, 1874-05-31

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riage, sitter adding certain profit on capital.
8. Determination Of terminal charges.
4, Immediate reduction Of rates and fares.
s. Subsequent periodical revision Of rates and
| fares
G. Absolute limitation Of dividend.
7. Reduction Of rates after dividend has
! reached certain percentage, SO as to divide e1-
| tra profit between the company and the public.
s. Classification Of rates.
9. Publication Of rates.
TO- Consolidation Of acts.
H. Workmen's trains.
| u. Arrangem ent Of districts.
IS. Construction Of branch lines.
| "A. Interchange Of traffic, through rates, and
| running powers.
Is. Revision OF fares for conveyance Of troops.
1G. Additional facilities to Post Office.
II. railway tribunal.
Certainly here is regulation with vengeance.
Monopoly is afrightfully expressive word. Con-
solidation is another, and yet the testimony
shows that It has been impossible to prevent
consolidation. Furthermore, the surprising fact
ua8 DEEu QIOuEut 04t hAnk SoAoOAAAat4oA1 A@EN
not brought with them the evils which were
anticipated t1+-A %-e, a.-~- hAon followed. on
| the contrary, by lowering Of fares and rates
| and increased dividends. And the testimony Of
M1. Farrar, the Permanent Secretary OF the
Board Of Trade is to the effect that hitherto
neither amalg4mation nor monopoly has tended
to the Inconvenience or prejudice OF the public.
Mr. Robert Walker, being examined before tho
Committee On behalf Of the public in relation to
certain advantages asked for by two COM
panics At Bury, stated that the citizens
desired protection from Parliament, and
upon being asked by the Chairman, "Pro-
lection against what7" replied, "Against
excessive charges. and toant some part Of the
advantages which tho companies will der1ve,"
etc. Another witness, insisting on a 'reasona-
bic deduction" WAS asked by Lord Salisbury,
"By reasonable, do you mean making good
dividend, or making no dividend at all p
Next, as to the actual experience Of regulating
fares and rates. Mr. Walker says the "rail-
ways can porpotrate any kind OF injustice, under
and within the limits Of Whas are called maxi
mum rates.
The Board of Trade asserts that the attempt
to limit fares and rates has always failed, and
that the statutory maxma 60 for very little;
that tho companies seldom increase their rates,
but, on the contrary, are always diminishing
them and, furthermore, that the Witnesses aro
always falling back upon Soma natural rate to be
charged, as if there we're any means OF getting
ut such rate. The arrival and departure OF
certain trains are under control Of the Board OF
Trade, but practically they are helpless in the
matter. t'The companies know 60 much more
about their correspondence, and about the
trains, that the Board Of Trade find il much Bet
ter to leare then, to Themselves"
Regarding the non-interf ference with railway
companies the testimony is IS follows: First,
the Committee. ut ls the interest OF the COM
panies to develop traffic wherever that traffic
will produce them profit. It s their interest to
encourage new and promising traffic, even the
immediate profit may be little or none; it is
their interest to foster new routes and to main
tain them against exieting competition; to do
velop new ports or harbors; and to promote
competition between distant seats of trade or
manufacture, BY neutraizing the distances
which nature has placed between these seats and
the various markets for their products In Ill
these cases the wealth and resources OF ths
companies enable them to incur present loss for
the sake OF future advantage; and although, in
so doing. they may be exposed to the charge Of
making some parts Of the system pay for others,
their action is probably, on the whole, ndvan-
tageous to the public ~ we'll as themselvss."
Secondly, the Railways.
Mr. Thompson, Chairman Of the Northeast
ern Company, says: " The strongest inducement
ITO lower fares and rates] Ia the same which in
duces farmer to manure his farm in order to in
crease his returns. Laying out money to i'm
prove district and reducing the charges, stimu-
Iatea production and develops the resources Of
the district And Sir E. Walkin, Is to the soH-
interest OF the companies in the matter OF fares,
aays: Wisely and safely just ~ = trAdesman
f1ea hin prices, not for the customers Of to-day,
hot to squeeze the last farthing ont OF tho Gus
toners Of to-day,-but to establish a aoonnection,
and to extend it,"
The conclusion, after careful study Of tho
report Of the Committee. is: "TAs Government