Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-07-25
DIFFERENTIAL RATES.
Report of the Advisory Commission
on Discrimination in Railroad
ChnrgeE-NO Evidence that Exist
ing DIfie9entInIs are Unjust.

The report OF Messrs. Allan G. Thurman,
/ E. B. Washburne and Thos. A. Cooley, who
| constitute the Advisory Commission on dif-
| ferential rates of the trunk lines between
/ the West aud the seabOard. and who have
! been in session In New York for several
weeks past, was made known Friday even
| ing.
After reviewing the question assigned
| them and the evidence heard by them, the
commission concludes that SIT only remains
| for us TO state that no evidence has been
| offered before US that the existing ditferen-
tials are unjust O. that they operate to the
| prejudice OF either of the Atlantic seaport
cities. Dfferentisl rates have c5me into
existence under the operation OF competi-
| tive forces. They bear some relation 10
relative distance and relative cost Of SER
vice; they recognize, as we think, the rela-
/ tive advantages OF the several sespOrts, and
/ they are subordinate to the great prtnci-
pie which eompels the carriers Of prop
/ erty competing between the same
points and offering equal facilities to
| their customers to make the same
rates We therefore cannot advise their
/ being disturbed. But we do not assume
/ that the rates which are Just to day will be
/ lust indefinitely. They have become estab-
! lished by the force of circumstances, and
| they ought to give way II future circum-
| stances shall be such as to render it right
/
| arrangement only, equitable, as We think,
for the present, but which may become in
| equitable before the lapse of any considers-
| ble time. Whenever they shall be
| found to operate unfairly and to give
a forced or unnatural direction to
| trade. and weenever It shall appear
| that they tend to deprive any one of the
| seapOrts affected by them OF the proportion
| of business that would naturally come to It
| under the operation of normal competition,
/ the want of equity In the rates will appear,
| and It will be right to modify or perhaps
/ abolish them. Railroad problems assume
/ such different phases from year to year and
| almost from day to day that those who have
/ authority in railroad matters may justly be
/ expected and required to give their earnest
| attention and best efforts to making their
/ franchises accomplish the great ends
of equal, fair, prompt and beneficial
| accommodation which was intended In
/ their grant, and those ends they should have
/ in view in determining upon the continued
| existence Of differeniial rates. Their OBJ
servaiion of the general course OF traffic
/ from day TO day aud from month to month
/ ought to enable them to determine whether
/ tbe differentials are too large or too small,
whether they are influencing trade unfairly
or upnaturally, and whether they operate
as an improper restraint upon COM
Detition. and when the improper effect
i IL discovered they ought 10 correct
| the wrong without hesitation or delay. To
| enable them to Judge fairly and with full
understanding accurate statistics of their
busjness should be kept by each Of them
| and submitted to the others or kept In some
common Office, and these statistics ought to
be periodically given to the public also.
| Publicity is a great correctOr OF imaginary
evils. and may be an important preventive
Of evils both imaginary and real.
owe do not assume or believe that there
exists in railroad official circles any legitt-
mate authority to determine the question of
rates arbitrarily. Large powers of self
Government have undoubtedly been left by
the law In railroad managers, bNt all their
authority Is qualified by duty to the public,
and n cannot be too often or too pointedly
asserted that the obligation on their part to
serve the public with relative fairness Is
of perpetual force. In their future
dealings with the important question
which has been the occasion for our coming
together the great trunk lines should be
particularly careful to give no occasion for
lust complaint; that they subject any one OF
| the seabOard cities to the operation OF arbl-
trary or unfair regulations or charges, or
that thev fail to observe toward any one of
them, or toward the people trading or de-
string to trade with them, the mandate OF
the common law to deal justly and distri-
buie fairly the benefits andIburdens which
are incident 20 their occupation.
"ALLAN &. THURMAN.
"E B. WAsHBURNE.