The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-23

| each sovereign member of the confedera-
| lion looked to Its own ADVANTAGE, without
reference to its neighbors; aud the general
convenience was everywhere sacrilicei TO
particular interests. Delays and obstacles
innumornble were the fruit of this incohe-
rent policy. Not long ago between Cologne
and Bcrlin tho traveller was obligel TO
change cars Ave times. The distractions
| Of freight are even more dlscouiaging. The
classification OF merchandise varying with
the district traversed. entails such multi
tudo OF specific tariffs that the merchant
nuds II impossible to calculate the cost OF
forwarding goods To q distant point, and
the railway officials themselves are seldom
able TO afford positive information. IL Is
n fact that within the limits of Germany
there are sixty-three Independent boards
of railway control distributed among the
twenty-five states of the Empire, and thir-
teen hundred and flfty distinct tariffs.
All these Inconvenience, 1t Is claimed,
will be eliminated by the cousummation
of BISMARCK plan. Could the Federal Gov
eminent replace ITS constituent States aud
private corporations in the ownership Of
German railways, aud thus consolidate
under single head the whole network, It
might enforce the judic Gus innovations
which are applauded in Alsace Lorraine.
| Henceforwaid freight charges would be
computed simply according to weight and
the distance trlversed. Besides the cstab-
lishment of rational and Uniform tariff,
the economy anticipated in running eX-
penscs would permit rates to- be notably
reduced. In short. according to the advo-
Gates of the bill, Germany would become "a
sort of railway paradise.
Its doubtless true that the State railways
OF Prussia have been administered with
much sagacty. but as the field widencd. tho
difficulties Of management would be found
to increase in geOmctrical ratio. Neither is
| II certain that Government roads are more
economical than others. and fixed policy
of relieving commerce mt all hazards might
only result in shifting the burden upon the
whole hody of taxpayers. We may add
that the Implication OF high officials in the
schemes of fraudulent speculation which
flooded Berlin three years ago, has tar-
nished the repute Of the Pru sian bureau
crat As to the military necessity OF
BIsMARCK's measure II is conceded that
private corporations performed the oner-
| Gus service exacted OF them during the
| Franco-Prussian contest with admirable
promptness aud punctuality. BY virtue
moreover, OF au existing law, all railroads
may be consigned to military control in
time Of war. Finally, IL is obvious that the
absorption OF railways by the Empire, an 4
the appearance OF Government in the role
of IA common carrier, invested, too, with an
absolute monopoly. would violate the first
principles OF political science, AGAINST
which the exception OF n State postal sys-
TEN is only vindicated by paramount
necessity.
The truth Il that the aim of DrsNARcK' s
project is not commercial, nor military
but political. The subalteru States regaI d
the measure with profound misgivinGs, ~
likely 10 impart tremendous impetus to
the Capitalization or the empire, and deal
n decisive blow TO the remnant OF their IN
dependence. That is precisely what the
Chancellor means 10 do. aud II substan-
TALLY lies with the PruSslau Chambers now
in session to fulal OF thwart his will.
Whether Herr LAsIiEn aud other leaders
OF the National Liberal party will second
BISMARCK In this matter cannot yet be
foretold with certainty. They have little
sympathy with the small politicians OF
southern Germany; nevertheless, they
NAV hesitate to sanction n scheme OF CEN
tra.ization when might easily be convert
/ Ell into potent engine "a despotism.
They may require as the price OF their nd
hesion the creation OF responsible min
istry for the empire, or at oil events Of
Minister OF Commerce. who would accept
that accountability for the details OF adj
ministration which the Chancellor repu-
dates. That doubtless would be a gain,
but whether worth what the National LIB
erals would be asked 10 pay for II Is an
| other question.