National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-01-15
AN IMPORTANT QUESTION

AN IMPORTANT QUESTION.
MEETING OF THE CHEAP TRANS
PORTATI0N ASSOCIATION.
ADDRESS BY HON. JOSIAH QUINCY, oF
MAsS.-RoLL OF DELEGATEs-APPolNT
AENr OF CoMNITTEEs-woRK MAPPED
OUT FOR THE wEEK-RAILRoADS AND
CANALS UNDER GOVERNMENT sUfEhFi-
. SION TO BE SUGGESTED.
In accordance with the call recently issued, the
national convention Of the American Cheap
TRANSPORTATION Association assembled at Lyceum
hall Yesterday, with about forty members pres
emit As will be seen by the report OF the commit
tee on credentials nearly all the States were rep
resented and the personnsI Of tho delegates was
certainly prepossessng. 1t il true there are sew
eral politicians among them, but the majority are
solid business men, whose everyday experience
has taught them the necessity Of seeking some re-
dress from the heavy demand made by railroad
managers upon them for the transit Of freight, to
say nothing of the delay often experienced, and
which causes great annoyance.
The association was organized IN New York
about one year ago, nd several possible schemes
suggested but it was reserved for this convention
to take definite action. The predominating feel.
ing seems to be in favor Of double track railroad
between the East and the West, to be built by the
Government or by o closely guarded corporation,
to be worked exclusively in the tonnage business
ut slow speed and cheap rates; tho Government
or company to transport over said road, with rea-
sopable dispatch and at prescribed rate Of toll,
all cars corresponding in gauge with its own.
The delegates who favor this proposition argue
that the proposed increased inland water facili
ties, no matter how much improved and enlarged
will not fully answer the purpose, especially in
the northern latitude where lake, river and canal
navigation is suspended for more than one third
Of the year, which turns the whole transit bust
ness to the present railroad lines, entirely over
taxing their rolling stock even at winter rates Of
freight, thus causing the Western farmer who
cannot hold his grain over to spring to sacrifice his
stock in order to meet current expenses and pay
ments, while at the same time the consumer at
the East is obliged to pay prices out of proportion
with those received by the producer.
On the other hand, the gentlemen identified
with the several sections in which the proposed
grand canals are sought to be located are on
hand looking after their interests, and seem dis.
posed to urge upon the association an indorse-
ment Of their claims upon the Government In
view OF these conflicting interests, 1t is probable
the convention will indicate line of policy to be
pursued by Congress the entire subject o!
cheap transportation without indorang any spe-
-eihc proposition, and leave the matter in the
hands of the delegates from the several sections
to work through as beet they can.
The convention was called to order at 10 O'Clock
by Josiah Quincy, esq.,, Of Massachusetts, who
made the following opening address:
ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT QUINCY.
GENTLEMEN: In answer TO the summons of the
American Cheap Transportation Association we
have met in the capital of the nation to consult
together upon what is popularity called ''rhe
Railroad Problem" We have come to consider
how we may limit the powers of those gigantic
corporations which already control, to a danger
Gus extent. the press and the Legislatures of our
country. The immense importance Of the ques-
affected by its discussion among our voters, may
well inspire US with modcsty aud caution. There
is muchto be said all sides Of this great sub
spirit of denunciaton and bitterness. 1t will not
do to forget that we, the people, through our rep
resentatives, are primarily responsible for the
treated railroads as private property, and en-
Outraged their construction by private capital
When these iron highways were frs. introduced
If some far-seeng man had asserted that they
should be constructed and managed by the State,
he would have been thought as impracticable as
one who should now ask the Government to pro-
vide us with clothing and provisions. There is no
doubt but that the general feeling OF our people
against an over-interference Of the Government is
to-day believe that the State should own one or
more of our great national thoroughfares, It is not
that we do not recognize the possible evils Of
State control: il is because we have experienced
the certain and ever-increasing evils Of exclu-
siyely private management.
What, then, is the principal cause of the difi-
culties we have met to consider? I state it in
three words: Absence of competition. Now, it Is
generally admitted that competing railroad
Government in order to avoid the combination
that would almost inevitably occur If it were left
to the interests of stockholders. 1t is true that
this by placing one half the stock in the hands of
trustees who would be bound to resist and prevent
arrangement could be made; yet, should the
objections be surmounted, competition might sue
coed in reducing the expenses of the roads to an
expenditure commensurate with their cost.
fhe policy of the State ownership of railroads
has been adopted, with eminent success, in Bel
GUM. The doctrine there is, that no private COM
And SO the Government owns the main lines and
is interested in some of the branches. 1t thus
regulates all the roads, gives great facilities for
make reduction of fares without reference TO i'm
mediate dividends. The railroad commissioners
Of Massachusetts arc DESTROYS Of
TRYING The EXPERIMENT
Of regulating all railroads by the State owner
ship of one by the States purchase Of the Ho0sac
tunnel line. Scarcely any other State possesses
90 excellent an opportunity of fairly trying this
question.
The laws of Massachusetts give o greater pro-
lection to her citizens against the despOtism Of
the right to alter, amend, or repeal any charter:
she can purchase any road BY paying the share
holders the amount originally paid, with interest
ut ten per cent. from the time OF payment deduct
ing dividends. Any director who votes for the
Issue of watered stock may be punished by fine
less. When new stock is issued it is not divided
among the shareholders. but sold Mt auction, so
as TO render the amount of stock on which divf-
dends are to be paid as small as possible. And
vet our citizens have felt that these securities are
far from sufficient, and many are Of opinion that
the time anticipated many years ago by Sir Robert
the State to construct line Of road for the pur-
pose Of ascertainin2 the expense of running cars,
and for studying the best modes Of railroad man
agement."
To speak from my own experience, in the year
1857 being impressed with the necessity of action
State to purchase the Worcester and. Western
railroads, which have since been consolidated
into the Boston and Albanyrailroad, for the essi-
mated cost 355 72 the income at that time of
both roads being 81 1853 40. The present capital of
theroad deducting q 600 900 of watered stock, lis
sned before the passing Of the Law for6idding ~
79S, 032. That the purchase would have resulted
beneficially to the State, and certainly to the
community, few can doubt-at all events the
experiment Of State management would have
been tried under the most favorable circum-
stances.
power of railroad managers. Before moving in
the matter many OF our leading merchants agreed
with in opinion that the time had come Tor the
State of Massachusetts to claim her reserved
right of taking this grea. thoroughtare. 1t was
evident that as the State could borrow the money
1t five per cent. the difference between that route
and the ten per cent. dividends would enable 1t
not only to reduce the charges for transportation
but would 90 far towards paying the interest on
the State debt. 1t was clear that this purchase
would relieve the citizens from the dietation Of r-
responsible agents, who compelled any party who
doubted their decisions to appeal to law, with 0
certainty that II the decision was against the
roads they would carry the case to the highest
courts. But when these merchants were asked to
sign the petition, with whose substance they as
eented few OF none willing to do %. They all
sith one consent began to make excuses. Some said
that their business depended railroad facilities,
and that the managers had the power TO put
them to great Inconvenience, II not TO ruin them.
Some feared that they would offend bank diree.
sOrs who were largely interested in this ae1ss Of
property, while Others dreaded lest the political
Influence welded by the managers through tie
votes Of their employees should b used against
them, and came TO the conclusion that no enc
who wished for railway facilities, bark aoeommo-
dations or political sdyancement could b de-
pended ON in resisting these monopolies. When
The hearing came on the whole force Of the lobby.
the influence of all the railroads and the services
If the ablest cOun0el ARRIVED against the