New-York tribune., 1882-02-15
RAILROAD NEGOTIATIONS.

Mr. Thurman. who has just been chosen
president of the Advisory Commission for the
trunk lines, explained to IA reporter that none
OF the members of the commission were in any
way interested in the question to he decided,
and, in fact, knew little about it as any
three men who could have been selected. In
deed MI. Thurman thought they had been
chosen for the same reason that the Governor
of Ohio once selected iudge-because he had
no preconceived ideas OF law. These excellent
gentlemen, 1t is generally believed. have no
preconccived ideas about railroad management
which might prejudice them in favor OF any
decision.
What Mr.. Thurman doubtless said in jest the
public will generally accept III sober earnest.
The members of the commission know as little
as possible about the management OF railroads (;
the cost of transportation to different cities; or
the reasons which may exist for charging
higher rates on shipments to one city than on
shipments to another. They are unprejudiced
and they have no reputation OF experience or
knowledge in railroad matters to give weight
to their opinion. 1t is singular that such a
commission as this should have been selected by
practical railroad managers to consider and
report upon one of the most difficult practical
questions in the whole range of railway con-
troversy.
1t may be assumed, therefore, that the
opinion of the commission, when declared, will
have no particular weight with the railroad
managers. The management is in the hands of
men who know all the details. They can an
swcr, on the instant, the vital questions about
which the commission will grope and investi-
gate and debate for weeks. A decision from
such men, delivered as rule of action to such
men, will be mere farce, and everybody ap-
preciates the fact. If the railroad managers
have privately agreed upon some settlement,
and if the commission is merely selected to
give a pretext of authority and outside in
fluence to a course previously determined upon,
then the finuing of the commission will have
effect. If not it will he as empty and incffec-
tual as a Pope's bull against the comet.
1t is believed by some that the questions
actually at issue have been already decided
In that case. men of some public record and
reputation are going to discover and to
decide Just what the railroad managers in
struct them to discover and decide. The sup
position Is not quite complimentary to the
members of the commission. But it is the only
one possible if the general belief as to the set
tlement of the railroad war is correct. On the
other hand, it is possible that the commission
has been selected only to kill time. TO that
end surely, no method could be more eflcctual
than to apply Senatorial processes and Senate
rial experience i'll the inquiry. In that case,
the decision reached will be worth nothing
whatever, and the railroad managers will do
lust what they see fit after the commission has
reported. 1t is worthy of notice that the man
ayers have carefully refused to bind them
selves to abide by the decision rendered. On
what ground self-respecting men, who know
that their personal knowledge and reputation
will give their opinion no weight, have con-
sented to investigate and give verdict under
such circumstances, it is difficult to see.
The public has less interest in this discussion
than many suppose. 1t knows that neither of
the trunk lines will consent to a settlement
materially hostile to its own interests. But this
means that neither will assent to the abolition
of the differential rates, il that abolition is
really important to the commerce of the rival
cities. In fact, the commerce of New York
was Telativelyas large as it is, and even larger,
when the difference in rates in favor of Balti-
more and Philadelphia was greater than it is
now. II this city is now unable TO compete
with other cities on terms which were accepted