Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-06-19
The Centennial Exposition IBdOrsed-
Report Of the Committee on
TrsnspOrtatiOn-UnlfOrm
Freight Statement.

CllUdl1 NIo5EeuOEt Oh SLs LOUIS healui
Of Wilmington; Potter, OF Iowa, and
/ others. a motion to indefinitely post.
1 pOne was carried.
Mr.. Bayard, from the committee on
bill Of la ling, reported as follows:
Resolved That the executive counsel
of The National board of trade be re-
| quested to recommend to its various con-
sistent bodies concerted action in Oppo-
sitiOn to any bill Of lading or railroad re-
ceipts whatever containing, or assum-
ing to impose, conditions other than
those recognized as in force under the
| common law as defined by judicial de-
cisiOD; that carriers issuing such bills of
lsding shall engage not to deliver the
| merchandise designated except on sur
render of the original bill of lading, or
against q duplicate, under proper re-
stTictiOn, in cases of loss at the destruc.
ton OF the original.
Resolved, That the board raaffirms its
declaration that all inland carriers
should be required to deliver the guam
tity by the weight OF the bulk grain
shipped.
Resolved, That the executive commit
tee be requested to consider and report
TO the National board OF trade at its next
meeting what, if any, legislation,
whether State or national, is needed, or
| can be secured, to accomplish the pur-
pose of defining the rights and duties of
| all carriers, and OF restricting the terms
and conditions of all bills Of lading and
! railroad receipts in accordance with the
! principles of common law.
The resolutions were agreed to, and
! copy ordered to be sent to the associated
! chamber of commerce of Great Britain.
tna rgar-u ,F
| tTesty was then taken up.
The resolution as recommended by
| tie board Of trade of Chicago is as fol.
| lows:
Resolved, That congress be memorial
! lied and urged to authorize the early ap-
! pOintment by the President of q COM
mission, OF not less than five merchants
and business men familiar with the sub
| ject, to confer on the part of tho United
States with like commission on the
part of the dominion of Canada, on the
subject OF a treaty for reciprocal trade
aud commercial relations betWeen the
| United States and the Dominion of Can
ada; said joint com mmission to be author
lied on the part OF their resp ectiVe gov
eruments 10 suggest and recommend de.
tails Of provisions for such treaty, sub
ject to the concurrence of the respective
governments of the United States, the
Dominion of Canada and of Great
Britain.
Messrs. Busby and Witherill of Phila.
delphIa, M'Rea, Of Chicago, and Pstter-
son Of Montreal, spoke upon the subject,
when the resolution was adopted.
The following, in relation to the Cen
tennial exposition, was unanimously
adopted,
Re8otUed, That as body we feel an
Undertaking conviction that the sue
cess of the enterprise is already assured,
and commend the furtherance of the
work to the pride and patriotism of our
fellow. citizens in every section of our
country.
The report of the committee on traus-
portatiOnwas then submitted, as follows:
WHEREAS, Certain defects exist in
our system of transportation, which are
an unnecessary burden upon commercial
interests, and also upon every producer
and consumer; and whereas, prominent
among these are the construction of
railways mainly by the proceeds of
bonds; without fail the payment OF
stock subscribed; the watering Of stock
on prosperous roads to afford plausible
preteXt for imposing upon the public an
oppressive tariff OF charges; combina-
tiOns between parallel lines for the same
purpose; the division OF the legitimate
work OF railways among the various
sub.cOmpanies, such as fast freight, ex-
press, sleeping and palace-cRr COM
panies. the expense Of bridge companies,
and other similar devices in which rail-
way managers are interested, and de-
plete revenues which legitimately be-
long to stockholders, together with other
snd greater defects which affect the
public interest; therefore
Resolved, That the subject Of trans
portstiOn, having, as it has, most inn
poTtant he arIng upon the welfare of both
our internal and foreign commerce,
should receive the earnest attention of
legislators, both State and national, to
the end that substantial justice may be
done both to the capital which has been
honestly invested in our transportation
system and slsQ to the public.
Resolved, That where transportation
lines are located exclusively within the
limits Of a State, they should be regu-
lated by State legislation; but where
they are engaged in Interstate com.
merce, it Is the duty of the national gov
ernmenJ to prescribe and enforce such
regulations as will insure substantial
Justice TO all concerned.
Re8OlUed, ThattheTe exists a lamenta-
bic lack Of reliable data upon which to
base legislation at this time, and we,
therefore, urge upon congress the estab-
lishmeDt OF department or bureau
whose special business shall be to collect
and disseminate information bearing
on our great national commerce, which
is now estimated TO exceed in amount
that of our foreign commerce in ratio of
twelve TO one. We also commend to
The attention Of the various States the
importance OF collecting reliable infor-
nation on which to base their local
legislation upon this great question.
ResolUed, That experience has shown
that any attempt to regulate the details
of railroad management is ineXpedient;
out that certain laws of general char
scter can be enacted, which are both
practicable and necessary for the protec-
ton of the public interest; among these
primarily is an amendment to the gen.
eral railway law now existing in differ
ent States, so IS to prohibit the issue Of
stock which is not paid for, and the in
crease Of the capital stock except for
defHite and specified extension and im-
provement. The issue OF stock to rep
resent the surplus earnings, which have
DSSn COl6Cleu IOI the puUltcJ SnOulu DS
absolutely prohibited.
SecOnd-A uniform system for keep
ing the accounts of transportation COM
panies should be established in all the
States, which will enable correct judg-
ment to be formed Of their condition.
ThiTd-A uniform classification of the
various articles of merchandise should
be made in al! the States.
FOurth-A uniform system of publish
ing or posting at every shipping point
schedule OF rates and fares, embracing
all tine particulars regarding distance,
classification, special tariff, etc, and
prohibiting the increase of such rates
above the published limits without at
least thirty days notice.
Fifth-Requiring the railway compa-
MES to receipt for quantity and to de-
liver the same at its destination.
Resolved, That our national water
lines should be improved, but that such
Improvements should be limited to the
construction Of short lines between the
great bodies Of water.
The resolutions were taken up sepa-