New-York tribune., 1873-12-10
THE LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS APPEAL.


OF Directors of the Cheap Transportation Association
held at their rooms, No. 10 Pearls, yesterday al
~. m., Il. u. Sherman in the chair Mr.. Sherman from
the Executive Committee reported that copies OF tue
Constitution and bylaws had been printed ana lot
warded to the 500 members OF the ASSOCIATION MT Lees
the general agent. reported the measures when ma
been taken interest leading merchants In the oeoI
sought 10 be reached by the Association. He had come
to the conclusion that those objects could be secureu
without making war on the Rings. The resgna-
ton of John w. StItt from the directory was re-
ported. and Edward Hingen was chosen TO MI tue
vacancy in Board OF Directors and the Commit
tee on Ocean Transportation. An address to the public
was presented by the Committee on Railway Transport
alton, and referred to committee consisting OF the
Executive Committee aud the Committee on Legisa-
ton with power print and circulate and also to take
such action the legislative endations as may
TO them requisite. The following are tho main
points OF the address, with the argumentaye portions
omitted condensed:
While corn in Iowa Is worth 30 cents per bushe' In
NewYOrk. the market price is co cents. While cattle IN
Illinois, Missouri and Kansas are worth from $40 70 w
per head they at the aebaor OF New York b,ns IRON
coal of the finest quality worth at the door OF t9e no
oP Psr e pe IT antRraSe coal is worth s. per on vet IN
New York these cost the consumer respectively o ana
81 Der ton These figures were made in October, aud
altho ugh fluctuations in markets slight changes
In the relative proportions yet IN the main, they arc
correct the manufactures OF the East also greatly
enhanced in cost to the and thus
every step in the examination OF this question we
dnd the people the whole people. dependent almost
for their yery for all the ordinary
ssaries OF lifeup0n the Transportation facLes OF
the country Every man. woman and child in the United
States pays tribute 10 our transportation system upon
the greater part or every thing they eat drnk ana wear
thus wa can easily that all OF citizens
have an interest in Its management In the opinion OF
this committee IL is not advisable for the G0Vefnment
10 undertake the business OF common carrier OF mer-
chandise but in order that they may be some check
upon the rapacty OF great corporations whlch nave
grown 40 that no new enterprise conducted by tndiyd
Ca successfully
that the people to some extent enjoy the dement's oi
competition we would recommend National iron high
way between the East and tae West to be constructed
by Government, buJ To be operated under gehef
aT ia oy tSe rosdSod Our system Of railway
portaton being full OF defects aud abuses, something
must be done to remedy them. Because We have made
during last generation s no reason why We
should be satisfied. any more than the engineer souu
rest contened whom ho finds the great power OF his en-
ene but half utilized Prominent among the defects
l. Tho present method OF undertaking tho construc
ton Of railways without pald.up capital
H. The initiation commonly known AS watering OF
s,ack nv which its nominal value is largely
thereby making IL necessary to unduy tax tr'Ve ana
commerce to secure 1t value. ,. -,
IJI nv rings In their management, through which
both the public and the noi-inanaglng sochnouers are
neeced to enrich few prominent Onlcials aau ahas"s
~ The present system which neeessitates the opera
tion of messenger freight traffic tne same road
bed III which the passenger trainc mas tne gI o,
thus making for freight trains TO ay up TWO
thirds OF the time when they should be rolling Oh W
" the partial representation OF the stockholders in
he
Admitting then tho Importance OF the subject. and
that something must he dOneto remedy tue deiocS an
abuses OF present system OF transportation the
question arises, What practical remedies can we pro,
pose After careful examination and consideration o.
the subject it is the opinion OF this COMMITTEES tha tno
desired relief must come from: - 81, ,
l. Legislation. by which present system OF rail-
ways can be regulated and improved, and -
II Competition. which will complete and carry out
the reform which legislation must lnaugurate. D.,
Under the head OF legislation we must nave tne 'oF
l. a law creating Board OF Railway Commissioner.
tn hiIsn.i M
late rates transporting freight over all rairYdus
doing this state and To prescrlOc uhiiot
system of keeping railway accounts ..
