New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-21

.omnetit,on and be compelled to pay
.sh higher Of freight oySer pop 50 far as the
nSS would TO be eom y ncernped ned"
eu Scy, OF grain by railroad Is conceineu'
COOPER PASSENGER AND FREIGHT RATES.
NJ, two questions presented in your inquiry to
- nov peraaps, be allowed TO consider togetner'
namely: ,,, e,;. and r,oso,-
oBle adrimtm Tne 70 "o" to' "'' Wv =
3; ME STATE :" and,
. what in vo,T judgment, wontd te u proper ana J""
o,, N olIo,o as maximum for me To'spor"''o" "
propotyT .,e.,.o.o ,,os,,oDs had been
,,eseped TO me several years ago. should nave poo
- into al, attemp, to answer them but after ten years
Of what may without presumption say has peen cose
and attentive consideration of the whole SUBJECT NV
mot feel that can give such answer as should form INC
bass OF action by gentlemen placed ID your P,.,
nostons. There so many Considerations ~
necessary TO be determined before renaoio 90" n',
could be given 10 your questions tna' "i'"O 20
from the attempt One thing however, IN re''''n "
~i,n,o ra,es has besn taught us by experience
which il that A. is only by the eXistenceo ""' ma!
Il ought TO be a very high or e1tIaVas"n' III"
a INV minimum reasonable average i"0 " f ,
ing the carrier liberal or even generous posi-
~ ,aximurn where the service Is EXTRAORDINARY "
~ - performances and where the quantity to be moved
- limited can he afford transact his ordinary business
at low or reasonable rates Before rigid and arbitrary
rate can he fixed which will do justice aiKe 10 'no
simmer and the carrier. there are nnuineiaoie
20 he taken into account The grades over which trains
are 10 he hauled the density scarcity OF the popua
,on the high price or cheapness of fue the distance
to the base of supplies to speak, that IT, the us
lance from the place wi ere rails ana al otHer
,ired for the construction and maintenance OF the
ra;lroad can be obtanedthe price OF skilled anu I'M
Iea labor the volume of business and the speed re-
,nred All these questions, say must De SoislueIeu
IA ronorv determined before IL is possible thlng 10
doN,stly that which Constitution commands you TO
ao-estabsh rates of charges for the transportation OF
passengers and freight fyou shall succeed IN accom-
nshng this it, in the exercise of those very important
t,nc,ions had almost sad prerogaves, with which the
Constitution this State in the assumed interests OF the
ohic has vested in yor you shall arrive at that de-
roe NJ knowledge and wisdom which will enable You in
The exercise of your power and the performance OF your
NJ messengers and freight, which shall he satisfactory
alike TO the shipper anu cue snd n tho carrey
indy here In advance, offer you my most earnest ana
sincere congratulations. for you Will nave accomplished
mar which has yet been done by any board OF
commissioners vested with like powers, nor mas ever
yet been accomplished by any board OF directors or
managers of any railroad corporation within my knOwl-
,lee.
A JUST REGULATION OF RATES BY LAW IMPOSSIBLE
Isay to YOU frankly. that some years ago should
have thought myself perfectly competent to deal with
this subject and have promptly answered your ques-
tioa but result of my attemptt to deal with 1t so
that it might be legslated upon, and the knowledge Cd
raned in making such attempt has been TO convince me
that it is one OF the political economic imposShities
A lust regulation by OF the of property in rail-
,cads excent by establishing such maximum rates as
carriers seldom find their interest to approach can
no more done than the regulation OF the use OF any
other property Whenever popular assemblase or the
law making power of any state or commonwealth can
arbitrarily fix the value of the Of all other property
il may be enabled inelligenty and fairly, TO fix the
y,ue of the use of railroad property. Whenever it can
gay that the owner of given piece of real estate im
proved unimpTOved shall receive for the use OF such
property only rates may he designated by statute
or otherwise, whenever it that the laborer or
artisan shall receive for his toll or his skill only such
ward as shall be designated by some official board or
person we will then have approached somewhere
determination Of these questions which you have flat
tered ns by applying to my experience TO answer In
my humble judgment, when yOn determine generally
The value the that is 20 be rendered by the
carrier to the traveller shipper You must at the
tine as part Of the proposition. be vested with
The power to determine and have the ability to deter
mine what shall he paid TO the miner who deyes in the
ground for the of which the rails and other
materials used in the construction of the railroads are
To be manufactured You determine what shall be
the cost Of production what shall be the quantity
duced of the coal or other fuel which is used in the
operaton OF the railroad and the movement of persons
and property; and yOn must determine the value OF
every mans labor which in any way contributes TO the
production or manufacture of any Of the material that
is rsed either in the Of the railroad in
are transported. Until you have done this you cannot
either integeuty Justly what. under any and all
circumstances is the fair and proper remuneration for
VI carrier 10 receive.
have said that you cannot do this. because IL never
has been done. The railroad history OF this country
shoWs that ii has been often attempted, but never with
success Take the very corporations whose business
you are to re guatethe Central and southern Pacific
Railroad COmpauies-yOu may find their Board OF
Directors in session. and their freight agent presenting
to them tariff which he thinks proper for the corpora
tou to adopt ana put force After all their debera
lions fortified by teir senterest and experience. they
adopt such tariff appears to them 10 be satisfactory
But | have never known a case whoe any tariff 50
adopted found 10 be entirely operative. | have
never known where IL not necessary either to
conade TO the freight AGENT superintendent OF the
road power alter this tariff from time TO time.
convene frequcnt meetings Of the directors. that the
tariff might be- adapted 10 the exigencies and require
mens OF shippers Dnd their business. Such has been
experience OF all the great railroads known rs trunk
lines Their freight agents meet III convention stated
periods for the purpose OF framing tann that shall last
'or given time. All the members OF these conycutipps
are experienced and well trained IN their vocation
men of education, OF more than ordinary IN diligence,
patient study enriched by everyday active ana
experience. Alter Interchange OF vic IS they adopt
is to lassOr an agreed time Hnt never yet has there
been an Instance OF shch taln hC , e"el1iy
experience OF long aud special railroad service that has
been found 10 e practically operative for the time tha
necessary to call extra or special sessions OF these freight
agents in order correct some omission. some over
sigit, or to present or unexpected cmcr-
ncy against which all their experience and skill did
suffice TO provide.
ABsURDITY OF A FIXED TARIFF.
Presenting you my views ia another form, and per
haps at greater length than your patience may COM
mend IL will result that when yor have fixed the value
OF the the property OF the railroads within your
State or the sportaon OF persons and merchandise
by arbitrary and fixed tariff winch shall be fair
tbs shipper and not do injustice 10 the carrier yHu will
have fixed the ~alue OF every mans labor not only
within your jurisdiction but III every part of the world
WHO any contributes to the construction
tenance of the railroads you design to control. You
will have determined the value OF every piece of land