New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-21
every problem involved IN the treatment of
THE TICKET BROKERAGE NUISANCE.

THE TICKET BROKERAGE NUISANCE.
The Board Of Aldermen deserves encourage
ment In the efforts which 1t is making to ter
inmate the nuisance Of speculation in theatre
tickets. For many years the patience Of the
theatregoing public has been taxed by the prac-
teal transfer of a large proportion of the de-
sirable seats to operators selling them at an
enforced profit This extra charge has varied
with conditions the hotel agencies asking an
advance of 80 cents-25 per cent of the adver-
Used price-and the sidewalk spectators de-
manding any premium which they thought they
could wiring out of a customer. The sidewalk
traffic as conducted by licensed spectators.
has developed into a scandal, the thorOughfares
in front Of the theatres being blocked by noisy
hawkers who annoy not only visitors to the
theatre but passersby with their solicitations.
In the interest of public order this nuisance
should be suppressed, and the Board of Alder
men is on the right track in reversing the city's
present policy of licensing these street vendors
and putting an absolute bar on their activities
The street speculator ought to have been ban
ished long ago. and no one will regret his dis
appearance. He performed 10 real service
for either theatre managers theatregOers.
We have many times pointed out the distinc-
ton between the sidewalk venders with their
offensive and irresponsible methods and the
doing an actual service for the Out-Of-tOwn pub
Ec which in a considerable measure supports
the theatres. 1t can be said of the hotel agen-
cleS that they have d reasonable and legitimate
function Yet by absorbing large number of
the most desirable sittings they have ceased
catering exclusively to the wants of strangers
and compelled residents to deal with them,
whether they want to not, thus exacting an
Overcharge which could not be exacted by the
seller at the box office. We have no desire TO
discourage the practice of putting good seats
in the theatres within easy reach of Out-Of-
town patrons. But that practice should not
be used rs a cover for raising the price of seats
to New Workers who find it just as convenient
to deal with the box office as with the hotel
broker.
The ordinance reported on Tuesday by the
Law and Legislation Committee of the Board
of Aldermen goes to the root of the evils of
the present system. 1t aboshes the Spectator,
as SUCH and limits the right TO deal in tickets
TO the prOprletors, lessees and managers of the
theatres. The propretors Iessees and man
ayers can, presumably. continue TO sell tickets
through authorized agents. though sales on the
streets and sidewalks are forbidden. If he so
desired a manager could have agents stationed
at the various hotels to sell tickets to out-Of-
town customers. But whether he should be
permitted 10 sell at an advance In price is ap-
parenuy left undecided by the ordinance re-
ported on Tuesday second ordinance Is I'M
der consideration revoking the license of any
manager who makes an agreement with an
agent by which the agent can exact a pre-
MUM Possibly the best solution would be to
forbid any sales at an advance price and to
let the hotels and the theatre managers share
the cost Of maintaining the hotel agencies II
Such agencies are worth maintaining in order
to accommodate out-of town patronage A
change In the present system assuring free
choice of seats at the box Office would, In our
opinion, materially increase the business of
the theatres: for thousands Of theatregoers
are intensely dissatisfied at being saddled with
the cost of what they consider an unnecessary
system of ticket brokerage