New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-07
WAR on TICKET-SCALPERS.
ANOTHER HEARING GIVEN BY lhh 0i-+'
ATE COMMITTEE Of INTER-
STATE COMMERCE.


Washington Jan. 6 (specIaD-The war Dun Dun
carly this sesslon in the two houses OF No"s'
on the practice Of Understanding was rene"eu
This morning win fresh vigor, when secolu
hearing was held before the Senate Coni,ii''e o'
Interstate Commerce on the penang o'i ~ p
hibit the sale OF railroad tickets ny o'he' ina"
known and authorized agents or the comPa'.,''
Before the holiday recess the president u ~
American Ticket Brokers' Association M'' 'i1-
Kenzle had taken the stand to oppose the passage
OF the bill on the ground that the railroauS '
selves made no serious effort to prevent '"c 80
OF tickets TO the scalpers. Mt MchehHio apP
AGAIN to-day with several other members o' '"e
brokers' assoclation and reiterated his charge ''
many roads had virtually supplied uCHe'' ~ Wv
scaIners TO be disposed Of at cut rates
The moro important feature OF tho nearing ~"
ever was the strong case made out asai" 49,
practice Of scalpiug by the witnesses VINO 'ooA Wv
stand in behalf OF the Merchants Associate" VI
New-York and the Merchants and lraVeheiS 1
ISOLATION OF Chicago. According 10 the'r s"0"'e'
,bnsa two great mercantile organizations popu-
larlv supposed 10 benefit by rate-cutt'hg are az
soluteIy opposed to continuance OF 'he sfs
system which they regard as po'h Ieed'Is ~
morally indefensible and as harmful 10 the'F o"''
interests The whole scheme OF ticket o'onese
tho representatives OF these associations con'enueu
,os haec1 on fraud and Misrepresentation often
involving actual forgery and Offering premium
nm thefts at..the expense Oh ihe ta''ss
whose tickets surreptitously oo'ai"e' az
sold Tho point was also emphasized tha'' as NAM
States had fixed low mileage rates oy law, Se,.
o,,v inst 10 the railroad companies Una. t"ei'
roernes should be protected from the iIlegi'lma'e
comuetition OF the scalping agents
To-day's hearing will be continued to-ho' 'o
morning wien number OF prominent
mon are expected to testify There seems 10 oe
u,,la doubt OF a favorable vote IN the colnni''0e
on the pending Dill. ,,.. A.
,vnuoro y King president OF the Merchants AS
..,,o.,on ~ Eew-York said he had fought the rail-
roods for wears and would continue TO ngn' u'''',
,rorer rates should be secured lie was oPpoSV'
20 determination. however. hence ne iaNo'cu N.0
nandng bill He characterized as Forgery '"7 uen'
a., &, railroad tickets which was, he sad' opposed
ms - C,rs,i,u,lon o, the United States. lie did
~. ho,,evs in a course that would save one doIar
=, cha exnense OF the crime OF forgery. he sa'u
there we're few firms that would employ ma" 90
traveller who would deal with ticke'-broKers'
nov" he asked ARE not these frauds-criFnes'
,,ay ebould b,-con;rary TO the spirit If not me
latter OF our law as much as using the m''s' '''
,,a,.o FOR the purpose OF distributing obscene
,,.,,,ro or for any other criminal purpose mas
M, the GoyerAmen; OF the United states u''' '''
constItuton the authority 10 regulate SUI" mo
,,rso L. OFT Government. after POSITIVE p'00- VA
cr,minalitv IS offered. to continue 10 give paS''o
RECOGNITION to the crime OF forgery OF win H. ~
enacting this legislation dool's" ~ '
hu, the incentive to II? 80,
"a great deal" he continued mas oee' So,
nv the representatives OF the scalpeTs 00'''
the enormous saving 10 commercial
h,t &, made through their instrumentahty.
have the honor to have been a commercial fa'e"ei'
hoc,nring as such in 1867 and working mYset up
- ,,o,bershtp In M firm. ! know thoroughly "''
,ho conditions surrounding the drummer Hoii
cvcrv point Of view. For one TO be successful o
must he a man OF broad views ueVo'eu :" M
business active, energetic, Industrious anu WIN
tn uCal
The firm OF which am memoe TN ap s,,npIied
nruy Of commercial travellers hey ar suPfhh -.
are s1nerted 70 travel frsclass, stop az INC oes'
hotels and in every way be creult " ~ 10
dsyo,ed his time 10 seeing how much he couIu
save the price Of his tickets rather VIA" '0"
'"A"y M Compton Of Chicago OF TIE National A..
socaon Of Merchants and TrayeerS had
resident delegates the important points =, OF h tas
agents the association had not received 9aK En-
dozen of replies unfavorabe to me Dill re ne a.
not the doctrine ha, the ot Seo mes
Door commercial integrity, opposed to al IDEAS o.
equity He rsfsr5d to the Syse% Of the
and said the ticket brokers offices were ne re-
Sion, lost and stolen railway tickets Mr. Comp,
ton contended tina, so long as tse thew omrht
also TO he protected in the same way. ,,, Ar,.,
The hearing FOR the day was closed WIN PREF g
, Uu' Wernhants' Associa ton OF NewYork. who de-
ci,rej that among the eleven bundled firms IN this
ossociation representing $j)Oooo1o there had not
hem one vote east against the proposition TO sup
nnrt this bill and OF the thirty thousand nrms
nn,Side that city representing another SN"WoWo'
oniy eighteen had opposed II. lie said the mer,
har,s Generally allowed their travelling men full
rates and the ticket brokers' offices afforded TO
,hs Of 2 20 rcr haH Of shS and
are a trap and a temptation TO young men travel
ling for reputable houses. 5000, 49,.
Y n Kelley commissioner OF the freight trans
rortatIon department Of the Trades League or
philadelphia. fled statement IN support Oh the
bill
. -