The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-14
CHARGE AGAINST THE TICKET
SCALPERS MADE BY PASSENGER
AGENT BOYD.
CONFLICT IN TESTIMONY.
THE RAILROADS BLAMED FOR ALL
THE TROUBLE BY THE
BROKERS'.
COMMERCE COMMITTEE HEARING
Both Sides Given a Chance to Tell
Members of the Senate About
the Traffic.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 13.-The COM
| merce committee of the senate contin-
ued its hearings on the anti-scalping
bill today, with George ". Boyd, of the
Pennsylvania as the principal witness.
He was sworn under the resolution re-
Gently adopted by the senate. He said
that the ticket brokers preyed especial
ly upon the poorer classes by dishonest
methods, by altered, forged and stolen
tickets. In reply to a question from
Senator Tillman he stated that five
conductors on the Pennsylvania rail-
road in one batch had been convicted
that In a majority of cases persons sus-
pected were only dismissed and not
prosecuted. While, however, the con-
ductors had been imprisoned the ticket
brokers, who were the real criminals,
were allowed to go free. He said that
the corrupting of young men in the
railroad service was one Of the sad
features of the business. Mr.. Boyd
also controverted the opinion that a
railroad ticket was like other merchan-
disc. Concluding his prepared state
ment, Mr.. Boyd denounced the ticket
brokers as pest to society, and as
thieves, who were breaking up homes,
seducing young men into ways of vice
and doing more mischief than could
we'll be conceived.
When Mr.. Boyd concluded George NJ
Mckenzie was called in behalf of the
ticket brokers and sworn. Before pro-
ceeding, Mr.. Mckenzie sought to make
a personal statement in reply to at
tacks upon his character, which was,
he said, dearer to him than the cause
he represented. He referred to an in
dictment found against himself in st.
Louis in 1882. The indictment, he said.
was quashed and the railroad men who
examined his books completely exon
Grated him. Not satisfied with this
he brought a suit for damages for ma
icious prosecution and recovered $500.
He made a counter attack upon the de-
tectives of the railroads who had pur-
chased tickets from his firm under
promise to return portions of them, but
instead of doing so had turned them
over to the railroad companies to be
used in this investigation.
Mr.. Cullom called Mr.. McKenzie's atten
ton to statement he mckenzie had made
to the effect that he had personal relations
with many OF the railroads. Mr.. Mckenzie
then presented affldavits from Simon Steiner,
ticket broker OF St Louis, and J. Van
Sober a broker of Cleveland, to the effect
that they had purchased tickets and thousand
mile books from the regularly authorized
agents of the Pennsylvania company, the
tickets being bought by the brokers on COM
mission. He also presented an affidavit from
Albert ]. Gels, ticket broker OF Chicago,
stating that he had paid with check for
800 for mileage books purchased from H. II.
Deerng assistant general passenger agent
Of the Pennsylvania at Chicago.
Speaking of the afIidavits presented by Mr..
Mckenzie, Mr. Boyd said he had author
ity to speak for the Pennsylvania lines west
of Pittsburg. He remarked however. that
the Pennsylvania line had traffic arrange
ment with the Vandalia line from whom the
mileage books were procured The Vandalia
line was separate company and operated as
such. and at present was in the hands of
receiver.
Before the conclusion of Mr.. McKenZies
statement the committee adjourned until Sat
urday morning at 1890 a. m.