The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-30
Ticket scaIping Enjoined.

Railway World.
No one who has ever examined the
methods Of ticket scalpers has failed to
perceive that the business of those para
sites Of the railway industry cannot be
conducted according to legal methods.
They must succeed in inducing the pur-
chasers of railway tickets to violate the
clear, reasonable and unmistakable terms
OF their contracts with the carriers, and
they must forge the names OF real pur-
chasers or induce others TO commit such
forgeries. or else they may as well retire
from business. At the same time, evidence
OF the particular crimes committed is diff
hcult TO obtain. .the amounts involved are
small in each particular instance and large
only when aggregated. aSd the financial ir-
responsibility of the persons engaged In the
illegitimate traffic SO general that the Or
binary processes of law are scarcely ade-
quate to reach them. Again, much of the
injury which this class OF criminals Is
able to accomplish cannot be measured
by any means available for the assessment
o. damages. The profits which they make
are really a charge upOn railway patrons,
rather than upon the railways. m lat
ter are hampered, annoyed and their reve-
pues at times impaired; but that they lose
much more than they would contribute TO
the public by more frequent and extensive
reductions in rates IL their ordinary bust
ness was protected from these illegitimate
encroachments is not at all probable. The
real, general and significant injury. aside
from that to public morals, is TO the travel
ing public, which has its opportunities TO
secure extraordinary transportation at low
rates restricted, and TO the cities and towns
whose trade would be enhanced by more
numerous visitors TO their conventions, ex-
positions and markets. Under these cir
cumstances, the i~nterposition of the pow
ers OF the equity courts would seem Justi-
fable and logical. This interpOsitiOn has
Just been secured at Cincinnati for the
third time. In connection with the recent
Christian t,ndeavOr convention. The same
method was used IN tina city In 1898, when
the ScaIperS were cnJOlned from dealing in
the tickets for the Grand Army encamp-
ment OF hat year, and again In 1899 I'm con-
ncctiOn with the Saengerfest. An eXamina-
ten or the petition on which the present
injunction was issued shows that ii was
not based upon any local laws or cOndi-
tons, and there appears to be no reason
why the same method could not be used
as effectively IN any other jurisdiction as
IL Cincinnati. Those who are concerned
VIII do well To examine the opinion rem
dered by Judge clark, OF the United States
Circuit Court. for the Middle district of
Tennessee. who granted a similar injunc-
ton In August, 1897. This opinion (see
Federal Reporter, Vol. 81. Page 65 ct sed)
Is an able and careful review of the entire
question, ana was referred to with approval
IN the decision I'm the recent Cincinnati case,
OF which II was made the basis. WhoeN er
devised this expedient is clearly entitled TO
the thanks of those interested I'm abolish
ing a traffic that has become a public
nuisance. and yet appears. i'm many re
Sions. to be so intrenched by presidents
and prejudices hat il can scarcely be
reached. The plan is commended especial
~, at this time, to the citizens of Buffalo.
and 10 those OF any city which hopes TO
tronage always attracted by large public
gatherings.