New-York tribune., 1878-05-02
FREIGHT DETERMINATIONS.

DEBATE IN THE ASSEMBLY on THE RESOLUTION TO
APPOINT A COMMITTEE OF FIVE TO INVEsTI-
GATE THE SUBJECT OF RAILROAD DIsCRlMlNA-
TIONs-THE RESOLUTION PASSED.
lFRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRiBUNE.l
ALBANY, May 1.-The Assembly has done its
best to carry out the suggestion made ny the
Mayor Controller, Common Council, Chamber OF
Commerce and Produce Exchange OF New-iork,
that a legislative committee be appointed to
investigate the exciting subject OF railroad dis
examinations. An earnest opposition was made to tho
adoption OF this policy by Mr.. Alvord, on the ground
that such committees never learn anything OF value
But the tide Of opinion in favor OF the measure was rri-
s!stble country members declaring that it was the
almost universal opinion III their districts that the rail-
roads do discriminate too greatly against local traffic
and in favor OF Western traffic. Mr. sheard,
a manufacturer OF Little Falls made notable speech
in favor of the measure, which he described his
own experience OF the discrimination rates Mr. Erastus
Brooks the ntroducer OF the resolution also made an
excellent speech in its favor. BY the resolution the
Committee OF Investigation Is TO be composed
Of five pcrsons-twO Senators, TO DO appointed
by ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Dorshemer, and three
Assembymen, to be appointed by Speaker
Hustled. The committee empowered to
"inVcstgate the abuses alleged to exist in the
management OF the railroads and transportation lines
chartered by this state and inquire into and report con
cerninS their powers, contracts and obligations The
committee Is to have power to send for persons and
papers and 10 take testimony IN Aew-York or such
other places they may deem necessary. They are to
report either the present the next Legislature what
legislation any Is necessary TO protect and extend
the commerce OF the state" Below extracts from
few Of the speeches made
THE DEBATE.
Mr.. AlvOrd-such commissions never amount to any
thing. The history OF all such invest cations Is that
they amount to nothing The difficulty lies Just here :
l,,t gfoto tho ria ote
corporations. There our right ends we cannot control
them; We cannot control their property in other
United states must correct Anything radically
defective must be corrected by the United States
believe investigation by us VIII he iutlle shall
make no factious opposition The difficulty with these
commercial meu is this that when there Is great de-
in business they do not lay u TO natural causes
bu TO some legislative action. ,,, =, .-....
good. We seek important information on IA great
matter OF public concern. We asE that Hgiit
that determinations are made against New.lork I'm
favor Of Philadelphia and Baltimore. believe the
charges ,arc true / am assured that one house IN
Chicago rec ives its freight Il y cents hundred
where most other houses have 10 2r,py pay 90 30
houses IN that have tho privilege OF receiving
their goods at - cents per hundred whereas Otr Cca
dscrmina lon in favor OF large dealers ana against
small dealers. The ChamJer OF Commerce, the Produce
Exchange and the authorities OF NcwYork ask that he
sui,ect be Investigated. Then there IS n discrmina
against goods Transported from verpoolto chicago
through Boston and NewYork. TncR there are dis
10 Inc rest OF the alphabet
Mr.. Alvnrd-G simply desire to show how untenoble
MI BrOOkss position Is. lie has charged that there Is
determination IN favor Of syracuse merchants. Now,
there is one firm there that has its goods
sent by t!r carload Most other firms do
not do business ia that wholesale way. Their
goods come u -tIay packages. and cause the railroad
company vastly more WUIA. Should Dot the wholesale
dealer have the benefit of the saving OF Labor New
York put Gordon around her borders that prevents
the FIRE passage Of goods Let her DC as generous as
Baltimore and Philadelphia, and she Will recover her
trade. The difficulty - ia Nrw-lOrk. II she VIII lower
h,r port charges her wharf charges, and the warehouse
charges she VIiI recover her lost trade.
Mr.. ShcaTdIhcrc j. "A necessity for an investigation,
aud the conn paint Hp % Us from the people or
Ncw-IOFk OF unjust dscny lHaOn and there are good
Tor such complaint Believing them 10 De right
am for this resolution With the investigation has
little meaning, because believe IL pertains tO
tho trutllc the interior OF the state. j
know, from experience and facts. which L can give
the House. that railroad companies do discriminate
against The citizens Uf this State In favor OF the
citizens OF other States know that when 20, every
Indiana polls, that every Time offer my goods for sale
am asked, " How much does tho freight cost Z
aud when tell them that live IN local town III the
State Of NewYOrk on the limo OF the Central Railroad
am asked to guarantee aud have every time guarun
trrd that freight from my town my goods shall
not exceed the cost Of the same from the city Of
New-York and yet l am 22J miles nearer
g. ose places than the City OF New-York. Every year
have make those guarantees and every year have To
allow rebates my customers for the Overcharge Of
freight. 1 have tried personally several times
with the authorities OF the New GOrk Central
Railroad TO got the contract from the town OF Lit
lie Falls those places in West that the said goods
pay from NewIOrk andy ever time have failed vote
aye"
Tbe rs ssolution was alopted by a vote OF as TO 90