The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-09-07
WOULD ABOLISH
VALIDATE FEE
George w. Riter's Complaint
Heard by Commissioner
PrOuty on Monday.
SALT LAKE CASES
POSTPONED UNTIL TODAY
Railroad and Shipping Repre-
sentativcs OH Hand, but
Ritter Case Heard.

The test case of George ". Ritter in
his complaint against the local rail
roads to the Pacific coast for charging
valuation fee of 80 cents occupied
the attention of Commissioner {. A.
Prouty in the United States court Tues"
day. The Salt Lake rate cases did not
come up, being postponed until We'd
nesday morning, so all save those inter
ested in the validation complaint leit
the room. Mr. Ritter does not ask Tor
redress but he informally complained to
the Southern Pacific and formally
lodged his complaint with the comlnlS-
sion and the matter was therefore
brought up by Mr., Prouty, Mr.. Ritter s
contention is TO the effect that 1t is Il
gross injustice to advertise round trip
rate to California or other coast points
at a certain figure and then to make
charge of 50 cents before the ticket
can be surrendered for the return Jour
ney His experience meant missing his
train in San Francisco and remaining
there a whole day. SO he, with other
men on the train, held an informal DIS
cussion in the matter aud he decided
to make the complaint and make 1T
test case.
AS the travelling public knows, the
round trip tickets arc deposited In the
validating offices on the coast and be
fore they can be again secured by the
holder. they must be identified, sign the
tickets and pay the validating fee.
Say Plan Is Protection.
The railroad side of the case is that
the plan is a protection 10 the public
and to the railroads: that it prevents
scalpiDg, theft or any form of ticket
manipulating; that IN the case of great
conclaves or conventions it is pre-
caution against ticket theft and ma.
nipulation and barrier against pas
senger rate disturbances.
The matter was fully aired, among
those giving testimony being ID. f.,
| Burley, James Uorsburgh, Jr., l.. j,
| Kyes. G., w. Ritter, George b, Wilson
and others testified.
Judge John A, Street represented tho
complainant and 2. l.. Williams handled
the defense
A bit Of humor crept into the 9th
crwise dull proceedings when Mr.
| Prouty pulled from his pocket a lengthy
transcontincntal ticket and asked If
he would have TO pay the fee, He was
told that he would,
Another bit of fun was occasioned
when the veteran ticket agent, IL. J.,
planned about being taxed the fee and
he replied, "Some people kick at any
thing,
Mr.. Williams asked the complainant
If the hostility to the fee on the part
Of the public was not largely confined
to the witness. Judge Street and others
at the University club, but Mr. Ritter
replied that they all regarded it as a
| Joke but ho had taken up the matter
| to make il test case. that it was an
injustice and annoyance.
Under Advisement.
The matter will be taken under ad
viscmcnt by the commission while the
railroads will prepare briefs. II is but
piece of unfinished business that tho
commission could handle at this time.
which was given as the reason for its
being brought UP at the hearing ahead
of the freight rate cases.
Those railroad officials who had come
to attend the hearing of the Salt Lake
rate cases, passed the time i'll consul
tation at the general offices, Among
those who arrived, in addition to the