
Senator Chiffon offered several amend
ments which were voted down. One of
these provided for fixing an arbitration
and uniform rate of 2 cents mile for
passenger traffic on all the railroads of
the country, and that railroad tickets
should be transferable and negotiable lust
as other property is.
There is a MISUNDERSTANDING that the
bill shall not be considered in the Senate
until Senator Cullom's bill extending the
powers of the interstate commerce bill
shall be reported and on the calendar
An effort was made by Senator Culiom to
secure positive instructions to this effect
and while he failed in this he succeeded
in securing passive acquiescence in the
proposition The committee bill will be
taken I'M at the next meeting