New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-26
DIFFERENTIAL RATES.
MR.. VANDERBILT ON THE COMMISSIONS
REPORT

VANDERBILT THROUGH WITH FIGHTING NEW.
YORKS BATTLES
lFBoA SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT oFTHE rRrBUyEl
SARATOGA July 4.-The railroad war Of last
year was brought to end by the agreement of tho
trunk lines to leave the question Of difEerentiaL
rates between the Atlantic ports to arbitra-
ton. William H. Vanderbilt was the first
to suggest that the business men of tho
country had a deep interest in the set
tlement of the question, and that. as the railroads
were not able to agree upon it, they should discuss
the matter before arbitrators who were not railroad
men.
In compliance W ith the suggestion an Advisory
Commission, consisting of Allen G.. Thurman, Eihu
p. Washburne and Thomas W. Cooley was selected
TO hear the arguments which might lie presented
by merchants and commercial bodies Of the differ
ent cities. The report of this commission,
which was published recently, leaves the practical
settlement of the vexed question As remote as the
railroad left it. The commission virtually re-
mands the ques on to the officers Of the railroad
companies. Mr. Vanderbilt said last winter that
the allowances in favor of Philadelphia and Baltl-
more we're too great, and that the best
proof of the statement was that they were
not observed. Since the report of the
Advisory Commission made great interest has
been felt TO the effect If the decision OH the
istng relations between the trunk lire railroads.
The officers of these companies had agreed 10 abida
by the decision of the arbters, which is considered
generally by the business inen Of New York City
eminently unsatisfactory.
William II. Vanderbilt is spending the summer,
usual. at Saratoga. and TRIBUNE correspondents
sought him to-day. An hour OF two after dinner,
which in Saratoga occurs in the middle of the af-
ternoon, Mr.. Vanderbilt rode out skill
fully guiding Maud :. The beautiful
Cd xrifb
all the light grace peculiar 10 her. After his return
Mr. Vanderbilt sat on the veraDda of the United
States Hotel unit, late in the evening. To the greet
ing of the correspondent he answered, cordiallys
We'll, young man, what does TIE ThIBUNE want
now ?"
Something about the report of the Advisory
Commission. People III New-York are anxious 10
know what you think about it,"
That is a matter | don't care TO talk much
about Mr. Vanderbilt answered quickly, and then,
half-laughingly he added: II don't see why
should say anything about it, for | am done with
the whole question of dierentIal rates. agreed TO
leave the question to arbitration; the commission
has made its report aud that is about all there is Of
il. If the business men of NewYork are satisfied
with the decision, ought to be certainly, for il
concerns them much more than il does me-"
"Thcy do not seem to be highly pleased" 1t was
suggested and some of them say that you cannot
afford to let the matter rest here f; that you must
continue the fight"
They dol Now look here. The railroads wero
fighting pretty much all of last year about this
matter of ditiereniial rates, aud then they were
no nearer q settlement OF the dispute than when
they began the war. l said then, as you know
very well, Let the business men of the conn
try settle this thing; the railroads cannot
| agreed to leave the question to arbitration be-
the railroad men could not come to an under
standing. The railroads were to have ncthing to
do with it. Very WE'LL the whole matter is plain
enough. The business men of New-York have met
the merchants of Philadelphia and Baltimore; they
have presented the best arguments they could, L
suppose against allowing the differences in favor OK
those places. They have been bcatcp, aud 10 not
see that they have anything to complain of.
] said i'll the trst place that railroad men should
have nothing to do with the discussion before the
arbitrators that tie merchants should argue tho
question alone. Il their arguments were not good
enough to save New-York from discriminating
rates. they to blame for It, The business men OF
New-York always have been quick enough in find
ing arguments against me and the Central when
they thought they could make a cent by them. All
they had to do in this case was to urge the same
reasons in our favor which they have often used
against Us. They have discussed the question
make | suppose. Well. that's all there is to it.
Some of the very men who have talked loudese
in the past about railroad determinations have
shown in this matter that they did not know any
thing at all about the question Nhv, some of them
came Ia me and asked me 70 send Dep,w before tho
commission! | should think that the business men
of New-Yo ought to be able to protect their CONF
merclal rights.
~ tell you wha it is am done with this whos
matter am sick and tired of II. We agree TO
abide by the decision of the commission the dec-
a.. - in i.Nn af I'm a
against New-YOrk and I the business men are sat
sicd thaC is the end of the matter; that Is all there
is 10 IT, | am satisict il they are. III they can
make any thlng by shipping rom the West to Phia-
delpha or la tlmore, they Will do II fast euOngh;
tnere is no doubt about that. II we cI1rge cent
too much on tine Central We hnd ItOu soOu enough.
Tine truth OF the matter Is. II II soi-.nterest We
are AL working for, and that Is about all there g
about It, | am running the Contfai, ana
doPt take mach interest now IN diff
terential rates. / have been lighting New
Yorks uat,lcs long enough and am through with
IT, Ii cost the Ccstral oYel million d0ars-this
railroad al, and | am not going to spend any more
in" Central ID not a benevolent institution IL has
thrown away LIoBey enough, and how ! aia done.
|, fine merchants nave pay higher freight rates 10
New York than 10 Philadelphia aud Baltimore, t IS
their bu luess and not mine. he mon,y comes Out
OF their pockets continuing dIlicrcntdi rates oont
Bmt tl- cailer argued you said ia December
that the differences were too great, ana that tho
Central suffered IN cOnScquence"
"On Cne Central wall get IFS share of the bu,ness;
III look IOr that. am running the central TO
make money and We shall taNc care OF onr Own III
tress iuSt a, any ctEet business concern WoGlG 10.
That's a plan Ou siness proposition. Hcil that IS
all ere % 40 shall gei our part c tDc trdic"
By giving reoate checksW At.er a bret pause
in the conversation. tao cOrTe> >pOndcbt Uq tiTed:
"Wlli you reopen the railroad wdrV
" Now | don't care To say Nn.t shall DO or
wh.luer shall do anything People some lu,s de-
eide to do "a thing one day and chan1e their Iuinds
peruaps the yory ucXl dat. That mgnt De my casc
how can tenf No; have nothing &C say aDods
wnat | hal do lhe commission h'S set, cd ING
AL althS.
oy ,he aeclslon dnd DO not see thai nave any
tnng Ia do anyway -,
Hr Vanderbilt spoke confidently OF the prospects
for raiIroad business Tor Tue rust OF th5 year iie
A.id mn tn ir.tIo mad nLIcany lncLeah-l La ~