, 1874-06-17
THE RAILWAY QUESTION IN ENGLAND,

-@~A A*AAAA " - &U1IA1V4N AN ENHAAHut
James Henry Mangles, in L recently published
paper on the question Of interference or non
Interference with railway companies, aska
whether the railway companies in England may
not be gradually treated moro aud moro as or.
dinary branches Of trade. It thus appoara that
the railway problem is on tho carpet in England
aa vol as III this country. Indeed, 1t is the
question Of tho day wherevos railway system
has boen developed; and we aha!1 hayo occasion
III tho future to call attention to its progress in
Germany.
1t has been generally admitted in England
that, although State interference in commercial
matters genorallJ ia not to be encouragod.
it nny rightly como in to regulate tho operations
OF raluaya. Accordingly there has been a poll
oy Of Interference with railways in England. It
is not little strange TINT precisely at q time
"hen no, in this country, are discussing the pro-
pr1ety OF initiating such a policy, there should
artsa aa advocate in England Of -iutorferonco,
arguing that the course hitherto pursued BY
England has been q failure. Yot in England. az
in this country. tho popular voice III IN favor Of
State regulation. This. Mr. h1auges himself
comedies; and concedo it la muBt in Wow Of the
regulations discussed in the report Of the Joint
Committee Of both Houses On railway Affairs,
which aro:
l. Equal msloage ratea.
q Rates to be fixed according to coat Of car
riage, after adding Il certain profit on capital.
y. Determination Of terminal chargeH,
4. Imnlediate reduction Of rates and farcs.
g. Subsequent periodical revision Of ra.os and
fares.
6. Absolute limitation Of dividend.
7. Reduction Of ratesa after dividend has reached
q cortaln percentage, SO as to divide extra profit
between the company and the public.
8. Classification Of rates.
9. Publication Of ratos.
10. Consolidation.
II. Workmen's trains,
Il. Arrangement Of diatrcta.
13. Construction Of brauch lines,
Il. Interchange Of traffic, through ratea, and
running powers,
10. Revision Of faroB for conveyance of troopa,
l0. Additional facilities to post-Olloo.
II. 4 railway tribunal.
THIS IL certainly regulation enough and tlero
cannot bo u doubt that, woro Bomo Of those s,,g-
gcstionB adopted aud acted OH in tls country.
the people would 10 tho gainora. Tho second
suggestion, for instance. is very equitable, viz.
TINT tho ra.os should he fixed according to cost
OF carriage aftor adding certain profit on oani-
tai. 30 arc tho sixth and aoyouth Suggestions.
Mr. Mangos Is oppoBod to nil interference,
aud his atgumont is substantially this that all
Interference lithorso LAS boon failure, IIo
1uotes from ointment English authorities to chow
that railway companies cannot bo regulated by
thu state, Tho subHtance Of all this testimony
may be summed up In the words OF CAPT,
Tyler' "ldo not think that you can construct
any department. Or erect any tribunal Which
ahall ho abe to deal satisfactorily with tho regu-
lation and supervision OF ratos and workings OF
railways 10 long as thoy are In tho hands of tin
conlpanioH."
It Ia no doubt difficult for QUO man to run an-
other mans business; aud 1t Ia no wonder, thero-
foro, that Capt. Tylor givoa tho Testimony ho
docs. 1t may bo that no Board Of Commissioners
or other tribunal can rogtlato tho railroads u q
manner satisfactory to all concerned. But tlis
IL not tho quaation. The question ID rAethor.