Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-09-06
The Aurkrille Guqnirer.
YORKVHELE. s. G.. {:
THURSDAY MORl. 4NG, SEPT. 6, 1883.
THE STANDARD FREIGHT TARIFF.
4 man there

Ou GiS OUUolSlS VI PNPOA VIC PAiae
the STANDARD Schedule of Just and reason
able passenger and freight rates." and the
"rules and regulations made by the Rail
road Commission" under the Railroad Act
passed at the last session Of the Legislature.
We print the entire report of the Commits
sion, except the "Classifcation of Freight" "
and ESTIMATED Weights" which we do
not deem essential to full understanding
of the report. We also print in another COL
umn petition to the Railroad Commission
that was signed by number Of the mer-
chants of Yorkville, in which complaint is
made of the discrimination against them by
the rules and regulations in the matter OF
freight charges, and especially with regard
to the transportation of commercial fertili-
zers between Charleston and Yorkville. In
connection with the petition of our mer-
chants the reply is given.
Our merchants do not complain that the
maximum rates fixed by the Commission
are too high, or that they are not 'just and
reasonable" for the distance which the
freight is to be transported; but they do
complain that it is not 'sjustand reasonable"
that the Railroad Commission should dis
criminate against this town by furnishing
the opportunity for the railroad companies
to charge different amounts to competing
points, the distance of the haul in each case
being about the same. To illustrate. The
distance from Charleston to Yorkville, by
rail, is estimated at 218 miles. The distance
from Charleston to Rock Hill is about 2l5
miles. The Railroad Commission has fixed
the maximum freight charge on ton of
commercial fertilizer from Charleston to
Yorkville, at $3.50. For the same service
to Rock Hill-the distance being about three
miles less-the maximum charge is $40,
or a discrimination against Yorkville of
$3.50 per ton.
Section 2 of the Railroad Act provides that
'sit shall be unlawful for any such person
or persons so engaged as aforesaid [engaged
in the transportation, shipment or receiv-
ing of property by railroads in this State]
to make any unjust discrimination in its
rates or charges of toll or compensation for
the transportation of passengers or freight
of any description, or for the use and trans.
portation of any railroad car upon its said
road, or upon any of the branches thereof, or
upon any of the railroads connected or
working in connection Herewith, or which
it has the right, license or permission to
operate, control or use."
Section of the same Act makes it un-
lawful for any railroad ''to charge, collect or
receive for the transportation of any passen-
ger or freight of any description over its
railroad, greater amount as toll or compen-
sation than shall at the same time be charged,
collected or received by it for the transpor-
tation of any passenger or like quantity of
freight of the same class being transported
over any portion of the same railroad Of
equal distance" II 'The provisions
of this Section and the two preceding Sec
tions shall extend and apply to any rail-
roads, the branches thereof, and any road or
roads which any such person or persons so
engaged as aforesaid, has the right, license
or permission to use, operate or control,
wholly or in part in this State"
In Section it is provided that the Com
mission "shall make such just and reasona-
BILE rules and regulations as may be necessa-
nv for preventing unjust determinations in
the transportation of freight and passengers
on the railroads in this State"
In view of the action of the Railroad Com
mission in connection with the freight rates
to Yorkville, after reading the foregoing ex-
tracts from the Railroad law, we are led to
the conclusion that while the railroad COM
panies are prohibited from discriminating
against persons or localities, the power to do
so is vested in the Railroad Commission. If
this idea be correct, in order to secure '.just
and reasonable" freight charges, we must
apply to the railroad companies for the need
ed relief.
The reply of the Railroad Commission to
the petition of merchants of Yorkville is
singular. Our merchants complained of the
discrimination against this section by the
"Standard Freight Tariff and the rules and
regulations made by the Commission. In
reply to their complaint, the Commission
informs them that while the rates on fertil-
izers from Charleston to Yorkville, are high
er than they were last season, the Commits
sion has fixed the maximum rate Sl.30 per
ton less than the railroads could have charg
ed last season if they had seen proper to do
so! The railroads last season, charged only
$3.50 per ton on fertilizers from Charleston
to Yorkville; but the Railroad Commission,
doubtless thinking that the compensation
is not sufficient, have authorized the rail-
roads to increase the charge to $3.50. The
Commission "assumes" that the ''rate COM
mittee" of the railroads will make lower
rates, as heretofore. respectfully submit
that the Railroad Commission, in it's reply
to themerchants of Yorkville, has not touch
ed the point of complaint. Our merchants
complained that there is a discrimination
against this town when it is proposed to au-
thorize charge of $3.50 for transporting a
ton of fertilizers from Charleston to York
vile, distance of 2l8 miles; when for the
like service, the charge to Rock Hill, dis
tance of about 215 miles, is only $40.
Our understanding is that the Railroad
law, at present on the Statute books, was
passed principally to protect Charleston
against the alleged discriminating freight
rates adopted by the Richmond and Danville
Combination. When we find that the rates
made by the Railroad Commission are
higher than those made by the railroad COM
panies, that the discrimination is made
more oppressive, and it is "assumed' that
the railroads will make lower rates than
the Commission has done, we think it is
about time to inquire if it will not be to the
interest of some sections of the State for the
legislature, at its, next session, to repeal
the Railroad law and abolish the Commits
sion