II A law prescribing equitable system OF proper
t0nal minority representation OF TIE stocAnouer' /"
the boards Of direction -. -
III law restraining railway companies from pay
ing int dividends beyond fair and Just return
bond holders. ana compelling them To expend an sums
in excess of amount and what is required 10 Keep
eratlpg G. xpenses their moving handling ana ter
mina facilities Tor public security and convenience ana
10 reduce their transportation charges when such iac
ties are IN a perfect and completed condition. -,
". A law prohibiting all railway companies from rom
places which not competing points -,
v A law prohibiting all railway companies from dee,
eating their business to separate corporations now
Known freight lines the entire receipts OF whcn
do go into the treasury OF the road over winch they
vi Alaw to prohibit tho leasing. consolidation or
scoubnatlon of parallel lines OF ROAD oy wncn corpd
ton ia destroyed aud the people highways converter
WI VII A law prohibiting railway companies from ac-
ouring or holding real estate tnan IL necessary
or the operation OF their roads, prohibiting railway
COMPANIES from engaging In mining. any business
other than that of transportation. lit.
VIII. A law making II penal otense Tor any pnohc
official 10 accept the free pass OF any railway
company, and prohibiting railway companies from
granting such passes TO any but regular empoye'o'
sucn railways
In the opnion Of this committee the exclusive suse OF
this power either by the Government by private cor
poralions would not result IN the realization py ,
result from this application of steam 10 the hsn"ayyo
Of country; ana after careful examination OF ino
faA n Nnf
that 1t only by division OF the great work OF tram
portation that these benefits can be fully enjoyed m
regard to It's being OF corruption. IN the opinion
OF committee IL could not, under any circumsan
DoS uow prevails under our present railway system.
IL IA notorious that ninetenths Of the money c0rrupy
spent 10 Influence legislation comes from railways IN
their efforts obtain legislation antagonstic 10 the III
terests Of the people, and instead OF such mRnNV
being productive OF more corruption character
il is The opinion OF this Committee based upon careful
aon, that 1t would be potent agent III reduc
ing the amount money expended for stated, IL
would inaugurate era OF retrenchment and economy
In railway management, instead OF the reckless anu
lavish OK penditure that now prevails And here this
Committee desire mention that the adoption OF Cy
Service system, In which emplOy6 Is liable 10 uIs
charge on account OF political opinion, and preferment
ia TO be obtained only by efficiency and hOnesty-wil 90
much 10 remedy both the inehciency snd corruption,
he fear of which constitutes the last two In
the opinion OF tins Committee such work would pay
liberal interest on the Investment; II Is no. a
w1 scheme for constructing "a road like the
Sortbern Pacific, 2OJO miles through "a new
country with only prospective profit ia land specIa
tion but IL would pass through tho garuen
of the West with immense traffic assured from the
start ana all probabilities IN favor Of the opinion
that as an Investment II would pay. But suppose II did
not pay penny ,of interest. that 1t all oil ~
earnings. and slOOOOOD per year ia addition, It WON'T WON'T
no the beat Investment that the people the Unllou
states could make, for IL would them sOO0o lor
every 81 10000 laid out save 1t 20 producers aud con
Sinners boln at the East and tho West, the inter
change of corn and wheat cattle and coal for the thou
sand ana articles we manufacture import aud dea'
in and save times u the whole country III
he effect that IL would have the management Oh
our present railway system aud Ia the enhancement ia
yalne OF landed property. That the Government hss
tbe ttutona rght to construct such work there
Dan be no doubt for the Constitution expressly c0nio
he right "to regulate commerce between tho states
IL IA ALSO admitted that II mas the Tight 10 ooDstfuo'
nIgIy.ys aud indeed tho country has beooio 50 Oh
ondod that highways of this kIud absolutely noo'