New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-06-18
RAILWAY OOETRAOTS AND RATES.


WORK OF THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE.
LOCAL AND THROUGH TRAFFIC NOT DIVIslBLE IN
REPORTs-FACTs ABOUT THE SPECIAL CON
TRACTs-A GREATER INCOME SOMETIMES FROM
A LESS BUSIyEss-srATEMENT OF JAMES II.
RUTTFR AND r. c. Villas.
James II. Rutter General Traffic Manager
OF the Ncw-York Central Railroad, and r. c. Villas,
General Freight Agent OF the Ede. described to the
Assembly Committee Yesterday the West-hound freight
pool, the system Of rebates the special rates. thc
contracts with express companies and the difficulties OF
railroad bookkeeping
Mr. Rutter had brought with him books showing the
special rates to the West for the last three years. and
the firms receiving them He could not tell the proper
lou of local 70 through traffic. The books were so Kept
a.d there were many OF freight which could
not be defined correctly, that the question could not
be answered. The company would cheerfuly furnish
all information in its possession. Mr. Sterne then asked
II information could be given on the following four
points, The amount of railroad business originating
within the State and ending within its borders; the
amount Of business originating within the State and
ending outside of it, the business originating outside
of the state and ending within 1t the business orlgl-
Mating outside and passing through the State Mr..
Ruttcr said that the railroad could not give this infor-
nation. Mr. Depcw said that the company had 700
clerks, but they could not analyze the accounts IN
respect TO these matters.
i.
tracts He said that the Baltimore and Ohio and the
PENNSYLVANIA Central would pay literally for the In
formation contained in these books. The New-York
Central would give $500 600 such information about
the Pennsylvania Central The books should therefore
be kept with great care, and persons permitted to
look into them except the committee. There were only
two classes pushing the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. job
bes who desired to decrease the business OF rmsin the
Interior and the railroads competing with the New
York Central These interests were represented by Nj.
| Sterne.
Mr. Stencil wish say for all that in five years
OF work toward revealing the abOminable traffic system
which have been laying bare here, have never re-
celyed any compensation for my services, and do not
now expect any. say This that Mr.. Depew will not
! repea. his NAL gnant speech.
Mr. Depcw-If F. b. Thurber should die tonight this
! inquiry would stop.
Mr.. Rutter said that in August 1873, the through
rate on fOurth-class freight from Chicago was
Is cents hundred, of which the New
York Central received sd cents. The high
est rate in 1878 80 cents; the average was
about 10 during the Summer months, and rose to
% cents before the close of navigation Tie through
rates from Chicago 10 Liverpool were named in Chicago
by adding rate TO the inland rate. Both were
"cut" during the railway The Merchants Dis
patch Transportation Company sent goods in their cars
the road. percentage was paid the company by
the Central for the freight thus secured Tue Mer-
chants Dispatch had Of its on the road, and
There was record of its dealings with the railroad
other than as an agent. 1t paid dividend of 10 per
cent annually The railroad made more money on n
less volume OF business since the formation Of TIE
"poo," because it paid higher rates, although it
had surrendered some OF IT'S business TO the Baltimore
and Ohio and the Pennsylvania Central
The Union Stock Yard Company, which had stock
yards in NewYork Mr. Ruter SAID, took charge Of cat
lie and other live stock when they left the railroad
The company used lands of the NewYork Central at the
foot Of West sxeth-st The chief stockholders were
dealers III cattle The railroad company was paid Tor
csTe OF hem The elevator at tne foot Of sixteths
was built by the New-York Central and was
Leased sdn4n 9s5 SOFw am IT, T Tahde5 GTOm T65
rate on milk was fixed by william H. Vanderbilt in
ton. Formerly was cents gallon; now II was Ala
cents me Su On cDi VI NM TO ,S yo anu ao
Quainted with the contract with the Wagner Drawing
Room Car Company. The railroad company aid not
Mr.. Depew-Tle New-YOrk Central hasn't the legal
tracks although make contracts for the
Mr.. Rutter questioned about contracts recorded
showing that one month the railroad paid over $1,000
TO The Union stock Yard Company and the Western
stock Yard Company for the care of cattle sheep ana
hogs. They paid this yardage 10 meet competition,
pany had rebate OF over $1,000 IN May, 1s77 Mr..
utter said n%t ihis was done to make ihe rates uni
cept the Standard OH Company.
Mr. seneLe M expert 20 Win member OF thi s
the Elie Railway and examine these books
Mr.. Depew-Tbe Chamber Of Commerce has no ex-
interest i'll TINS affair. They would hike TO take
transcripts of business Tor their private Five
or X Instances VIII prove system. Certainly We
allow rebates and or wbacks Competition cOmpcls
TO allow rates secretly that is, allow rate below
tie apparent rate granted.
r. C. villas testified that he had been General Freight
OF tue Erie fOr years. He exhibited printed
fieght tariffs fol- Wcst-2Ouud freight About 81 per
cent Of the through WestbOund freight was carried by
the Ere. Each furnished to Mr.. rink daily its
way Dllls. At The end OF week he made out state
ment showing which roads had dcfic and which had
uore than their proportion OF the lrahc II the Balt-
am OHIO had deficit one week, for Instance, II
would send to the EIie mpany, II that company had
bad than It's proportion and obtain freight TO make
up the deficiency the freight then sent 70 Chicago
by the Baltimore and Ohio No mOueY passed. but the
excess business of road Its associates
transferred III tonnage 10 make good the deficit. pool
forniLg for EastbOund freight. Special rates
were made by the railroad constantly from all points
along line of the road TO NewYoIk. From Newly oTk
westward few special contracts were now made.
There only contract where there was no CLASH
dcaton II with Phelps Co.. hardware mer-
chants. o. BInehamton. Their goods carried at
lGl2 cents hundred The lowest class freight accord
H.. the schr due rates. paid 20 cents bundled, ana