Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-15

Theatergoers everywhere, who have
paid their extra bit to ticket specula'
tors, probably were disappointed
when the United States Supreme
Court declared unconstitutional the
New York law designed to curb the
scalpers. Much of the press com
ment, however, approves as sound the
view of the majority Of the court and
points to the public's power to pro.
tect itself by simply refusing to pay
excessive prices.
'New York's theatrical business,
according to the Louisville Courier
Journal, us largely dominated by a
clique Of spectators who gouge the
public outrageously. 1t should be
broken up; but anyone can see that
the situation is in no wise comparable
to one which would arise If, for in
stance, a private monopoly, owning
the water supply, charged extortion'
ate prices. The people can't live with
out water. They can get along com.
fortably without theater tickets and
nunish the SPECTATORS while doing 1t.
Attempts to fix the price of theater
tickets are pure manifestations of
paternalism, which would goad some
of the protesting theater patrons to
the verge of disloyalty, should the
State interest itself in the way they
procure their money to buy seats Tor
the show"
"The ruling" suggests the Phila-
delphia Evening Bulletin, may De
isappointing at first glance as dissi-
mating all dreams Of effective legisla-
ton against the ticket brokers and
their gouging schemes. But on Sec
ond consideration and in its ultimate
effect, it is likely to prove wholesome
il il shall emphasize the fact that the
public ought to take care or itself.
Theater management faces a buyers
market. If it's practices become oo'
noxious, all that the public has to do
is to get mad enough to reruse 10
patronize and the practices Will De
remedied."
The Newark Evening News also
holds that 1.-The obvious remedy for
the situation is not to buy tickets from
the agencies or free.lance SPECTATORS
But human frailties persist" continues
that paper, especially the fonaness
for taking the easiest way and hang
the cost. It looks like a bright dawn
for the hoarse-voiced fraternity with
greenbacks between the fingers as well
as for the regular agencies.
The Great Falls Daily Tribune en-
phasizes the fact that "the majority
opinion differentiated the great grain
commerce flowing through Chicago
where the elevators stand in the gate
way of commerce. taking toll from all
who pass, their business tending to
common charge that had become
thing of public interest, from the the
alter business, which, 1t was held, Is
not devoted to a public use,' meaning
a broad and definite public interest.
Nevertheless. the Rock Island Argus
refers to the opinions Of the dissenting
justices, with the statement that 1.-The
general public will. we believe. cherish
the opinion that the justices who dis
scented from the majority had the bes,
of the argument" The Argus re
marks that Justice Holmes Thought
theaters to be as much devoted tt
public use as anything can be" and
that Justice Sanford did not think
the question was whether the business
of theater owners was affected with
uublic interest, but whether the bust
ness of ticket brokers Is so affected"
"The brokers on their side" as
l.xy thn NYauy nrfaora TiynaS