George R. Blanchard, former commissioner of the Joint Traffic Association, says in his testimony before the United States Industrial Commission (IV, 623): “There are two organized bodies of scalpers: the American Ticket Brokers’ Association and the Guarantee Ticket Brokers’ Association. They have their directors, officers, and agents, rules and regulations, and they adopt resolutions and discuss and decide questions of cut fares.” One railroad president told me that most of the tickets the scalpers sold they got directly from the railroads. Another railroad president has given similar testimony before the Industrial Commission, and also stated that he did not believe the railroads could stop the scalping trade in unused tickets.[19] This method of discrimination has, however, received a serious setback so far as railway collusion is concerned. The presidents of the leading railroads have agreed with each other to support the law, and scalping is a more limited profession than it formerly was. In fact, a much larger claim than this is made by some. In going over this year the materials I have collected on the subject, I came upon the statement that “scalping has been practically abolished.” I put up my pen and went down town to see. I found on Washington Street (Boston), in the ticket-office district, a man with “Cut Rates” printed in large letters on his back. The same sign was above a door near by, and on the stairway. I went up. “What will it cost me to go to Chicago?” I asked. “I can give you a ticket for $12 if you are going within a few days.” “Suppose I don’t go for a month or two?” “Well, I can give you a $15 rate most any time.” “First-class?” “Yes.” “Over what route?” “The Boston & Maine and Grand Trunk.” “What can you do over the Boston & Albany?” “I’ll give you transportation on that route for $18.” “Will that be first-class?” “No.” “Tourist?” “Yes.” “Do you have the $12 tickets often?” “Sometimes; but I can give you a $15 rate any time.” I went to the railway ticket offices and learned that the fare from Boston to Chicago by the Boston & Maine and Grand Trunk was $18 first-class, and $17 tourist; by the Boston & Albany $22 first-class, and $19 tourist, and through New York $25.