New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-02-23
PRO RATA.

We have been favored with several essays by OPP
popents of the Pro Rata bill now before our Legls-
lature INTENDED to cOnute the ews on that subject
recently set forth in these columns. The adyersa-
ries of Pro Rata have already all, or nearly all, the
Journals of this City but THE TRIBUNE actively
enlisted on their side, with both the leading journals
at Albany; but they seem unable to get along with
cut having at least half THE TRIBUNE in addition
10 their present Press-pOwer. Now we cannot
print al these essays but We are willing to give all
sides hearing; and We here offer to publish such
article adverse to Pro Rata as majority OF those
members of the Legislature who oppose Pro Rata
shall designate, on the single condition that it shall
not contain over twice 50 many words as our own
article on the subject which appeared on the 10th
inst. In case the opponents of Pro Rata in the
Leg stature shall not see tit to embrace this offer,
we will print any article against Pro Rata within
the prescribed length which Messrs. Erastus
Corning, Nathaniel Marsh, and John Wilkinson,
or majority of them, shall indicate. So, gentle
men opposite if you want hearing, come on
The articles already piled on our desk seem to
waste words in beating the air. One OF them, for
example. proves alter fashion, that the Erie
Road cannot receive freight in New-York, trans
port it to and deliver it at Port Jeryis, for
half the price at which it conveys freight to point
twice ms distant as Port Jeryis. Nov, as the Pro
Rata bill requires nothing of the SORT, but makes
fair allowance for the cost of baDdlng-an allow
apce fully equal, we believe, to the present differ
ence in the charges on freight conveyed hence to
Port Jeryis aud BiDgbamton or Owego respect
iyely-the demonstration of S. s. is utterly wide of
the mark, or makes for Pro Rata rather than
against it.
Let US not waste words on ambiguous terms, but
begin by clearly understanding other We do not
favor spy act constituting Railroads to load freight,
convey it thirtylmiles, unload and deliver it, for
tenth part of its charge for conveying just such
IRE ight three hundred miles. No such proposition
is before the Legislature; if there were, we should
eTenuOdsly oppose it, as we declared last Winter.
What we do advOcate-what the Pro Rata bill now
before the Legislature is intended to elects the
graduation Of all Railroad charges for Conveying
rcgh 10 htprOpOTiOnal COST fsach transportation.
If, for instance the actual cost of conveying ten
thousand barrels OF Flour by rail from Buffalo to
Albany is twenty five cents per barrel audit charge
for such conveyance is either forty or ffy cents,
then we insist that it should not be lawful to charge
for conveying like quantity of Flour from Lock
port OF Rochester sixty seventy cents per barrel,
but that tie charge for such conveyance should bear
ibe same proportion to the actual cost thereof as in
the case of Flour brought from Buffalo.
TITS ia either right or wrong; at all events it is
clear: Will the Railroad men meet Itl We
stand on the principle of equality and fair dealing
as opposed to jugge and iockcyiDg. We insist that
# the Central can afford to bring Flour from Buffalo
to Albany at a certain rate fixed by ITSELF it can
afford TO bring Ike quantity OF Flour from any
point this side of Albany for that same rate, or
something less And as to all manner of demon
STATIONS that bringing Flour from Buffalo TO Al
baly for hall; price enables it To transport Way
Freight lower than it could otherwise afford to do,
We hold them put forth in contempt OF the popular
understanding. Besides, it is not low freight that
Western New.YOrk demands, but fair freight To
charge dollar per barrel for bringing Flour from
Rochester would not break the mlllers Of that city,
if corresponding rate were charged from Buffalo;
while TO bring flour from Rochester at fifty cents
and charge but twenty-five from Buffalo, would
swamp them.
We bid the opponents of Pro Rata welcome to
our columns, UNDER the conditions above got forth.
They will pursue such line OF augmentation as to
them ,hall seem good; yet we trust they may SEQ
fit to debate the question on its merits, and not
waste their blows on any fantasy OF their own inn
aginatiOns.