The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-14
Ticket ScAlpcrs Win Point Over
Railroad Companies.
May Sell Tickets Issued from
Los Angeles.
CHARGE CONSPIRACY.
Ticket Brokers File Answer to
Bill for Injunction.
Claim Railroads Violate Consti-
tuition of United States.

Chicago, July 14-Ticket scalpers
temporarily enjoined by Judge Kohlsaat
in the United States district court from
dealing in railroad tickets issued on ac-
count of the Louisiana Purchase expo
sition to and from st. Louis won a
point in the controversy today.
The railroad companies petitioned the
court for a rule on the defendants to
show cause why they should not be held
in contempt of court for violating the
restraining order by selling tickets is
sued from Los Angeles, Cal, to Chi
cago, via St. Louis, and stamped st.
Louis Louisiana Purchase Exposition"
Attorney Moritz Rosenthal for the tick
ct brokers said:
1.-The defendants have not violated the
restraining order, as they have not
dealt in tickets issued to and from St.
Louis. Simply because the tickets are
the st. Louis exposition is no reason
they were issued on that account. The
railroad companies could stamp all of
their tickets and thus cause my clients
to lose hundreds of thousands of dol
lars that they have invested
Judge KohlSaat said the restraining
order was not being violated unless the
ticket brokers were dealing in tickets
issued to and from st. Louis on ac-
count of the fair.
Attorneys for the railroad companies
did not press the motion for a rule af-
ter the court expressed his opinion.
In answer to the charge that they
traded in nontransferable contract tick
cts the brokers aver that the railroad
tickets "are and have the attributes OF
property, being transferable and salable
by the owner and holder, and that the
provisions that the unused portions of
such tickets should become forfeited
and unstable if presented by another
than the original purchaSer and II not
~, SGT
on the tickets are contrary to and in
violation of the provisions of the con-
stitution and statutes of the United
States and the state of Illinois, and are
contrary to public policy, without con-
and void.
Moritz Rosenthal attorney for the
railroad ticket brokers. against whom
a bill was filed week ago, seeking
to have them enjoined from carrying
on their business, filed an answer yes
terday afternoon.
The various roads and the passen-
ger associations with which they are
affiliated are charged with beng en-
gagged in a common conspiracy TO vlo-
late the law and Cypress the public,
while it is declared that the ticket
brokers are engaged in an entirely
that all brokers, including the defend
ants, make use of fraudulent devices
and misrepresentation to dispose OF
nontransferable tickets, or that they
are III d conspiracy ~ OCAA
road companies.
1t is charged that the bill of COM
plant in the case was filed as the re-
suit of an illegal agreement and I'M
between the various rail- |
road companies composing the re-
spective passenger associations and
the roads composing other passenger
associations and railroad companies of
the United States, and is in further |
ance of a combination organized for |
The purpose of controlling and MAIN |
tanning at fixed prices, without re- |
gard to the public interest, the cost |
price and terms of transportation, so |
IS to defeat competition between said |
carriers
Say Criminal Meetings Are Held.
1t is also charged that the plant /
fl roads in order to escape the pen
llties imposed by the laws of the
United States, organized the various
associations and clandestinely held |
ind still continue to hold their "crim-
nal meetings." and there agree upon |
he rate for passenger traffic, form
If the tickets, and the conditions of |
uch transportation, obligating them
elves, either expressly or by implica-
ion, to the observance of all the con-
Iitions imposed upon the various MEM
oers of said associations, and thus
compel and coerce all lines of rail-
way running from a common point
o common point to make, establish,