The New York herald., 1879-09-19
CONGRESS and THE RAILROADS.
William H. Vauderbilt's Reply to the
Chamber of Commerce.
NOT A FOOTBALL FOR POLITICIANS.
Lawyer Depew on the Origin Of the
Present Agitation.

The announcement in yesterdays HERALD of
determination on the part of leading commercia
bodies, notably the Chamber of Commerce to seel
Congressional legislation so as to repuats inter.
state traffic has created considerable excitement in
raiiroad and commercial circles. The views ex.
pressed by President Jewet in regard to this pro.
posed innovation were also the subject Of commen-
datlon in many quarters. When reporter of tho
called at the Grand Central Depot he WAS Mt
admitted to the presidents room, and it was
not many minutes before copy of the following
letter handed him. with the remark that it con.
tanned Mr.. vanderbilt's views:-
New YORK CENTRAL AND HUDSON RIVER
RAILROAD COMPANY. GRAND CENTRAL DEpor}
NEW YORK. Sept. IS 1879. J
GESTLEMEN-I am just III receipt of your letter
of yesterday. The questions you present are of the
first ilnportance, not only to the railroads but to
the whoie United States and especially to the State
and city of New York. They have to be calmly and
fairly met, unless irreparable injury be done to
every material interest. They are of too serious
by III agitation III which eacn political party shall
try to oudo the other without regard to the pract
cal effect OF any action which may be taken.
To create false issue against the railroads and
arouse popular feeling i'll hostility to them is not
aud never has been difficult thing to do. and it il
easy tor it to get beyond the control of
jure most its original promoters. But wherever
the legislation which follows has been tried the
farmers. merchants and manufacturers have suf-
Tered to as great, If not greater. extent thnn the
railroads.
This is the experience of other States and
countries and the judgment OF the ablest men who
have devoted themselves a careful consideration
OF the question. The lways are not and cannot
be antasonistic to the public. with whom their very
existence is indissolubly connected; and, in the
end, the relations between them and the people
better adj listed by the people and themselves than
by any .ron-clad legislation. The papers
which publish your letter contain the announce
lnent OF the appointment OF y committee OF mer-
chants to foment agitation upon the basis Of hos
tilty to railroads and to proer support threaten
hostility to legislative candidates unless they will
pledge an unquestioning support to whatever
turthers this sentiment.
When hear with pleasure from gentlemen of the
nigh standing and character of your committee the
assurance that ''you desire neither State Con-
gressional legislation which shall not. while pro-
tecting the public be also just to the railroads. the
present aspect aud methods of agitation compel
to frankly and freely say what have. believe that
any legislation upon the transportation question by
the State unless based upon general legislation first
had by Congress. will be disastrous to the commercial
supremacy and prosperity of New York The state
cnnot lie the hands OF its roads and leave their
side competition free without working directly TOR
the ruin OF its mercantile and industrial interests
and for the growth OF other aud rival States
ports.
differ, however. from many other railroad
in believing that Congress might take some action
which would both beneit the public and protect
vestors l certainly will be very glad to meet the
presidents OF the trunk lines to discuss the matter
and prepare il possible. bill to the dit
culties and also to meet with the representatives Of
commercial bodies and arrive with them. at an ami
cable understanding and united action. This il
surely wiser than to put these problems up at
ton Ior politicians TO bid upon for votes.
WiLLIAa H. VANDERBILT, President.
To Messrs. CHARLES S. SMITH, +. b. THURBER D.
3. SHERMAN. b. u. ARNOLD. JACKSON $. SCHULTZ.
JACOB WENDELL and CHARLES Z. DODGE, special
committee OF the Chamber Of Commerce, New
York city.
AN INTERVIEW WITH cHAUScEy NJ DEPEw.
The reporter. after copying the above called upon
Mr.. Chauncey M. Depew. who, in his capacity Of
counsel to the New York Cenrra Railroad Company.
hnl haap Wit, Nv <bo
sessions of the Legislative Committee at Saratoga
and other places. When asked whether he thought
Mr.. Vanderbilt's reply covered the entire ground
OF the controversy, ho aid:--"It does. The great
question is. Cannot Congress devise some legisla-
tion which viii prevent the recurrence of railroad
wars, which are generally brought about by the
action of small and insolvent lines. involving
ultimately the entire railway system OF
the country? The railroad wars produce
all the disturbances in rates. from which
rates are much more beneficial to merchants than
low and constantly huctuating rates. These rail-
road wars also produce the ruinous rates from dist
ant points to the seaports. which result in such
serious loss of income to the railways and produce
the determinations which cause all the real COM
plants; and so long as such wars are possible, the
railroads. il they would keep the trade Of the
West to and through their own States and seaboard
cities are poweress to prevent these troubles The
origin OF the present agitation the fact that the
wholesale jobbers in the interior cities of the
State in every line of merchandise had driven
the New York jobbing houses which formerly
had the whole of the retail trade entirely out tho
territory Ill and around their several cities. Tho
New York jobbers alleged that the reason they
unable to compete with jobbers in the interior and
in the western part OF the state that the rail-
roads gave to the interior wholesale merchants u
wholesale rate for the transportation of their goods
which WAS less than the rate the retailer Of small
shipment who bought in New York could get his
goods carried for to the same point In order to
compel the fixing of rates by which they could COM
cuse. Rochester and Buffalo within their cities
and immediate territory they started this agitation
and formed alliances in every direction where they
could find real or imaginary grievances"
81 understand that Mr. Vanderbilt is not opposed
to Congressional legislation?"
"Mr Vanderbit's position clearly stated in
his evidence at Saratoga. and he has repeated it
since. He would like Congress to leg slate
protect the public and also the investors in these
properties IL Congress does that he will favor
tional legislation
COMMISSION EXPERTS.
"What about the now commission of experts ap-
pointed by the trunk lines?'
81 was just going to add" said Mr.. Depew, 'sthat
Mr. Vanderbilt has given practical expression his
sentiments on this entire question in the forma-
Francis Adams. Jr. David A. Wells and John A.
Wright. To these gentlemen the trunk lines and
their connections are willing to submit just such
questions. in the hope that-in case OF dispute and
probable antagonism-thcy might be able to al.
Just them to satisfy the public and also promote
lines have agreed to abide by the Judgment of
this Board which appointed to prac ticaly test
the question whether is not possible to haronizo
the national bearings of the portaon question
the necessities of the individual States so that
the interstate commerce may not perpctuaiIy dis
turb the relations OF the railroad 10 the State bus
hess