New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-08
AFTER SPECTATORS.
1LDERWEN GIVE HEARING
Syndicate Managers Ready to Cut
off Al Outside Seats.

The Committee on Laws and Legislation OF
The Board Of Aldermen held hearing ticket
speculation yesterday, and adjourned without
announcing any decision after hearing express
eione OF opinions from representatives of the
so-caIled Theatrical Trust" the spectators
themselves and the big hotel agencies like
Tvson's.
Mayor Mcclellan stirred the Aldermen to ac-
ton fl his annual message. Alderman Brown.
es a result. introduced resolution amending
the present ordinance forbidding sidewalk ticket
selling under a $50 penalty, and Alderman Doull
introduced resolution providing for a $500
license fee for all spectators.
Nearly all managers want TO do away with
sneculators. or. at least say so. The trust
was represented at the hearing by ex-Judge
Dirtenhoefer. who was persistent in his de-
rnands for decisive action. But it was said at
the hearing that it would be difficult to deter
mine inst how far the powers OF the Aldermen
went.
Many persons it was said. willing to
nav for good seats. Daniel Frohman. one Of
the syndicate managers said that he and his
associates wanted specuating TO cease, even in
the hotels. He said that some hotels meant an
annual business Of $4,000 TO the theatres, but
that the managers had agreed that the way to
end The annoying part Of the specializing bust
ness was TO put a complete ban on the sale OF
tickets outside of the box Offices.
David Neuberger. as counsel for the specula-
tors. spoke in opposition TO the ordinance as
amended. He thought that prices would be
raised and that the hotel offices would have a
monopoly
u. ". Kilbourne, secretary and treasurer OF the
American District Telegraph Company, caused
much interest when he said that for twenty-five
years his company had had assigned 10 it by the
TWO biggest theatres in Brooklyn row E. which,
ne said. was known as THE A. D. T. Company
row" He said any one could have these seats al
- cents advance without any charge for a mes
senger TO deliver them He said il purely
an accommodation which a $500 license fee
would force them TO cut off.
Judge Dittenhoefer said the ticket Spectator S
work not a legitimate business
They get the tickets by fraud, deceit and
Claudestinely. he said They send men, women
end children TO the box office TO buy the tickets,
snd We don't know the tickets are for specula-
tors We are willing that all spectators should
be abolished, even IN the Hobbies We don't want
any"
Alderman Brown asked Judge Dittenhoefer. II
the aldermen passed resolution preventing
ticket specializing on the sidewalks. If the The
atrical Managers Association would refuse TO
sell tickets To Tyson and the other hotel sellers.
Judge Dittenhoefer and Daniel Frohman both
promised that they would.
Alderman Timothy D. Sullivan spoke in favor
Of the spectators, saying he favored the men
doing little business. and he knew, too. the
managers wanted TO be fair 10 the public. so he
favored both, and was playing both ends
against the middle" He said the city had IL
censed the Spectators, and thus given its stamp
Of approval to the business, and IF II was abOl-
ished the public would not be benefited
None of the managers outside Of the syndicate
could be seen last night. Lee Shubert was Qpt
~ town and nobody knew where David Belasco
was The latter's representatives did not know
what he would do about spectators