The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-08-08

mined before 4 reliable answer could Be
given TO vour questions, that almost
shrink from the attempt One thing.
however. In relation TO maximum rates
has been taught as By experience, Wnleh |
is. that il is only by. the existence @ 1
what may be thought to be very high
or extrayagant maximum that low
minimum or reasonable average rate = /
possible. By allowing the carrier hb-l
eraI or even generous possible maximum, I
shere the service IS extraordinarily olI-
fcult of performance, and where the
QUANTITY 10 be moved is limited, can ne
afford to transact his ordinary business
at A low or reasonable rate. Before
r.pid AMI arbitrary rate can be fixed
which will do Justice alike to the shipper
and the carrier there are innumerable
conditions to be taken into account.
The grades over which trains are to be
hauled, the density or rscarcity OF the pop
uIation, the high price or cheapness OF
fuel. the distance from the base OF sup
plies so to speak-that is, the distance
| IRON the place where rails and all other
articles required for the construction
and maintenance of the railroad can be
obtained-the price of skilled and I'M
skilled labor. the volume of business and
the speed required. All these questions,
/ | say. must be considered and properly
/ determined before it is a possible thing
to do Justly that which the Constitution
/ commands yoa to do-establish rates OF
charges for tie transportation Of passen-
gers and freight. If you shall succeed
| in accommodating this, If in the exercise
of those very important functions, nad
almost said prerogatiyes, with when the
Constitution of this State, in the as,
sumed interests of the public, has vested
in you, YOU shall arrive at that degree
of knowledge and wisdom which viii
enable YOU IN the exercise of your pow
er. and the performance of your duty.
to establish rates of charges for the
transportation of passengerssand freight
which shall be satisfactory alike to the
shipper and the carrier-or, may say,
which shall be Just to the shipper and to
the carrier-I respectfully, here In adj
vance, offer you my most earnest and
, sincere congratulations, for you Will
have accomplished that which has never
vet been don. By any board of commls-
| sioners vested with like powers, nor has
ever vet been accomplished by any board
of directors or managers of any railroad
corporation within my knowledge.
JUST REGULATION OF RATES BY LAW
IMPOSSIBLE.
say to you, frankly, that some years
by applying to my experience to answer
In my humble judgment, when You De
: termine generally the value of the ser
vice that is to be rendered bythe carrier
!, to the traveller or shipper, you must
at the same time, as part OF the same
proposition, be vested with the power
to determine and have the ability
Il to determine what shall be pald
e to the miner who delyes In the
e ground for the iron ore OF which tht
d rails and other materials used IN the con
e struction of the railroads are to be man
= ufactured. You must determine wha
e shall be the cost of production, wha
e shall be the quantity produced OF thu
E coal or other fuel which is to be used II
) the operation of the railroad and th,
r. movement of persons and property; ans
If Won must determine the value OF ever!
le mans labor which in any way contrib
s ntes to the production or manufacture
r of any of the material that is used, eithe
,e in the construction of the railroad or II
If tho movements of the trains by whicl
e. persons or property are transported
g. Until you have done this, you cannot
le either intelligently or justly, say what
le nnder any and all circumstances, Is tn
N fair and proper remuneration for cal
IL rier to receive.
or ABsURDITY oFA FIXED TARIFF.
=. H. Presenting to you my views in anothe
y = form. and perhaps at greater lengt
~ than YOUR patience may command,
u p will result that when you have fixed th
ut " value of the use of the property OF tn
1f ~ railroads within your State for the tran!
u narration of persons and merchandise
~ ~ bv an arbitrary and fixed tariff whle
AZ az shall be fair to the shipper, and not q
az Injustice to the carrier, you VIII nav
% f;yed the value of every man labor, nc
p onIv within your Jurisdiction, but
= every part of the world. who in any wa
'P contributes to the construction or mali
a. fenance of the railroads you design
4, al control. You will have determined II
me yaIue of every piece of land which Il
So wants of a railroad require 1t to taEe
w, nurcbase; nav, more, you VIII ma
ny sfirmatively, and by operation OF "a
ice determined the value of all the proode
-Ae &c the soil which affords sustenant
uo maintenance, or shelter to every mi
aae ,vhose labor is used i'll the building
eee railroad. 3 or the movement OF passengt
ers - nronery upon them. If, in the pl
len ,;danea Of God, he shall ever endow q
rye ,f b;e creatures with that knoWleds
All foraeioht or wisdom which will enaf
pro them 10 so forecast the future as to
ats torn;ne all those facts which at b
pau oon he bnt speculative, which are !
tei, snart az 80 many contingencies, whl
all 5onand unon so many elementary con
uen t;aps hut which must be fully master
lent in and understood to enable them to Diet
wsli II nine the preliminary questions WIN
at ara necessary TO an intelligent and j
ease od;udication of the subjects which aw
ivy s vo1r official action, they will be gil
Se9 Win a nrescience which will be lndt
ana nyiable. for it will be such as, up
pe the time. no human mind has been kno
by + adonting fixed tariff for the
-, of railroad property, precisely the 50
'tie1 gacts must be reached as be would pr
eoau anisite to framing an enactment a
OF 9rarily designating the price OF bread
Tl.n MI, clothing, or of hotel charges
HGht
nber wuAr Is FAIR PASSENGER TARI
,tnal Another question put to me is;
Ine "Would, in your judgment, three G
eoin. CO nar mile be fair and proper rate e
Il " low a A maximum for the transpo
rtala I.la ton Of passengers in this State? 2
nI,,ta ns The question is, to some extent,
ea,,s s,,sh wered in what have heretofore
,rtsin tain hut / can give to it a further and .
= he categorical answer by saying l do
: mar think it would be fair or just N
The mum. believe that all railroads
with. transportation companies ind
: 81 II, q greatest profit in low rate OF fare;
rener- That, of course, Is subject 70 the q
3 nm. fication that the population Is sufllc
~ner- " numerous to increase travel by e
rrAid. ing it with low rates: Between al
Il 'of reTstras of nnnalafion - this STATE.