New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-01-23

tito Philadelphia or Baltimore or even TO over
their lines For instance. the Delaware, Lacgawanna
and Western. IN hxing through rafe from Oswegp or
Utica TO Newf0Tk, can comply with requirements
line, aud hen unresr'cted they are IN Pcnn>y,yni
and New-Jersey. could vary their rates as al the
while TO place car own STATE roads 40 d'sadyauaee;
this ROAD, which rs Pelnsyvaala corpOsatRn. a,ght
| publish its rates at all New-York stations. end
weight from 0swego 70 the state Inc and nothiBa iom
there 10 jersey cry The lire beinga continuous one
II would make no difference 10 its treasury whcthcF tae
charge was located upon portion OF Us line. the
| whole OF It. Jhe may be said Of the Northern
Central. running rom CaDaudalsna 20 Baltimore. and
/ the same OF the Buffalo, New-IOrk and Philadelphia
running from BufsiIe to PbNadePhii and Others Oar
railroads should be forbidden 60 make rates and
compelled 10 traatad shippers alike but the proDriey
OF compelling the publication OF rates and the puDca-
ton 81 all proposed changes is matter for serious
! consideration.
THE THOUGH TRAFFIC. QUESTION.
/ Your committee made effort TO ascertain
the cost OF transportation. the relation OF tae cos
of through and Local traffic The information tbri
cOud obtain does not enable us to suggest the ef
ac ment OF anY fixed ratio between State and extra
STATE points neither are we able TO suggest the enact
mcnt Of any fixed ratio between different points within
this state. thorough confederation 81 al the evidence
adIueed upon tons subject and OF the subject usei
INDUCES TIE couyicon mat the psSge OF what 10 pop
uiariy termed pro rata freight lJw would be irrudcia
10 the interests OF the public TIE experience Of
warning ana Satisfactory Fcason FOR declining
" o.ns w ss.'J NO tt' 4 20 vi
erai proportions thar may with prOpfiey De laa down
by the Legislature l0r tlG control OF lrac
the adjustment Of rates. within those general rG.s
there must De permitted an elasticity OF iaaraQenet
aud freedom 10 exercise iiamcnt ara discretion up0n
the eye'-yarying quest Ons that constantly present
aaenrn nonore Should o. charged On small Shipment.
than Oh large snipmenis p.Opouiohatey cham the add-
tOnal cost tor bandi!p-.
i proper unit 81 8hiDment should BE- Fixed The pFao-
uce OF eparrtng moce Cor snort haui than .or ens
haul should be forDiddeD TIE granting vi unequal or
preferential rates should b. forbidden the mixing OF
secret rates mi tho OF draw backs and rebates
Tor such purpose should bs forbidden; and your
90 70 jhs extcut without NJ ringing the proper dscre
ayers must o. necessity possess, without driving the
business from saic roads 20 the rival roads %
other States. without driving commerce from
own cities 70 rival cities and without in the slightest
degree, infringing " cOmpronns iAe vested rights OF
railroad property.
TIE PURPOSE or THE PROPOSED LAWs
Your committee therefore, accompany their report
with proposed legislation designed 10 tbs above
evils and the evils Of the proxy sYstem designed
the defects in tae law requiring annual
TO e safe Engineer and survcyor that said report
transactions of the road, both financial and otherwise
designed to remove those provisions % law whereby Il
is possible 10 issue bonds be into stock,
them INTO STOCK and place tie stock upon the market,
nh in one transaction. VS. notaoiy done duriua
the Fisk aud Gould administration OF Tie
Erie, and which may BE- done at any time for
the purpose OF obtaining or maintaning control OF
road; amending the law passed IN 1863, and still in
force wnch permits any two railroads. upon cOnsOilda'
uon 10 fix their caisi STOCK az any amount or ID other
That provision OF law whch provides for issuing stock
by railroads. so as 10 give % TIC transaction lu6lriiy
and require, preliminary thereto ne consent OF the
vent discrimnatlons upon Ike ana con'enpofaneous
The business Of transportation requires the greatest
freedom OF management OF any business cXiant. THIS
IS manifest u The casual observer The diculty
and che danger OF imposing cast non Regulations upon
our railroads. especially n view az The act lat they
would apply TO our railroads only, leaving their com.
