Daily Kennebec journal., 1898-12-08
ssth CONGRESS.
CONTINUED from page ~

ed the regular order This was the call
of committees. The first committee
called was the committee on interstate
commerce and Hepburn called up the
anti-scalping bill.
Hepburn offered to make an arrange
ment regarding the time to be occupied
in debating the bill. White, Rep, Ill.,,
said there was opposition to the meas
ure.
Adamson, Dem, Ca, who made the
minority report was absent.
Bland. DEM, Mo-, said he desired to
raise the question of consideration, but
the Speaker announced that it was too
late
Bland objected to the offer of an hour
on a side. All efforts to effect an agree
ment as to time, failed and Hep
burn was thereupon recognized for an
hour. He yielded to Sherman, Rep, N.
T., who explained that the bill was
very similar to the one passed by the
House during the last Congress. The
changes were mainly restrictive upon
corporations.
The bill required the carriers subject
to the interstate commerce act to pro-
vide each agent authorized to sell the
tickets with certificate and made it
unlawful for an officer of such carrier
to supply tickets to any but authorized
agents. 1t made violation of these pro-
visions misdemeanor and provided
for the redemption of unused or parti-
ally used tickets and also provided pen
alties for forged or altered tickets.
Sherman said this legislation had
been repeatedly recommended by the
interstate commerce commission, that
1T had the support of newspapers and
commercial bodies and that over 5000
petitions in it's favor had been present
ed to the House during the present
Congress. Sherman displayed great
mass of fraudulent tickets which he
said would give faint idea of the
frauds practiced upon the railroads
and the innocent travelling public.
Corliss, Rep, Mich, said that this
bill would not prevent discrimination.
1t would simply transfer the right to
discriminate from the scalper to the
authorized agent. He gave notice of
an amendment he would offer to make
any authorized agent Of a railroad
equally liable with an unauthorized
agent for selling tickets below publish
ed rates.
Updegraff, Rep, Ia, made a warm
speech in opposition to the bill. He
could not, he said, allow so monstrous
a proposition as this bill contained, to
pass without a word. 1t ought to be
entitled a bill to suppress competition
in passenger traffic. He had loved the
Republican party, had rejoiced in its
achievements. 1t had done much to
elevate mankind and was now riding
high on the tide of popularity. This
bill would mark the beginning of its
decadence. It's passage would impair
in the minds of the masses the honesty
and integrity Of his party. Marsh, Rep,
ILL.,, and Connolly, Rep, ILL.,, both vigor-
Ously antagonized the bill.
Hepburn, in charge of the bill. replied
to it's critics. 1t was not designed to
stif1e competition, he said.
On a rising vote the Brundige amend
ment was defeated, 10 to So. The vote
was then taken by ayes and noes. The
vote then recurred upon Corliss'
amendment. 1t was also defeated, 5
to go.
Adamson, Dem, Ga, Gaines, Dem,
Tenn, and Todd. Fusion, Mich, op-
posed the bill. The latter made a ter
rifle onslaught upon the railroads after
which the bill was placed on it's pass
age. The bill was passed 119 to 101, the
announcement of the result being re-
ceived with applause. Then at 455 the
House adjourned.