Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-06-17
MEMPHIS APPEAL
TUESDAY, JUNE IL, 1873.
RAILROAD DETERMINATIONS.

RAILROAD DISCRIMINATION
In the year I845 there were only four thou
sand six hundred and thirty-three miles OF
railroad in the United States; but In 1871
the miles had increased to seventy-seVen
thousand. The capital invested IN rail-
roads, the earnings, and everything con-
nected with them, had increased IN the
same proportion. While all concede the
advantages of railroads, there is danger OF
their becoming the tyrannicai masters instead
of the useful servants of the people AS
roads consolidate, like all monopohes they
become exacting, oppressive and can So dis
criminate in freight charges as to affect the
price of every article, and the interest
of every community against which
they discriminate. The people are pre-
pairing to place proper safeguards
between themselves and the evils with
which the railroads threaten the country.
There have been so many abuses connected
with the management of railroads in New
York that the people insist on the right to
look into the secret of railroad transporta-
ton. For several years the railroad mana
gers in New York have labored to hide the
details of their business, not only from their
customers and the public, but even from the
private stockholders, whose money they are
using in the business. The legislature Of
New York has demanded an investigation
into the general management OF railroads,
and the 6rst days proceedings has attracted
much attention. In discussing it, the New
York Post says: Zone branch of the inquiry
related to the regular tariff of freight rates
that is, the general charge to the public. 1t
would be better to call it the irregular tariff,
because it seems to be regulated by no fixed
principles. Mr.. Goodman, the assistant
general freight agent of the Hudson River
and New York Central railroad, made q Gu
rous statement, from which the following is
taken:
The increase or reduction of the rates depended
worth one dollar a barrel they could large twenty
cents to New York, and II worth only nifty cents a
barrel they would charge only ten cents.
What has the railroad company. to do with
the price Of commodities which it carries
Does it cost any more to carry barrel oil
potatoes in good potato year when the tar
mer gets a dollar for the barrel, than it costs
in bad year when the farmer gets only fifty
cents? Why should the company regulate
ITS charge for performing certain service by
the real or supposed profits earned by It's
customer in his business? 1t is easy to see
what confusion would result IN our markets
if this rule should be generally adopted-li
there should be one price for prosperous
merchant, another price for tradesman
who was doing moderately well, and third
price for dealer who was making
nothing. The passenger department fur
nishes IN illustration of the absurdity of the
freight rule. Would the company's agent;
dream of charging Mr.. A. twice as much a.
Mr.. B. for ticket to Albany because Mr.. A
had twice as much money as Mr.. &. Woulc
they propose to regulate the charge according
to the profit of the journey to the passenger
OF course not; yet why should not thls b
done in his case as we'll as In that of TIKI
farmers barrel of potatoes? The real rea
son for the rule as to freight charges wal
given with amusing frankness by Mr.. Good
man:
Q. And that is based on the principle OF charging
much they Will bear is it? A. Yes, sir; If the
can't stand much We don't charge much.
That is, the company squeezes the Gus
toner as tightly as possible, and he is com
PEELED to submit, as there is no rival carrier
to whom he can go. The absurd distinction
is pushed still further Mr.. Goodman wa
obliged to say that, though it costs the com
pany no more to carry barrel of -four thar
barrel of potatoes, if the charge for thu
latter was fifteen cents the charge for th'
former would be twenty-five cents, "becaus'
g CIV nnf
potatoes are worth three dollars" Why no
apply the principle to passengers, and charg
a citizen worth five millions of dollars fv
times as much fer ticket as a citizen wort
one million? Another inquiry related {
determinations in freight charges, not in re
spect to articles but in respect to persons
Mr.. Goodman was constrained to say tina
there was not place on the line of the ros
where special rates were not made for ia
vored individuals or firms. The followin
questions and answers explain the practice
BY Mr.. Stencil see you have here a tariff rate
or from Syracuse from fory-two cents for firstca:
10 eighteen cents for fourth class? A. Yes. sir.
O. Are there not some persons in syracuse
whom you give special rates. giving them all cassC
at eighteen een's2 A. Yes, sir; TWO or three pc
sons.
O. Have you not got special rates with persons
Syracuse still lower than that? A. Yes, sir; the
one or TWO tbdt nave q special syracuse
ten cents per hundred pounds.
@ That Is TO say, you carry all their classes
eight cents per ono hundred less than the lowe
tariff rate offered to the public2 A. Yes, sir; the
are than two firms tla have that rate; there
three or four OF them, perhaps six Of them that G
II at that one rate.
o. Then have you another special rate for person
in sgt cuse? A. Yes, sir; several special rates;
depends on what goods and what quantities thu
ship.
This branch Of the subject calls for e.
haustive inquiry, and no doubt will receive
Upon the face of the thing it seems as re'
sonable that every shipper shall have IL
benefit of the lowest rates for freight as tn
every passenger shall have the benefit of I'll
lowest price for tickets. Why should fsvo
itlsm be shown to shippers any more than
passengers2 Under the rule of discriminate
it looks as if A paid high rates for freight
order to meet the cost of carrying BIS goo'
at low rates. The railroad companies shou
help rather than hinder the inquiry. The
refusal 10 exhibit their books is not GOO
sign. If the system is right why conceal Il
particulars? On the other hand, if it
wrong there is reason for keeping the
particulars secret.
=----------------..-.a
The Huntsville papers announce the dea
there of the well-known editor of the Ind
psp5sst Major Alexander r NViggs wi