New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-03
GRIEVANCES OF THE MERCHANTS.
ARGUMENT OF SIMON srrRNE on TnE EVILS OF
RAILWAY MANAGEMENT.

ARGUMENT OF SIMON SrERNE on TIKI EVILS OF.
RAILWAY MANAGEMENT.
Simon Sterne. IN behalf of the Chamber of
Commerce. delivered long argument yesterday before
the Assembly Railroad Committee MIR. Depcw, said
he combats the position taken by me in my opening.
tie railroads of tie state subject 10 whatever
regulation may be imposed upon them by the State.
hai thought that MI Depow would have had some re-
specI for the decisions OF the Supreme Court OF the
United States which IN series II eases set at rest what
ought never TO have been questioned-that whenever
private citizen places his money into business az
fected by a public interest tlas business becomes
instantly subject 10 public control. Mr. Depew
has criticised the origin OF the Chamber OF
Commerce Committee The signatures appended to the
request for meeting at when the resolutions were
passed requesting the Legislature TO appoint such
commtce represented capital Of three times the
bined capital OF the NewYOrk Central aud Erie Raii
ways. And the meeting attended by larger
Der Of merchants than had attended meeting since
the war.
discharged that there Is a oommuntic spirit abroad
II we had not the leading street. Fifth-ave palace
palace and fortunes acquired through indirecon
and II the people were not compelled 10 pass
vice sconsed Ia comfort and luxury beyond the power
the law 20 reach, there would be great deal less ~
the cOmnunistic spirit than exists now. 1t Is patent
aud are always powerful against the small ones Mr..
Depew has intiInaed that only those people
that there something wrong IN relation TO
railroad IL Is worth while TO say that Mr.
Lewis did the support OF the Board NJ Trade
and Transportation, or the Chamber OF Commerce.
10 their adheronts substantial railway reforms in the
eve mt of the success of their RESPECTIVE tickets
The cool audacity of Mr.. Depew's staentnt that the
REPORTS OF the railways to the State Engineer were
O. be correct is monumental The utterly nett
Nev-York Central was developed bv Mr. Robertson's
testimony and admissions OF hr D"pew. We have an
nuay prepared FOR The State Engineer cooked account
on The part of the NcwYork Central Railroad. in which
there pretended credit construction of millions OF
dollars annually " allen never takes place but Is mere
writing of waiered capital into watered construction
account so that as mere matter OF bookkeeping the &C
counts shall balance IL strikes me tat te Vrnma IN
which these gentlemen are placed tor the purpose OF
explaining their bookkeeping aud TO their
watering OF stock Is unpleasant II they
seriously pretend-and that the suggestion
fron the and Disguised from STATE IN
1869 OF S40.o0O.0O0. which had neither been dis-
that noDocy kew of its TIE part both
these great highways except The of IT, then
men Ike Mr. Corning Mr.. F.r.o. Mr. Butcrield. and
Mr Worcester representing the Central aud the Messrs
Railroad
Mr. Depew drew for you quite pathetic picture of
the condition OF the New-Iork Central Railway Com
moro ana Ohio roads between 1875 ana 1871 Let ne
your attention TO the Ict thai boh those compot-
ing roads compelled 10 pass their dividends during
those years. while the CeAtrai pad upon
is -tos1 Nbat source OF Tey,nue except iIs lceal
traffic bad 1t II It's through .rsc during those two year
cost S5.O00OO0 more than II brought ini From the
loc., traffic only must have got back .ng
two years those S5OO0.O00. but have earnrd at
therefore New York State could not nave given
greater subsidy 70 ihs railway e Gd TO have handed
years OF fight 10 be taxed by that WAY as 1t saw ft
the NewYork Central and the bulk Of its local traffic
give 1t immense an ADVANTAGE over The shorter South
OF the Central comes upon them they fight against
Il only the condition that they shal TO pay
dividends upon stock and ultimately interest upon
bonds.
THE PLAN OF RAILWAY COMMISSION.
Mr.. Depew says that twenty-five years ago there
q railway commission, and that after it had been in
existence year abolished because the scan
das connected with such that the State could
not afford their existence" General Owen testified be
fore the railway companies procured the repeal
Of the law establishing the commission by an arrange
ment with the leading commiss TO make
lo opposition to pro posed repeal
OF pnymenI to him OF the whole amount OF his salary
for five years. II the commission had bern useless
one. the railway companies would not have
their money get nd OF H. A railroad commission has
really never been tired IN this State.
II Is charged that the railroads carry freight for the
OF otne States and also Tor citizens OF foreign
countries, al lower rates tnau Tor zehs OF NewY0rk
10 New York were 10 cents hundred grain
time was tue rate below IL cents hundred at
Buffalo. and a no iImes below Is ccnts hundred on
fourin-cass freight from Buffalo 10 New-York
Therefore farmer in the neighoorhood OF Chicago
has the advantages OF a European market Mt lower
own state than the Now-York in the nsighbor-
huod VI Buffalo. The miller OF Rochester could moi
compete with the milierof MINNEAPOLIS.
The second allegation OF the Chamber OF Commerce
was that individual citizens In this State are given
charged public In general" Upon this ponI the
testimony Is simply overwhelming Six thousand cases
special contracts local traffic alone revealed
the OF Hew-York Central. Ninety five per
OF the Whole business carried special
rates, mace upon principle other than TO keep the
people quiet THIS system Of 5000 special within
u Iwelyamonth, what ~ IL but system OF bribery
the hand. caoIery and successful eoutery on the
Other which between Them crush out honest. uDeoIn-
planning OH iwbst Is IL tue bu lnc up OF monop-
olies destruction Of the small tradesman grinding
taxation for the and profit TO the other
Mr. sterne will continue his argument TO DAY.