New-York tribune., 1874-12-02
CHEAP TRANSPORTA1ION.
MEETING OF THE AMERICAN CHEAP TRANS
PORTATiON ASSOCIATION.

MEETING OF THE AMERICAN CHEAP TRANS
PORTATiON ASSOCIATION.
INTERESTING REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON RAIL
WAY TRANsPoRTATIoN-THE DETECTS IN THE
RAILWAY SYSTEM OF THE COUNTRY POINTED
OUT AND REMEDIES sUGGEsTED-APPoINrMENI
OF CoMMITTEEs-REPoRTs OF THE SECRETARY
AND TREASURER.
RICHMOND, Va, Dec. 1.-The American Cheap
Transportation Association met in Convention In this
city to-day. Tne Hon. Josiah Quincy OF Boston pre-
sided, and responded to speech OF welcome oy the
Mayor. About 125 delegates present representing
the North West, and South and about third were
from the Boards Of Trade and Oranges OF Virginia The
latter fact caused the Committee Credentials to sug
gest each should have only many votes In
Convention 81 entitled in the United states
House OF Representatives. Some OF the Virginia dele
gates opposed the suggestion but 1t warmly adyo
Gated by Gen. Rosser of Minnesota and j. NJ Person OF
Illinois. and was finally adopted with only few dis
senting voices.
F.B. Thurbur Of New-York, from the Committee on
Railway Transportation. read interesting re-
port. in which was given al brief history OF our
railroad SYSTEM its relations to the public It's defeets
and the remedies for them. After discussing the au1s
to construction the Committee that the greatest
defects in the operation and management OF rai
ways and the chief abuses in the practice known
stock watering capitalization Of surplus earnings
which is usually accomplished by charging high rates OF
freight accommodating large surplus fund.- putting
1t into improvements, and then issuing stock to
represent those improvements The practlcal
operation OF this may DO well illustrated by com
pairing the management OF the Baltimore ana
Ohio and the Eew-York Central and Hudson River
Railroads. Tie policy of the former is to invest Its
surplus earnings in tue Improvement OF the road and
carry forward their cost upon the Companys books as
surplus, while the latter makes similar improvements
and stock to represent IT, Among other abuses OF
management the Committee enumcrates fast freight
lines by outside companies, the stock OF which IL
owned by directors aud other Officers Of the railroads.
These lines should be driven from existence, and the
Carrying Of freghts done solely by the railroads them
selves The pal &c seepinecar aud express companies
couuirY. Much Of the money paid by the people for
transportation Is used to n1lence legislation, rather
than for its proper purposes.
The Committee suggest that laws should be enacted
by Congress forbdding stock Iunation~ providing for
the publication at every point OF shipment OF all rates
and fares with ali particulars to distance. ciasslca-
ton &C. ana pr1OlnS any increase OF the rates
directors from owning or being interested In any
or lrom 1uibshhg any supplies 10 any COMPANY WIN
which they may be officially connected; prohibiting
railway companies from owning more real estate than
necessary for line operation OF their roads, and forbid
ding them their officers from engaging in mining
other business than transportation making II penal
a pass that all common carriers shall receipt
1t TO It's destinations prohibiting representatives, Of the
peopi, who belong also 10 the legal profession from
Interest is involved; and that national bureau of COM
collecting ana preserving statistics relating TO the IN
terna commerce or the country. Tue COMMITTEE tllnk
that the establishment OF one exclusive freight
IRON tue grain-grOwing sections OF the West TO the
hoard would have great moral effect 10 would demon
srate how cheap freight can Carried b. rail. and
this is asceralued public opinion woud compel
existing roads make short work Ot the abuses which
are absorbing the revenues OF the present systein
The discussion Which arose upon disposition of the
report ndIc1ted that the members OF tue Convention
differed widely to the best principles enunciled IN 1t
and tIe conclusions reached by the Committee. The
oppo i,1on chiefly from vi gina delegates, who
objected to referring 1t TO committee OF one from eacn
state to be appointed by the delegations but that
the course finally determined upon.
EVENING SESSION.
The Secretary announced the selection OF the follow
ing committees:
tious-L d. Iugersoll OF Colorado; r. NJ. T. Hunter OF
VIRGINIA Assareat Graves Of North CarainaW L. Moody
Texas, f. b. TnurDer of NewfOrk j. NJ Allen OF ILL.,
nOs d. Wyatt Aiken OF South Carolina, Mr. Patterson OF
Iowa. w% Maxwell o, Tennessee D. & N: Rgcker * 10 Of
sour VIM. Ke, OF Maryland, A. A. Pratt Of Ohio M.
on Resolutions-C. s. Carrington of Virginia, L. d.
Ingersol OF Colorado Wm Dawson OF North Carolina,
B,ases o. Of finoi D. wyatt Aiken Of South Caroiaa
A. NJ Litter OF Iowa, b "; Fr3eeli OF GecrGii' l.:
Bowie Of iry land, A. A. Pratt Of ONO, NJ F. Maury
of West VIrcmia.
TJe annual reports Of the Secretary. r. H. Ferguson,
aud the Treasurer, L. Il. TnurDer, read and re-
fered to the Committee on Reports.
delegate from the West SAID lie must enter his pro-
test against the reading Of any more PREPARED argu-
meuts the Secretary had read Ia
favor Convention should
not fOresIaed in this He and his friends want
cheap transportation for their gran aud they sent hun
here consult to the best means OF obtaining 1t.
The President reminded the member that the Treas
urer had appointed to prepare paper railway
and that the Secrearys report had been
read to day only because they and no other reports
ready.
Lyman Bridges succeeded in getting through motion
limiting speeches 10 20 minutes each, after warm de-
bate with James SDutna OF Virginia and otIer friends
water transportation, who luslsted that the friends
of iron had all the time they wanted the advocates of
should have equal chance to their
Tue report lines Is expected tomorrow, ana
animated discussion is anticipated in view OF the feeling
already developed.