petiors free and untrammeed (omieis rs TO inquire
what other means or fundamentally may be maGe ei
feeiye in obtaining the redress which the public seek
and PROSPEROUS IN the whirlpool OF eonInesrtios,
Of be
and not by legislation and the reforms IN railroad
management must come through railroad managers by
ri pubic pressure brought 10 bear upon them.
The claim given prominence by Mr.. DePeT that rail
roads in guarding the Interests OF their stockholders.
VIII regulate themselves would have more force were
II not painfully apparent hat railroads are not AWAY.
Iun In the interest OF the stockholders Daring recent
years The management aud The stOckhOldng Interest Of
the New-foik Central have been identical ana thai
road mas peen conducted WIN me pest OF economy
and with exceptional ability; bur, according u Mr.
Depew himself under prior mdnagemcnts the interests
OF the Stockholders were msTegrded IN various NAYS
Boards or railroad directors frequently represent but
Temptstions which our railroad system holds out have
IN tie past frequently consulted their own interests 10
the deriment Of the trust which they represented.
A COMMISSION.
seems to your committee that wrongs that exist
may be ameorated, Il corrected, by introducing
into the determination OF these questions puoc eie
ment which shall give TO the pubic interest a c0nsdera
ton which the evidence shows It does not now receive
and to thai end recommend acOmmisslOn, to be
posed OF three individuals, witn power OF Investigation
and recommendation.
/
Vanderbilt mat in case or comm sslon, the commits
IT. presupposes absolute hostility between the
erest OF the railroads and the Interest OF the public
which in tie Judgment OF this committee does not,
least should not exist and also degree of yeBalItJ
on tue part OF pubic officials which judicious
mseparably connected with the prosperity OF
railroads And IN conending for commercial suprem
acy and the control OF tie traffic OF the West and South
west with their constantly growing power In questions
OF commerce ana Of government public aud raiiws,
united This emphasizes the necessity of immediately
State, u order that all interests may be united
A commission properly constituted, should. as doei
railroads well the public. One OF the
should a thoroughly familiar with railroad
ing. recognized ability and Recognized authority
upon such quesons another should be the represents
tive TIE commercial interests OF the Cry OF New-lork
of the State and one OF the three should possess lega
with a commission thus constituted composed of mel
Of recognized ability and unquestlOned integrity. who
should devote TO this vast Ques ton their special con
siderati0u and entire after tiOn would
he alike profitable to the public and to the railroads BY
road management into the Keen, bright
hight OF publicity, and subject it TO the Influence
OF that most powerful of all motors for the
correction or ey-puDc opinion TINS viii afford 10 ths
public tribunal 10 wn9m they can appeal for redress
of grievances easily ana without expense" whereas now
the only redress to be had IN legal controversy with
powerful corporate interest II wrongs should be prnc
tised or attempted the commission, nv investigation
could bring them to light and be restraining effect OF
would itself. he powerful conservatory of pubic IN
terests Commissions have been tried IN many other
ance II is to be presumed that Ihey have
worked satisfactorily and benefcially there
constituted commission composed OF dishonest aud in
competent would be alike curse 10 the railroads
and the public the necessity OF enforcing
relation these interests to the public and holding
them u proper accountability and especially IN view
state Government rs at present constituted your
committee OF opinion that the example OF other
States and other countries IN respect TO commission
may, with proprety aud with profit be copied by u.s.
Your committee have suggested remedies for the rOn
evils discovered. The very .mlled time since our
testimony IN print has not enabled us Ia review tao
whole field of legislation with the tnOr0ugness desired
the testimony submitted and the wis the Leg
satGre Will suggest sucn remedies have omitted
TO specify.
RELATION OF TIE STATE To THE RAILROADS.