The New York herald., 1879-08-22
Mr.. Vanderbilt's Reply to "Theo-
rists and Sentimentalists"
TIE r MINAL FACILITIES. S.
If Railroad Men Cannot Agree
Then Let Congress Step In.
[By TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.

tive Railroad Investigating Committee far greater
than yesterday. but the Supreme Court room in the
Town Hall was anything but pleasant abode for
sojourners at the springs. owing to the numerous
men and women who came not all to listen to tho
actual proceedings but the eminent witnesses
that were about to be examined. That the crowd
was. however. q highly appreciative
evident several times when the would
be erudite questions of the examiner. Mr..
Sterne. answered in plain. quaint style by Mr..
Vanderbilt. 1t especially noticeable when Mr..
Vanderbilt. after having been asked If he knew that
there was no country in the world where this ar
btrary manner Of giving special rates for freight to
some and not to others would be tolerated, coolly
replied, 81 don't know that there is another country
in the world like this" aud he said it in manner
that at conveyed the idea that this country
could take of itself without being taught
lessons in railroad management by Europe. The
audience laughed heartily. Mr. Burrell and Mr.
Depew enjoyed amazingly the point made by their
client. and the grand questionor. Mr. Simon Sterne
at once inquired about another phase of the nves-
CATION. The great point was however made by Mr.
Vanderbilt when being sternly reminded Of the fact
that it injury to the small dealer If he. living
at the same place Us the heavy merchant. could
not get his freight at the same low
rates. he boldly stated. II do not believe
that this small merchant complains. We
never heard of their complaints These ideas are i'm
aginary. We never have received any complaints
from them" Mr. Vanderbilt made the point that
no small merchant. whose every hour was Of great
value to him. would make fuss about not getting
low rates. that only those who had Interior
object to reach said that these grievances existed
among the small traders. while the which
imposed these dfferential rates and who should be
the first to hear these complaints neveS in o single
instance had been informed OF them. Mr.. Sterne
here lamented over ''the poor devil OF trader who
could not get The same rights at the hands OF the
vast corporation as the wealthy merchant" Mr..
John f. Burrell. one Of Vanderbilt's counsel. ex-
claimed "Oh. that is all sentimentalism."
NECESSITY FOR SPECIAL RATES.
Mr. Vanderbilt also made it very plain to the COM
NIT tee that the special Of freight
trolled by distances that occasions required spe-
cia arrangements it was necessary for the New York
line and II factory for instance should say they
would have to dry up owing to the rates OF freight
it was to the interest of the company to help such
concern. When asked If he had not seen many fac
tories dry up along the line of his road he promptly
replied that he had also seen many competent men
fail. As to the effect of these special rates upon
business and the monopoly. in Syracuse for in.
stance, cited by Mr. Sterne, Mr.. Vanderbilt stated
that he had been frequently complimented by men of
the interior for the manner in which the freight
business OF his road was conducted.
Mr. Chauncey NJ. Depew here corrected statc-
ment previously made by him and which Mr.. Sterne
was about to put to Mr. Vanderbilt for confirmation.
He had intended to say that the Harlem road above,
not below fifty miles out of New York did not pay
tor the expense of keeping up the stations. long
discussion here ensued between Mr.. Sterne and MIR.
Vanderbilt to the advantages to be derived by
company by crushing another, and to wreck all the
rest OF the companies.
Mr.. sterne-Now. Mr.. Vanderbilt. is it not true
that il A.. r. Stewart 4 Co. could bankrupt Ii. B.
Cahin h Co. it would inure to the benefit Of the
former?
Mr. Vanderbilt-No. sir; 1t would be better to
have ClaAn and Stewart both solvent. to at
tract more business to New York
Mr.. Burrill-Ar. Sterne, como down to your
hard facts. This Ia not political economy talk. If
you want to have chat with Mr.. Vanderbilt on
these subjects. am sure he'll see you outside at
any time. This is not the place for it,
BUSINESS FOR NOTHING.
When asked why the various changes In freight
rates were not published in the newspapers. Mr..
papers, butt run railroads. In fact. he added.
there times in the year when rates OF freight
change every day; aye sometimes three or tour
times per day. They doing just what other
folks doing. Whenever Mr.. Rutter heard that
other railroads cutting rates he changed his,
and made his charges in accordance with theirs The
roads wanted business, and they were bound to get
it, regardless of established rules
Mr. Sterne then asked Mr.. Vanderbilt IL he knew
that there had been 600O cases of special rates OF
freight granted by the New York Central in eight
months?" when Mr.. Vanderbilt said that he did not
know this fact from his own experience. One thing
he did want to admit-though he denied the ex-
traordinary statements of exceedingly low rates
that great deal OF business had been done by the
A very funny incident hero occurred. whom Mr..
Sterne asked Mr. Vanderbilt whether he. as manager
of the greatest railroad in America, had con-
sidered the actual cost Of transportation between
he had moi.
..whatl you have notg" asked Mr.. stcrne. NO."
replied Mr.. Vanderbilt, II thought you would ask
next if. when finding out this cost. would stop
business Fellows like you would let me stop bust
ness If they could"
"Now, then, Mr. Vanderbilt" asked Mr. Sterne
''tel me would the business OF the summer OF 1873
on -four and grain have paid ii only half q cent per
ton had been charged per mile
Mr.. Burrill--I will take scientist to decide this.
Mr.. Sterne-Mr. Vanderbilt is u scientist.
Mr.. Vanderbilt-Twenty cents hundred Is the
hot rutc 20 ChicaQO.
CONGRESSIONAL REGULATION.
After discussion of no material interest in re-
gard to the standard Oil Company the question of
SPECIAL rates to certain parties again brought
up. when Mr.. Vanderbilt. apparently waxing warm.
said I'VE are not set of fools that we don't kiow
what other people arc doing. Our business is sub
ject to other peoples business and not going
to lose . customer because he can get trans
portation cheaper on another line" referring
to the question as to what ought to be
done to establish uniform rate. Mr.. Vanderbilt
said, 'If railroads themselves cant agree upon such
matters Congress should appoint committee to
regulate such matters. When Mr.. Vanderbilts at
tention called to the fact that farmers whose
land only cost them 81 80 per acre in Kansas could
sell their produce more advantageously in New
York than could own State farmers. owing to
81 have been farmer for twenty-five years, and
have land costing me $3.50 per acre for which
/ cannot get now 500 per acre. IL farmers in
this State would apply themselves to raising things
that not in competition with tho products OF tho
tho frcight."
TERMINAL FACILITIES.
Ihe question OF railway tcrmn bearing, as IL does,
upon subject frequently discussed in the columns of
tue HERALD. was exceedingly interesting Mr.. Wander
blt had stated that in Boston and Philadelphia the
railroad corporations were permitted to have their
tracks all along the docks. and that the State own
stock in the respective companies. thus showing
that every thing being done to protect and aid
them. Mr.. Sterne stated that the New York
Common Council had permitted the Central and
Hudson River Company to use the Belt line along
the North River for the purpose of transporting
freight through the city at night, question here
whether the final act in this matter had been
authoritative not, and Mr. Vanderbilt said. I'VE
have not tho right to run below Canal street"
''But all the steamship companies now have their
docks above Canal street" said Mr.. Stcrne.
Mr. Depow here interrupted him by stating, 1--WE
did not get all required. The owners OF property
there oppose us also"
Mr.. Vanderbilt then added that there difficulty
in regard to the strip of ground lying between the
west side of the track and the bulkhead.
"Ah" said Mr.. storne. "but you have laid your
track successfully to the White Star dock"