The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1907-01-15
Gossip Of the Doings
of Railroad Men

The entire ticket scalping situation
In the United States hinges on what
the Supreme Court of the United States
will decide in the several cases now
before that tribunal. The first of these
cases is that of the Louisville and
Nashville Railroad against Bitterman.
which was brought before the Supreme
Court on writ of certiorari from the
United States Court of Appeals for the
Southeastern District. There is also
an appeal from the decision of Judge
Kohlsaat OF Chicago pending before the
Supreme Court. But the case of the
Louisville and Nashville against Bitter
man is much farther ahead on the cal
endar and will undoubtedly be decided
first. SO important is this case for the
railroad companies as well as for the
brokers that counsel for both have
joined in a petition TO the Supreme
Court to advance 1T on the calendar for
argument.
II this request is granted the deci-
sion will be rendered before spring and
will settle once and for all the ticket
scalping question. which has agitated
the railroads for the past twenty years.
Before the campaign was started
against the ticket brokers twelve years
ago there was no curb on them and
they did an enormous business through
out the country. BY multitude of
country, by the employment of train
agents. joint agents. enactment of
State law and municipal ordinances
scalping was gradually and steadily
driven out. 1t is believed both by the
brokers and the railroads that the
United States Supreme Court will rem
der decision in favor of the corpora
tions.
1t is a question whether w. C. Edes,
district engineer of maintenance and
way, will continue in the service of the
Southern Pacific, as he has been APP
pointed the chief engineer of the North
western Pacific. 1t is. however, be-
lieved that he Will not resign from the
Southern Pacific. If he should leave
H. B. Titcomb, resident engineer for
the Los Angeles division, and R. NJ
Drake. resident engineer of the West
ern division. are both in line for pro-
motion.
Malone Joyce. who represents the
Colorado Midland in Los Angeles, is on
a visit to the city. He says that the
southern part of the State was never
in better condition. The rainfall this
season has been eleven inches, as
against 3.26 inches for the same period
last year. and the mountains are
covered with snow, which means an
abundance of water during the dry sea-
son.
w. T. Shotwell OF the Denver and Rio
Grande. who intended to spend a few
days in the mountains where the West
ern Pacific Is building, has returned to
town. 1t IS believed that the heavy
snow drove him home.
d. N! Lees. who has been selling
tickets in the passenger department
of the Santa Fe, has resigned in order
to start a paper in Berkeley. which he
will devote TO teaching railroad men
their business.
S. F. Booth, who acts as the agent
Of the Cunard line OF steamers In this
city. has been informed that the COM
pany IS making arrangements for it's
vessels TO call at the port OF Cherbourg.
which will be convenient for passen-
gers for European points.
It is reported that the Napa Valley
electric road has secured all the rights
of way for the entire distance from
Napa TO Calistoga and that the road
will be In operation in about eight
months.