New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-06-13
RAILWAY RATES.
AN INQUIRY BY THE ASSEMBLY.


FxPLAIxKD-A DEMAND FOR CERTAIN BOOKS
MEETING OF HE JOINT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
tupoRTAST ACTION ABOUT POOLS.
soec,al committee of the Assembly began yes
ordav in this city, an investigation OF the charges
nj determination IN rates preferred by merchants
AGAINST the railroads. Simon Sterne stated 'he
Grievances Of the merchants and Samuel II. Good
man. Of the New-York Central Railroad. described
its system Of rates. He admitted that very 10"
charges were made for certain merchants IN Syrd-
cnse and elsewhere and that the names OF these
merchants could be found in the company's books
MFR. steme asked for these books, but Mr.. Depew'
CO.. tho company. objected. The full Joint Execu-
tive Committee of the railways met in this city yes
ter,av. and decided that differences about percent
ages sbouId be referred TO the arbtrators. Ar
raneeuents were made for pools at the principai
Western points and for raising rates.
WORK OF THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE.
Sorrp HALLWAY MEN sUBPGNAED-rHE COUNSEL
AN ADDRESS ny SIMON sfERNE-1HE SPECIAL
TESTIMONY or Mr.. GOODMAN OF THE NEW
YORK CENTRAL
The special committee of the Assembly on
p.usv determinations met in the rooms of the Mu-
,cipal Society in this city yesterday the following
being present. a. b. Hepburn, chairn an, OF 81 Law
renee County; James W. Hustled. Of Rockland Henry
L. Duguid OF Onandaga; Thomas T. Grady OF
Sew-York; William !. Noyes, of Cayuga James
w Wadsworth. Of Livingston; George L. Terry, OF
Washtng ton; and Charles g. Baker, Of Monroe. MI
Low. Of Niagara, was absent. Chaunoey NJ Depew
anneared for the New-York Central Railroad,
ex,Judge W. d. Shipman for the Erie hali-
1yay and Simon Sterne for the Chamber OF
Commerce the Board OF Trade aud Transportation
Mr. sterne had table covered with pamphlets, law
hooks. and bulky English Parliamentary reports on
railway matters FROM lS41 to 1872 He opened the case
for the compiainaDts in speech lasting two hours
At the outset Mr. Hepburn asked Mr.. Sterne to pro-
duce his witnesses Mr. Sterne said that suopGnas nad
been served on the following railroad officials
7 H. Rutter General Traffic Manager, and Samuel H.
Goodman General Freight Manager to local points, OF
the New-York Central; Albert Fink, Commissioner OF
Trunk Lines f. Walker Statisteian of the Produce
Exchange President Jewe Auditor Little IL l. WAS
OF the Erie; and l. T. Low, william McApine' noted
railroad engineer. Messrs Roberts and B"lch rail-
road experts Me sterne said that he had requested
Messrs Rutter Goodman. Fink, Roberts and Balch to
appcar that day Mcssrs. Villas and McAlpne to-day
Mr. Low on saturday, and Messrs. Jeweit Little, Rut-
ter and Goodman again on Monday.
Mr. Sterne then began his opening speech. He said
that when the railroads first built the State had
no experience IN matters of transportation beyond what
il had gained in managing the canals. The State had
built the canals: II did not follow that plan with the
railroads Instead. 1t allowed private individuals
10 build them, and even subsidized them 10 the
extent OF IS 100000, receiving in return only S1oOooo
were 70 be permitted to over railroads on pay
uent OF certain tolls for motive power. All the early
acis of the Legislature regarding the railroads contained
careuIly prepared schedules both of freight ana
passenger charges down to the miuutest details In
lS5 there were 72l miles of railroad IN the Stalei III
1879 there $500. The receipts OF the state
railroads in $40 about S2000OO0; in 1879 they
were about $40 600 The state had ceased 10 CON
troll the railroads. the stockholders had also practically
ceased to control them Consolidation seemed TO De te
law of railroad beng England and America Freight
contracts had eliminated in a pooling OF earnings
"making for the great trunk lines on "es'-pouhu
freight and now on Eastbound freghta common purse;
and thus bringing about practically consolidation III
fact. although not in form"
Competition even in form, Mr.. sterne said'
was abandoned between the great railway
corporations Of the country. The evils OF
the system were apparent in New-York
The city increasing in population as fast as the
other Northern seapOrts and the percentage OF its re-
ceips Of grain for export not so great IN 1878 AS
IN 1870; while both Baltimore and Philadelphia
had increased their percentage since 1870 Inc
Chamber OF Commerce charged that the railways had SO
watered their stock that impossible TO tell their
actual cost The reports TO the state Engineer were
yalueless II would be shown that the system of
counts Of the railways deusve; that by special
accounts aud special rates distinctions were made be-
tween merchants doing business IN the same cities;
that a discrimination made against this State IN
tons IN this state based entirely upon personal
IavOritlsm and not upon any principle
THE NEw-YoRK CENTRALs SPECIAL RATES.
samuel II. Goodman, Of the Ncw-York Central Rail
road testified that he had been connected with
the road for twenty years, aud practically had
control OF its freight between New-York and
Buffalo lie exhibited printed tariffs, and acknowl-
edged that there other tariffs in manuscript
and Ru falo ach station tariff manuscript; be-
tween Albany aud New York they were printed III
made with him. The senders OF small quantities were
charged the regular rates The rates were not me same
ness II potatoes were 81 barrel the railroad
could charge 20 cents Tor Transporting every
barrel; but II they were worth only 90 cents
barrel the shippers only charged 10 cents bar
rel 10 great extent Is lScs TaiTS aud pp aonp
were changed about twelve times Near The manuscript
from Rochester Syracuse and Utica NewYork were
changed about eight times year The rates depended
upon the state OF the market the whole quantity pro
auced in the country aud the quantity offered ior
frequently made low SO as to permit the state mers 10
compete with those OF the West
There were SIX merchants In Syracuse, Mr. Goodman
said. who had goods Of all classes carried at as low
rate as cents "A hundred. This wa cents hundred
poTtaon Of the lowest elias. OF goods. There were
special rates also with dealers in Schenectady who
dealers were charged higher rates The rate did not
depend upon the distance 1t did depend on the class
cent OF the goods Transported rom New-York TO syria
specal rates made with dealers IN eyefy large town
along the line OF the railway.
ASKING TO SIZE THE BOOKS.
Mr. sterne-Are the books containing the record OF
the special contracts in your object
Mr.. Goodmsn-rhey are.
Mr.. Sterne-I want TO see them.
Mr. Depew-Permit me to say thatthe Ncw-York Cen
trail IA willing TO give full information about the special
rates but do object To disclosing the names OF The
business firms with whom have contracts. That
would revelation of the business secrets OF these
firms 10 Mr. Thurber aud other business firms
Mr. Stcrpe-I think that this committee has a
feet right to demand these books Unless know
\ useless. The