The sun., 1879-05-04
RAILROAD FREIGHT RATES.
PRBPA RING TO INVESTIGATE TINE DIS-
GRIMM a TTON IN TARIFFS,

Hints as 70 the Scope OF the Investiratiou.
and what the Compininnnt- VIII Endenvor
10 Do-Messr.. Depew snd He"ry Sos"~s.
The Assembly Committee on Dlscrimina-
ton in Railroad Freight Rates. held a meeting
yesterday In the Windsor Hotel. Messrs. Hep
burn. Duguid. Low. Noyes Terry. and Baker
OF the Committee were present. The Chamber
Of Commerce and Board OF Trade were repre-
scented before them by Mcssrs. Jackson g.
Schultz. +. B. Thurber. John +. Henry Charles
watrous. and J. J.. Livingstone.
Mr.. Hepburn. Chairman of the Committee.
said that owing to the engagements OF Mr.. 3.
Stern. upon whose legal assistance reliance had
been placed. and to other causes iustifying a
postponement. the Committee had simply met
on this occasion to mako some necessary ar
rangements for future proceedings. He had
been assured that two weeks would be required
for careful study and preparation for proper
presentation Of the evidence. Although there
were four lawyers on the Committee they fen
that 1t would be impossible for any OF them 10
conduct the examination so as to develop the
information sought and do II In n proper man
ner. The Committee intend to throw the suo-
cess or failure OF this investigation upon the
gentlemen who have sought 1.-THE represents
tives Of the Chamber OF Commerce and Board
OF Trade. While they do not wish to restrict
tho investigation in any proper particular.
they arc desirous that it shall not
be allowed to become discursive and
productive OF such cumbrous mass
of matter that It will fall by its own weight
They wish to bring out as the result something
which people will read and weigh. Hence they
deem 1t advisable that tho case against the rall-
roads be prepared by thoroughly competent ut
torneys, and submitted by their direction TO tho
| COMMITTEES. II might. hd thought. be woll to
present the points for consideration something
| In this order: First. the scriminhtion against
| individuals second as ngntnst localities third.
IA against the State aud fourth. perhaps. tho
| general relations Of the railroads To the publie.
| To thus nrrnnge the case the assistance ol able
| counsel would be OF tho utmost importance.
| There are 5752 miles OF railroad in The State
and wbnt constitutes grevanre In one locality
| may be such in others. Therefore there might
! be- without proper systematic arrangement. n
| tendency to unnecessary cumulative evidence
] The COMMITTEES have doomed IL well 10 suggest
| that, instead Of seeking to learn the state %
| affairs throughout the State. "a case be made Ivy
developing the state OF facts between certain
| Sir. Jackson S. Schultz. on behalf Of ths
| Chamber OF Commerce approved OF the sue,,
RpstiOn for the employment OF compel nj legal
assistance to present the cnse against the rail-
! ronds. and snid that at the next mc'tlnR OF the
counsel. They would be ready 10 20 on in two
or three weeks We. soon as the Committee are
| ready. He said: II may be necessary Tor us
to show what the general policy OF tho railroad
| companies may he. by iHct- ironu every tlwn In
no doubt Of our ability 10 establish every fact in
our communication to you but II may be neo-
essary. and our Committee have concluded thG
would he better. to employ counsel to present
| 1t in a different form. somewhat from what We
! intended originally. We know the power ot
these corporations. ana II Is very dfheuil 10 g,t
! men to como here and testify against the rail-
rcau companies when those corporatious have
II in their power to absolutely ruin them. There
| Is hardly manufacturer on the line of "A rHi-
/ road in this state who cannot be ruined ~
the railroad, IL the company so chooses. he-
lieVe. however that WE shall Dc ADJ" To Eet sum-
cient courageous men to bring these ihcts TO
! your knowledge. 80 that you will say that tho
| principle We contend Tor has been cstab isned."
| MIR i. b. Thurber said that this Investigation
would not be- ended before the relations Of the
railroads to the public interests wrrr thoroughly
| understood. and from TINT point of view Of the
case this will be tho most important trial ever
Mr. Dugnid Thought that It might be found
| advisable for the Committee To extend ~" scene
OF It's labors to Buffalo. Rochester. and SYRIA
cus',. and possibly other places in the interior
OF the State, an opinion thHt WAS shared hy an
other member OF the Committee Mr.. Baker
wore deeply interested IN this matter. eXp3d
the Committee To- go To Rochester.
Mr.. ChnunceY VI. Drpew counsel OF the New
York Central Railroad Company, entered nj this
point. while the advisability Of finding some
other place for the future meetings OF the Com
mittee was under discussion. He locosrly OBJ
jected 90 tneir going to the rooms of the Munic-
ipal Association. because that association -
already, commted on the question OF Issue.
and To- their holding their sessions in the rooms
OF the Board OF Trade. because those rooms are
full OF incendAry docnbents. M[ Henry r1;
RSa ssrs 'HS' arS ths the b Rs Re'c constSon Of ho
United Staies and the Joint letter ot the rail-
road Presidents Vanderbilt and Jewett 10 this
n9mbers o. the Board would cnreiully read
those three documents they would become much
wiser than they now are. .,-
Mr. I. b. Thurber. who during N" absence OF
Nr. SGhuliz for two or three mouths VIII ngt ns
Chairman Of the Chamber OF COmmoroa Com
OF the dnte upon which the Committee viii be-
gin their slttings.