Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1878-04-27
WHOLE NUMBER, 344.

ness men 25 per cent. reduction on
their shipments, l am very much of
the opinion that the competing lines
in their division of the trade would
unquestionably not succumb to the
evil of short hauls if they could
thrive and prosper under the pressure
of low freight rates that inevitably
flow from strong competition. There
are doubtless those present who have
witnessed extraordinary revivals, in
a commercial point of view, in towns
that formerly lay PROSTATE under
monopolies, when new line entered
its corporate limits. All of its avail
able resources that had heretofore
lain dormant on account of inability
to compete by reason Of exorbi ant
freight rates with other cities possessed
OF like resources, spring into active
operation, and the toy and adjacent
country in point Of financial p1osperi-
ty takes new lease on life.
Another evil, Mr.. Speaker, and one
exceedingly general, obtains in this
question Of freight regulation that has
deservedly attracted considerable at
tention and pretty general reprooa-
ton. | refer, sir, to what is generally
known as the system of drawbacks or
rebates on freight shipments. Proba-
! siX this feature of the question under
/ G..4a sion has drown to itself bv
its aelf-evidentI InJ5.a 'rc u gem
eral dlsapProbation er:
Its dlsCrlwinative is 50
palpable, and the III Aa go
applied that there can be no doulc
! that its correction by legislative ST.
pervision would insure the approval
of q larger number of business men
than almost any other of the evils we
seek by this bill to eradicate or, at
least, to alleviate. Its operation
singles out citizen, or class of citi-
zens, and confer upon them benefit
that equitabIy and by common law be-
longs of right to every citizen in the
community in which its opractical op-
GRAFTON is felt It is not in many re-
spects discrimination between cities
or section of county, but between the
citizens and trades, as the case may
be, of the same city or section of
country.
Mr.. Reagan, in his report to Con-
gress, comments as follows on this
point:
One of the modes Of cfFccting such dis
elimination is by the allowance of draw
backs or rebates on trcights in certain cases,
and in this way OF discriminating unjust
ly between shippers as to terms of trans
portation by secret agreements fixing
freight rates for the persons to be benefited
more tavorably than those prescribed in
published schedules of rates, and specify
ing the terms on which freights are car
ried for the general public. This is un-
equal, unfair and unjust, and violation of
Il principle of common law applicable to
common carriers which has been in one
form or another ingratitied into the lcgs-
: alion of most or all of the States of the
Union. The people are familiar with the
manner in which this power has been
used to benefit and enrich individuals and
corporations to the injury OF other individ
uals, corporations and communities, thHt
it is not deemed necessary to cucumber
: this report with recital of them The
eXistCnceOf this grievance caused the pro-
visions to be inserted in the bill under con-
sideration to prohibit and punish the al
lowanCc OF drawbacks or rebates in any
case.
: Mr. Speaker, the introduction of
; rival road into a town that formerly
: had but one route, in its commercial
bearing upon the place, is sometimes
: magical. Nothing tends so materially
to restore to a good, sound, healthy
: basis unnatural charges az lively
competition; and it may be truly said
5 that it is the "life of trade" Its
tendency to restore a correct state of
$ trade is not always gradual, but in
| 1hany instances it operates imiredi-
. ately.
: | would instance, sir, the cities of
e Cumbe. land, Md, and Martinsburg,
7 W. Va, as examples Of the inmedi-
ate and tangible benefits resulting
5 from the institution Of Special Rates. :"
, Upon a certain class Of freight pass
I ing from one Of the cities to the otter
t the rate applies in thiswise:
u Martinsburg to Cumberland special
| rate, per 100 lbs. s.................1S IS cts
Cumberland to Martinsburg, same
y class Of goods, special rate, per
1GD lbs. bs................... 20 "
Now, sir, if the car be merely un-
: coupled fron the westward bound
/ train and attached to the eastward
bound train, and the marked dcslina-
tions reversed from Martinsburg to
9 Cumberland so as to read from Cum
G berland to Marjinsburg, and the
. shipment returned to the latter city,
Y The freight therein contained, accord
! my to the freignt-rate now obtaining,
\ will in the twinkle OF an eye appre-
cate seven cents in cost of carriage
a on every 100 pounds in the cs~, and
, that too without the roads inc lrring
8 any additional expense from breaking
. bulk, or handling Of the freightable
f matter,
Sir: the underlying principle to
b this accommodation in the shape of 7
cents reduction on every 100 pounds
sAipped to Cumberland is found on the