The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-26
A RAILROAD COMMISSION
RAILWAY OFFICIALS DO NOT OPPOSE
CREATION OF A BOARD.
OmcIaIs of Commercial Club Listen to
Arguments Against Ticket Scalp
inE-GeneraI Notes.

As the railway brotherhoods, in their
meeting held in this city few days ago,
took strong grounds in favor of a railroad
commission for Indiana, the views of rail-
road officials on this subject are of interest
G. g. Waldo general manager of the Gin
cinnati, Hamilton & Dayton. says he would
rather have a railroad commission in this
State than not, if the commissioner or com
missioners were men qualified to hold such
positions and the commission was similar
10 that of Ohio in it's operations. In Ohio
the rights of the railroad companies are
recognized as well those of shippers. and
differences which are constantly presenting
themselves between the roads and other
business interests are adjusted on a fair
basis.
J. @. Van Wrinkle, general superintendent
of the Big -Four lines. said railroad COM
mission was a good thing providing the COM
missioner was not a politician or a man who
thought the railroads had no rights. The
carrier had some rights az well as the
shipper. The relations between the Big
-Four and the commissioner of Ohio had al
ways been very pleasant; he had frequent
occasion to meet TIE commissioner on ques-
tions which came up from time to time. and
had found him disposed, while protecting
the interests of the citizen to protect the
rights of the roads The commissioner once
a year went over their lines and was at
forded every facility to inspect them, and
if he saw anything to criticise they were
always glad to have him make the criticism.
Another prominent railway official said
railway commissions were all right unless
they got to be one-sided, as in some of the
Western States. He said Indiana had got
along thus far without the expense of a
State where shippers were better treated in
rate matters. competition forcing the roads
to make low rates; certainIy shippers were
not complaining, and sc far as the condition
of the roads of this State is concerned the
tracks were better to-day than those of like
mileage in any State in the Union.
The Movement Against ScnIpers.
d. M. Parry, president oT the Commercial
Club: Evans Woollen, secretary and the
special committee appointed to meet A. N.
Compton, of Chicago, representing the Gen.
trail Anti-ticket Scalping Merchants Asso-
citation, were in conference couple of hours
yesterday. Mr.. Compton told the gentlemen
why certain merchants have interested
themselves in the notwithstanding bill
now before Congress. He was armed with
n vast array of railroad tickets that had
been manipulated by brokers. One display
tickets exhibited there were many others
attached to separate cards and marked to
show the particular phase of manipulation
which they represented With these ex-
Nhibits as this text Mr. Compton argued that
the merchants are interested in the sup
preston of ticket scalping because it is
against public morals, public decency and
common honesty. He showed that mer-
chants. large or small. wholesale or retail,
ere directly interested in aboishng ticket
brokerage because Ii is to their interest to
have in their towns and cities public gather
jngs, such as county fairs, street fairs,
Grand Army meetings teachers meetings,
church conventions, society organization
meetings and any and all others because
such large meetings made trade brisk. The
chief argument of the railroads for not free
~ granting low rates for such meetings at
the present time is that the brokers use such
rates to deprive them of revenue which
should accrue from regular travel. Mr..
Compton also showed that the merchants
are directly affected financially by ticket
brokerage To protect their tickets the rail-
roads annually spend great sums of money.
This detracts from their net earnings. In
conclusion he urged that merchants study
carefully the question and, If convinced
that the position of those who are labori1g
for the passage of the bill IS a correct and
5ust one. to write letters to their congress-
men, asking them to support the bill when
1t next comes up in the House of Repre-
sentatives and later when 1t reaches the
Senate.