Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-01-18

the mines IN kentucky TO Louisville aud
compete in the market with Pittsburg and
Ohio river coal, foated down the river 1t
comparatively little expense, unless re-
duced rate is given, the question at once
arises whether the road shall lower the
tariff, so that coal may be brought To
Louisville at a rate which shall pay but
little more than the fixed and running ex-
penses of the road. or shall maintain rate
which, while only reasonably remunerative,
prevents shipment altogether. The rail-
road, in the exercise of wise policy, con-
cludes to make q rate to Louisville, termi-
nal and competitive point, that viii enable
the miners to ship to said point, to ran their
mines the year round by reason Of Louis
Vile consumption, and so serves It's own in
terests in that IL secures q through busi-
ress, otherwise lost to 1t, serves the miners
and serves the people OF Louisville all
miners, OF course, sharing the same advan-
tage of rates and no one Disseminated
against unjustly. The priHciple under dis
cussion has apt illustration in the account
given years ago of the householder who
went ont early in the day aud hired laborers
to work in his vineyard, sgreeing upon
a certain price for their days service, ad-
mitted by them to be fair. When the day
was far advanced be sent others to work Ia
his vineyard, and "when the even was
Gomez in fulfillment of his contract, he
paid each man as was agreed. This was
satisfactory until it was found that those
who hal lahoTed but a pa:t of the day re-
ceived from the employer a sum equal to
that received by those who had borne the
cheat and burden.n Replying to the COM
plant of the latter, the lord OF the vineyard
rebuked them, pleading compliance with
his contrscs. This doctrine, divinely enun-
ciated and approved by Him who ''spake as
never man spake,' viii never be combatted
or antagOnized by the writer of this report.
The majority report states that the Com
missioa believes that the railroad companies
OF the State, in some Instances, discriminate
against the citizens OF the State in favor of
produce of other States. Not sharing I'm
this belief, | cannot assent TO the report of
the majority. .basedupon it,either in It's spirit,
It's letter or its t0qic. It has been well said
that "all freight which moves long dis.
tances pays less rate per ton per mile than
freight moving short distances. This is n
universal principle OF railroad tariffs all
over the country. To attempt to adjust
tariffs on any other basis, /. e., that of max
/ ing the same rate per ton per mile on all
business, would upset the whole commerce
Qf the country, Freight that goes one hun-
dred miles would be prohibited from NOV
ing If 1t were charged ten times the rate on
that that goes ten miles, and II freight that
goes one thousand miles were charged one
hundred times as much as would be a rea.
through traffic OF the United States would
be DESTROYED" 1t is confidently believed
that no Discrimination, except that implied
n the principle just announced, has been
practiced by the railroads of this State.
BETTER AND WISER PRINCIPLE.
1t is believed that railroad companies
should, In framing freight and passenger
tariffs, keep constantly in view the fact that
their interest ard that of persons doing
business with them are mutual and insepa-
rable, and all necessary and proper care
should be taken by the roads to demonstrate
to the country that they act ON this prin-
ciple. This done, larger business would
be brought to the roads, and thereby mu-
tuSl prosperity and confidence established.
Low rates encourage production and travel
upon a recognized principle of sound po-
litical economy. Whereas, If rates are
made at the highest point within the limit
of a preventive or embargo rate, the ten
dency Of the rule Is discouraging to all
kinds Of production, and of no permanent
advantage to the railroads; but on the con-
trary, gripping to their business, while en-
geDdering opposition to and diseontent
with the whole railroad system. 1t has
been my constant sim to press the justice
of the principle referred to upon the rail-
road officials in this State, and hope is in
dulged that 1t Is receiving careful and IA
VOraDle consideration. Should such be the
principle adopted, the people surely would
have no right to complain nor clamor
against railroads which have done SO much
and can still do more TO develop the wealth
anf prosperity of the State. Nor, indeed,
would their be complaint or clamoring, for
the public mind, quick to recognize equal
justice, would be tranquillzed and com
posed, and harmonious relations exist be-
tween producer and transporter This re-
suit attained would fulfil the prime object
of the Legislature In the creation of this
Railroad Commission. But II it must be
that the public mind shall continue to be
exasperated, and the antagonism, unnatural
and hurtful as 1t is, be still further en-
hanced, your Commissioner feels that no
act or suggestion Of his has contributed to
so lamentable result.