Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-02-10
STATEMENT NO.
Hastings 6 Dakota.)
NiItt- cIifso t1 10tIINOttt.J
Rates on grain to Chicago from

Mr.. Porter said that two years ago he
had caused some tables to be compiled
which had surprised him, the result being
that he was thoroughly convinced that no
infexible tariff rates could be established
that would be just to all roads One road
carried thirty times as many tons of
freight as another and yet many items of
expense were the same on both roads.
What would be only just rate on the
Milwaukee & St. Paul would be extortion
on the New York Central. The grades
of railroad also made great difference
in the rate that they would be obliged to
charge to make it relnunerative, loco
metive not being able to haul any more
cars than it could haul up
the steepest grade on the principal that
the strength of the chain is It's weakest
link. Themore we attempt to make fixed
tariff ratrs for all roads the more we are
involved in difficulties. He would not
recommend the the fixing of any rates.
Capital is timid and easily frightened by
legislation on this subject, and the State
was in need of further railroads the money
to build which would have to come from
other States
Senator Castle asked if the rates were
fixed high enough to be remunerative
what would be the objection to fixing
such rates
Mr.. Porter replied that If he had no in
terest in railroads more than any other cit
izen he would counsel the legislature not
to fix any arbitrary rates. Capitalists will
not stop 10 inquire what the rates are. 1t
is enough for them to know that the rates
have been fixed, and the inevitable tend
ency is to continue to rednce rates in
careless manner until the railroads affect
ed are bankrupt He cited the instance in
the illinois legislature where they didn't
even stop to read the rates formerly
established, but reduced them
20 per cent Circumstances are of daily
occurrence which effect the rate at which
a railroad could proftably carry freight.
On his road they were having as much
trouble to obtain fuel as the frontiersman
who is burning his fence, and that last
week his pay roll was S3s, 900 more than
the receipts of the road He thought the
people were disposed to be just to the
railroads and the railroads were disposed
to be Just to the people. The only ques-
ton was how to do it. He had never, in
his twenty years. experience, made a
tariff but what some on his line could
come in and suggest change for their
mutual advantage. New roads and branch
lines are compelled to charge greater
rates than old roads, and most of the new
roads were now doing business on the
hope of traffic in the future. His road
had reduced rates as fast as they could
and not lose money, and it was his pur-
pose to continue to do so in the future.
Mr. Eaton gave some figures showing
that tariffs had been materially reduced
within the past few years.
The discussion was continued in a col.
loquial manner at some length by the
members of the committee and Mr.. Por-
ter, and much information was elected as
to the management of railroads
The committee showed some DISPOSE
ton to report the bill back with the re-
commentator that it be indefinitely post
poned, but it was finally agreed to give it