The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-11-14
HEARING BEFORE RAILROAD
COMMITTEE.
Thc transportation Problem.

ABSTRACT OF TUE ARGUMENT OF y. p.
sIMoNs AND COL. WALKER.
The following Is an abstract of the argu
menis made by N. p. Smons and
Col. Aldace F. Walker of Rutland,
before the railroad committee, IN OPP
position to Mr.. Hyde's bill regulating
freight and passenger tariffs on the Della
ware and Hudson canal company's rail-
roads, in Vermont.
In answer to the argument of Z. j.
Phelps, Esq, published in The GLOBE of
Friday, Messrs. Simons and Walker argued
substantially as follows.
The proof made before the committee
shows that the rates for passengers and
freight generally are about tweu'y-hv. per
cent less than upon other Vermont roads.
The applicants for this bill have therefore
been compelled to abandon their claim en-
tirely, except as 20 the two articles of
roofing slate and marble. But even upon
these it appears from the evidence that the
Delaware and Hudson Canal company
have reduced their rates to a point from
twenty-five 10 fifty per cent below the
rates of other leading roads. including all
Vermont roads.
The comparisons which the applicants
have made are comparisons Of the local
rates of this road, with rates for through
business elsewhere not with freight car
red under similar circumstances. Through
freight is subject to enormous competition.
by land and by water its actual expense
in collection and distribution is much less
than local freight; the through cars can be
hauled on trains which would otherwise
run al about the same cost without them
the company gets the return cars for use
without hauling empty cars over their en-
tire road; for which reasons, with others,
no such comparison can be justly made.
The Delaware & Hudson canal company
have at all times met the slate producers
more than half way, in regard to the de-
velOpment of the slate business. Applica-
ton was made to them last spring for re-
duc,ion of from 225 to $1G per car $50 in
alp upon slate going west, via schenectady
the western terminus of the road. The
company investigated the matter, and after
much effort among connecting roads ar-
ranged tariff effcc;ing reduci"'i ui
from S12 to 800 pei car upon sire IL ali
points west of Buffalo, vhr competition
with Pennsylvania slate vas complained
of. Immediately after having roc' yel
much more than they asked for, III slate
producers passed resolution, looking to
an attack upon the road before the legisla-
ture. This reduced tariff was broken up
by the withdrawal of the Lake Shore road
from the arrangement, but was soon REIN
stated as to all western points which could
be otherwise reached practically all the
west except a portion of OhiO-and the
proportionate reduction, SIS per car, made
| by the Delaware & Hudson canal company
was continued to all points.
Eastern rates had been considered in the
same spirit of accommodation, general
reduction having been offered to all points
where competition from Pennsylvania state
was found, and sufficient to enable the
| Vermont producers to meet it but the let
| ter containing the offer was never answer
ed by Mr.. Hyde. 1t also appeared that in
all cases where special sale could be made
at a low price, the company were willing
| to make special rates accordingly, and
had done so in every instance when asked.
| In regard to marble, there was no CON-
| plant whatever from the dealers that the
rates were too high in single instance,
| and the rates were in fact much lower than
| the rates from quarries on other roads,
even for much less distance, unless where
| the transportation was in part by water.
The complaints of counsel were not even
limited at by their clients. The only marble
dealer who testified in opposition to the
road, complained simply of the efforts
made by this road to keep control of the
business by establishing discriminating
| rates to competing points; custom which
was proved to prevail upon every road, but
which in the present instance could work
no possible injury to the West Rutland
dealers, because the rate TO New York was
| less oyer the Delaware and Hudson canal
company than it was via the Harlem, even
if taken to Rutland at the rate charged fol
non-competing points. Another marble
dealer, doing a business as large as the one
above spoken of, testified that he never lost
sale on account of the rates of freight
and in his opinion they were low enough.
The lower rate given on No. marble was
at the request of the dealers, and to heir
| their business.
The proposed legislation. even if any just
grounds of complaint exist-which is the
exact reverse of the truth-would be dan.
| seIouo anu uuldiI dangerous III estdDllSl
ing an irresponsible tribunal for the deter
minatlon of this important question, ant
unfair because ain ed at single road, anC
that the most liberal road in the state il
every respect complained of. This company
by its charter, is entitled to earn ten pei
cent. profit, and the supreme court is al
ready authorized to collect overcharges il
above that rate. There is no power in thu
Legislature to take away this right, and thu
true remedy OF the compliments, is by {
candid comparison and adjustment of thei
necessities and interests, which the com
pany have always recognized to be mutual
and which constant effort has been made
by the company to assist and enlarge in
broad and liberal spirit, whereby boil
parties might receive such advantages a
the nature of the case might permit.
Mark 4 mi