The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-28
The Merchant. and tn. Railroads.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-S-: II Is inter-
esng to glance at what the legislative Committee have
thus developed. The hrst two specifications of the
Chamber OF Commerce were as follows That said
railroads In the habit Of carrying neight for the
citizens OF other states and also for foreign
countries lower citizens the State OF
New York ani also that individual citizens OF this
given special privileges aud rates oct - all proper
ton TO thoe charged the public In general These have
been ully proved. and principally tho mouths OF
railroad witnesses thus putting NesSrS vander b and
Jeweu CWho denied IN their Joint letter the existence
OF even Of Discrimination In the very unplcas
ant position OF either wiliuy misrepresenIing else
not knowing the details OF their business
One feature OF the inVestgau has been the attempt
Of the repr, seuAuves Of the railroads " lsite II by
persisenty asserting that persons are interested
in It, and those through selfish and unworthy motives
The name OF one merchant had constantly been dragged
nto IL by Nj pepew. the last instance being yesterday
in connection with contract for transportation which
he would have the public believe important illus
uauve VI motives The truth is that In the present
chaotic system Of railroad management
knows what rates he ought to pay tor the public
charged all sorts Of rates varying shown by the tes
mony already taken by the Legislative committee. from
ten % three hundred per cent Nearly all the New York
Arms constantly in receipt oi letters from their
toners instrucng them to get special contracts Tor
them; and however much they may dLsapprove Of this
manner OF conducting business which is essentially
public In is nature snd In which ought he pub
uey are forced. II they would successfully compete, 10
eudeavor procure special rates for their
The railway managers would have the public believe
n there need demand for inNe,Hg that
it's simply dictated by the senshness OF few mdvidu
ais that there legislation and that they
shod he lett alone To interpret the laws Of trade and
reduction and commerce All it will sar" they to
be the exclusive Judges OF this very momenDus question:
how manentous may perhaps be understood when We
reflect mat the annual revenues eoeced nv the rail
roads OF is State amount to nearly SlOOuo Oop-more
than twelve the entire revenue State derived
from taNauun-two.thrds OF which would after deduct
ng operating expenses probably yield ten per cent on
the amount actually paid IN by stock aud bondhodeTs
providing the Se improved highways
Taxation Tor transportation dwarfs alt other forms Of
taxation. ami this fact last becoming atreciatcd wit
ness the statements made 20 the Legislative Committee
by the commercial bodies OF this ety the state Miers
Association, and the Boards OF Trade N Buffalo and
Oswcgo.
Public sentiment has been steadily growing for four
past and although thus far the railroads have been
able to suppress legislation by conroini majority in
the state seuate, It remains to be seen how much longer
this can be done There signs that party managers
on both sides are becoming tired OF beiuy by cor
porate interests, and although said have some
prominent representatives in both parue IL is by no
means certain that the money they contribute party
purposes Will outweigh the genuine Indignation which
II much longer depressed, will md In burst which
will M some people with astonshment
The farmers Of this STATE will not calml = endure the
continued depreciation OF their property By an excessive
GRaESa
raised upon the cheap lands Of the Mlssss sipp Valley
the small merchants OF the interior will insist upou
choosing IN what market they Will buy their goods aud
Will refuse 10 pay 200 800 per more r the
poraton Of their goods than Is charged to mer favored
neishhors and the obbing merchants Of New York to
gether with her owners of real estate beg to see that
the purchasing OF both the farmers an oil small
chants OF the state is being seriously rcduc ed by false
poeF oil Ter railroads which, although indebted to the
stat" for their corporate existence are purs ling cou
which, whether intentional or not II long sntnu.d ,u
assuredy break down our canals aud greatly niure all
the material interests OF the State
These are the issues involved in the present railroad
investigation and which the railroad mans gers are seek
'"s "soNe' up ana behtte' MERCHANT