The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-08-09
TALPfRs MUST GO
= %
OR ST. Louis GETS
NO REDUCED RATES
~


No special excursion rates will be
granted to st. Louis next year on ac-
count of the Louisiana Purchase ex-
position, unless ticket scalpers are eff
fectualIy prevented from doing bust
ness in that city. This is the ultimatum
given St, Louis merchants and the ex-
position management by the railroads
entering ST. Louis. 80 -
In no city in the United States do
ticket brokers, so-called, flourish more
than in St. Louis, and in no city do
they more .daringR perpetrate the for
geries and alterations ascribed to them
by traffic officials. Not only do the
laws there tolerate and protect them.
but apathy or the influences which the
scalpers control are so great, that 1t
thus far has been impossible to secure
convictions when conclusive evidence
was presented as to most fragrant Of
lenses. y sez~f.s
Seek Law in Vain.
The railroads endeavored to secure
the passage OLA bin by the Missouri
legislature to restrain scalpers in the
illegal use of tickets, but the lobby
against it was so great and the In
terest of the exposition management
and business men in it so slight, that
it was never considered. Then mass
Of illegitimate tickets were found in
the hands of ST. Loilis brokers, and a
city ordinance was enacted pretending
to license and supervise them. The
ordinance was SO drawn, however, as
to be Intellectual and even where clear
violations of It's terms were brought to
the attention of the courts, the cases
were continued and finally dropped.
Then the railroads decided that if
the exposition management and the
merchants would not aid in protecting
the railways, the railways would not
exert themselves in behalf of the fair.
The decision was evident when the ex-
position management and the st. Louis
merchants began to make requests of
the railroads. Several privileges have
already been requested that are not
ordinarily allowed travellers, and every
request has, been turned DOWN hard.
,a,,,. No Privileges Granted
Only few. days ago stop over priv
ileges were asked for travellers. from
the West routed through ST. Louis for
ChicagoFiand points East The exposi-
ton mana cement also asked for spe-
cials excursion. rates on certain days
4, and for general reduction in railroad
rates to those visiting the fair. The
railway. protection bureau, comprising
practically the transportation compa-
MES of the United States and Canada,
at recent meeting, Endorsed a prop
psition to make enor reduced oreiexcur-
sion rates; to st. Louis until the scalp
ers were driven out.
The railroad officials, say that not
only do the. scalpers plug, alter and
counterfeit tickets, forge names and
dates, but that they have corrupted
many Of the employees Of the roads en-
tering st. Louis, and are in league with
them in cheating the railways. It has
also been found impossible to convict
offenders In st. Louis or Missouri
courts.
Meanwhile the business men, of St
Louis and the exposition management
are beginning to realize that withou,
reduced rates the attendance of the
exposition will be reduced, probably to
a degree which wifi impair it's success
Until they. are able however, to drive
scalpers out of St.1Leuis, any requests
they may make for reduced rates or
special privileges on account of the
exposition will be turned down by the
railroads. E,es