Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1879-01-23
CONCERNING "CUT RATES. -"

Thu New York Board of Trade having
der consideration the Reagan Bill, on June
8th instant, adopted the following resolution ::
Resogred That in the opinion OF this Board, the proy
Reagan Bill for the regulation of interstate
commerce. whole just and reasonable; that some
Of the kind absolutely to protect the
public interest further that the magnitude of the in
terests involved great that competent board OF
commissioners should be appointed to superlntend the
operations interstate rlroad law and from time
time recommend to Congress such additional or quAiy
a be required to do substantial justice
Z, the public and railroad Interests
R>soIred That the compensation for such
should be large enough to command the services OF men
9t the highest character and ability.
INSTANCES OF REDUCED RATES.
Saws the New York Tribune of December
Il, 1873: "The reports about the cutting of
freight rates by the railroads were further
confirmed Wednesday by the statements Of
number of merchants on the Produce E1-
change. The railroad pool it was said was
one of the greatest evils of the country; there
ought to be some national law which would
make the managers of the roads abide by
their charters. Said one merchant: The
railroads are common carriers, the meaning of
which is that they shall offer equal facilities
to all. There is no reason why they should
not take thousand carloads for one man at
the same rate that they would carry the same
amount for another, from the same point; if
1t were made test case in the courts, a vlO-
lation of the rule, believe, would result in
a revocation of their charters. 1t was stated
that the railroads in many cases presented
bills to merchants who were allowed to Cut
rates, but later there would be an additional
rebate of from 10 to Is per cent. in favor of
one. Two merchants, it was said, by way of
example, had made a contract for freight from
Chicago to New York at % cents, the schedule
rate being 81 cents when the bills were pre-
scented one merchant was allowed rebate of
q cents hundred. A specific instance was
found, it was alleged, in the case of Armour,
Piankinton & Co., and Herman Brock, both
provision dealers Mr.. Brock ordered $50
tierces of lard from Chicago. On the same
day in which this amount was shipped to aim
al equal amount was sent, he alleges, to Ar
lnour, Plsnkinton & Co. On Tuesday their
bills were drawn up by the Erie Railway, but
By an error of the messenger, the bills were
exchanged Mr. Brock found that he had
bseu given a cut rate, making reduction of
$24 Yesterday Mr.. Armour sent to Mr..
Brock and wanted the matter corrected, when
the latter replied that if the road had made a
mistake that it was not his fault. Mr.. Brock
stated that the private rates allowed to some
firms to the exclusion of others were running
tie trade No firms could compete with
others having the benefit of such privileges
He insisted that uniform rates should be es-
tablished and maintained, and then merchants
could carry on their business on equal chances.
He had Just received an order from Europe
for 700 tierces of lard, 200 boxes of bacon,
and 300 tierces of tailow, bat he was not able
10 give prices as favorable as other firms,
without losing money. A grain merchant Zone
Of the favored ones) on the Produce Exchange |
stated TO another member yesterday that he |
f-ared the recent publications about cutting |
rates would be damaging to mercantile inter |
ests that if he had not had such privileges |
he could not have had his present business
it had been done always more or less the |
agreement made by the railroads had never
been carried out.