Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-02-20
TENNESSEE RAILROADS.
synopsis OF Jadge East's Bill TO Prevent
Railroads from Discriminating
Against Each Other.
And 10 Save shippers and Passengers
from EXt5rtiOnate Freight aud
Passenger Rates.

Judge East introduced bill OF greal
Importance, day or Two ago, by which
II Is sought 10 prevent railroads from
discriminating against each other, OF
against shippers and travellers, in freight
or passenger rates. Instead OF giving
the text Of the bill or mere synopsis.
which none but railroad men could be
likely to understand, We publish below
the data upon which Judge East pre-
pared his bill, aud which have been
kindly furnished us by the author. The
Illustrations are, OF course, suppOsitious
being used only TO show how railroads
could, II SO disposed, cripple and even
destroy each otner's business, unless re-
strained by legislation.
Section ! applies mainly to refusal
by railroad company 10 receive prop
frtyi elc., or carloads, from another
railroad company, and transfer and for
ward the same when necessary. Such
refusal would deprive a railroad company
oi all through business; in other words,
oi making freight contracts for destina-
ions beyond its own line of road. A
nat refusal Of this kind would not be
made probably, but the necessity OF
home such provision is shown in the IL
lustrations bearing upon sections ., 3
and /, As given below.
The term forward is Of significance.
A railroad company could evade tie
force OF provision that they should re-
ceive and transport freight received from
another company, or any shipper, ETC.,
py simply tuning over the property,
etc, whether in carloads or less quanti-
~, ETC., 10 the railroad beyond their
terminal station, but refusing and fail
ing 10 furnish the proper way-bilI, or in
s3ructions 70 the connecting railroad.
This refusal would stop the goods indefi-
nltely. The term used-"forwardn-is
apt 10 secure proper bills, instructions,
etc, 10 be furnished when freight is de-
iivered.
promptly and in the order OF their
Tender, transport" etc. A railroad COM
pany receiving freight from another
could ruin the lstter's busin ass by delays
OF many days in ranspOrting-detaining
cars and goods on side-tracks. Especial
1njury would result to peishable articles,
as bacon, fruits, etc. The effect would
be exclusion to other roads, and the BEN
ut Of competition TO shippers would dis
appear.
The intent Of section two is TO prevent
unlawful combinations of two or more
railroad companies to the detriment of
other companies. Suppose A, st Chica.
90, desires to ship freight to B, at Col
umbia, Tennessee-say one carload.
The consignee at Columbia has Dur.
chased in Chicago, at a low price; but,
10 secure the advantage of that, he must
see that the freight charge does not ap-
preciate the price too much, or he will
thereby pay an excessive price.
Such freight costs less to carry than
local freight that is, from one station to
another on the same road ,and through
rate is always given. The railroads over
whose line the carload of goods passes
each get their pro rata proportion Of the
entire charge, based upon the mileage on
go ctively. Each road re-
ne compensation as any |
mile il carlies the car or |