New-York tribune., 1879-03-27
THE RAILROAD INQUIRY.

THE INVESTIGATION AS TO DISCRIMINATION BE-
GUN-PERTINBST QUESTIONS SUBMITTED.
GrRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT op THE TRIBUNE.
ALBANY. March 26.-Mr. Hepburn's special
committee for the investigation of the alleged dscrmi
nation in railroad rates against tho City OF NewYork
held its fret meeting to-day. Tho following
members were present: Messrs Hepburn. Hus-
ted. Dugud, Lew. Terry. Baker, Noyes and
Grady. The following gentlemen appeared In
behalf Of the Chamber of Commerce of NewYork
jackson s. Schultz F. Van vakenburgh. T. B. Thurber
ami Jacob Wender. The Board OF Trade and Trans
portation or EewYork represented by A. b. Miller.
III. X. Miller, John +. Henry. Darwin r. James, Simon
sterne and b. 2. Baker George W. Lane appeared for
the Roard OF Trade. Cbauneey NJ Dopev present in
the interest OF the NewYork Central Railroad. Mr. De
pew said privately that the railroads would wait till the
Indictment was all made. and then would reply In de-
tail and present testimony regarding the seveIsl
charges. The first witness Mr.. Thurber, who read
paper concluding follows:
Upon the tborougnness OF your Investigation depends,
IN great measure the commercial and Industrial well
lar lar OF the entire community. IL is hardly pos
portanec, or one which affords wider scOpe
Tor patient, statesmanike Investigation. We
venture to express the hope that sufficient ne will be
gwen to tie subject 10 make the examination an
haustive one. and that If any additional powers are
upon your honorable comInitfee by the Assembly For
your convenience we recapitulate below some OF the
Whether the railroads chartered bv this State carry
freight Tor citizens OF other States and also for citizens
New-York
2. Whether individual citizens Of this State are given
special pryegcs and rates out of proportion to those
charged the public in general.
3. Wheher the rates for transportation are made I'M
Necessarily nigh by the maintenance Of subsidiary or
ganizatiOns designed, which have the effect TO d.
pete the OF roads before they reach stock
holders, including the effect Of the practice known
watering of stock or capitalization Of surplus
earnings" and to what extent these practices have ob
A. Whether the rights of stockholders are adequately
.. Whether there is lack OF that publicity and re-
spOnsbllty to the public which properly belong TO OF
carnations exercising great public function like that
OF operating pubic highways; including under tins
head the arranging OF freight tariffs and cassihcatiOns
the effect Of the pooling system; the different rates
charged on Sew-York frkhts as compared with other
seaboard cities and their effect; the effect Of present
local tariffs upon the iobbing trade of NewYork; what
mas Deen done 10 regulate transportation by railroad 10
other states and countries and such other branches Of
the subject as may appear worthy Of attention for the
Ex-speaker Sloan described the prostration Of the
milling milling interest OF osTego,, and said that It
was not stopped j: A. Hmds. OF Rochester,
SPOKE Of the loss Of trade Of Rochester taFoaEh
lumber interest OF Albany suffering from the dis
climlnatiOn: Thomas j.. Tuttle. OF Newburg, com
the milk interest OF Orange County. Dur.
ing ing pe the % TToe,eed66gs Darwin r. James Of
indicating what ought 10 be the scope OF the nyestga
ton. Among the points 1t suggests arc the following:
The history OF railroad Legislation N this state, show
Ing the gradual Abandonment Of state SUPERVISION the
for such and the consequences that
have 1own thrrefrom.
hc proper relation of the railroad system to the pub
lie. Are railroads public highways; aud II so, the
principles that govern highways applicable to them
What has been the OF the construction OF rail-
roads What monetary aid have our railroads received
fran State, county and city fumes 7 How far
does the capital stock and bonded indebtedness OF such
railroads represent such cost of construction 7
II the capital stock and bonded Indebtedness Of the
railroads do not repr sent such cost Of construction,
what consequences IL any, OF injurious character
railroad transportation charges bear TO taxes! Have
they not the ch ctl How far do discriminating
railroad transportation charges affect commercial
transportation To what extent are railroad directors
interested IN contracts with their own trusts How
far is the interest OF tne public consulted at all, IN
the Classification and establishment OF rates
and the framing of tariffs, and with what
degree OF consistency are such tariffs maintained
What special immunity exemptions from tariff rates
granted 10 favored individuals in certain locatIe
throughout the States 20 the dernent OF tine mem Der
of the same community In other words, are special
preferences shown Independent Of classes Of shipment
In favor certain mdiyiuals Are not a whole. the
inhabitants Of the State Of New York Disseminated
against the tariff rates, and do the citizens
OF other States obtain the services or rail-
roads chartered by this State at LESS rates
citiZens of State In the great commercial
port OF Eew-YOrk. upon the prosperity Of which sue
webeDR Of the State to considerable 6elee depends.
Disseminated against by railroaGs chartered by this
State that Is diverted cities and
o other ports in other States.