Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-03-06
RAILROAD RATES.
Some Expressions on the Stand
Taken by the Governor.
The Pilgrims Return From the Capital, and
Tell Of the Good lime
They Had.
Notes Aboa the State Houss-The Art
oPening-The Iron and Glass Indus
triss-Coal shipment-The
Equine Epidemic.

Yesterday afternoon a REGIsTER reporter,
who had the importance Of Governor Will
sons railroad views before his eyes, started
out among our business men to ascertain
how far that portion OF the inaugural ad-
dress relating to rates Of transportation CO.
incided with their views. Enough Of the
results ofhis inquiries to indicate the course
of public opinion are here appended:
A member of the firm of Hatch 4 Co,
commission merchants, whom the reporter
aecosted, said: Mr.. Wilson's views are
good, as far as they are practicable, but on
this subject / think he is rather an extremist.
But if there. is any way to remedy the ex-
isting evil, ! am in for it heartily, as no
doubt the people residing along the line OF
railroad where there is no competition are
placed at q great disadvantage on account
ofthe high rates on local freight.
A representative of the firm of McCulloch
& Heiner, said: "Yes, if there is any way
to reduce the local freights for short dis
tanees, / am heartily in favor CT it, and if
that is Mr.. Wilson's idea, | fully endorse 1t.
Geo. I. Digby, Of Isham 4 Digby, COM
mission merchants-Gov. Wilson's idea Is
precisely mine on the subject, but how are
we to better ourselves? AS long as mem
bers OF the Legislature accept free passes
from the railroads, they will feel themselves
under obligations to the said railroad and
will pass no laws that would cut their
revenues down.
August G. Wincher, manager Of Vance,
Huges & Co.-Mr. Wilson's views in regard
to the subject Of extortionate rates for short
distances | endorse fully, and would like
to see the merchants along the line of the
B. & o. road benefited by a reduction in
local rates, but how are we to do it2 We
cannot say to a railroad, you have to come
down with your rates, because that would
be all it amounted TO; nor can we secure
any legislation in the matter, because even
should such legislation be made, it would be
unavailable, as there is no use in attempt
ing to force a railroad to cut its rates, and
lido not think any laws could be made that
would compel them to do so.
A member of the firm of Richardson K
Co. said: Il think Gov. Wilson's views are
rather extreme on the subject, still | am
convinced that local freights are rather too
steep, and would like to see a reform 10 tn
matter, as it would be of vast benefit to
merchants and others along a line of rail
road which had no competition
W. 7. Burt, hardware merchant: "Tht
subject is an old one with Mr.. Wilson, AND
it seems q difficult one to do any
thing with. | have no doib,
that every merchant in town would
be in favor of a reduction 1t
local freights. But the question is, how AR
we to get at the matter? 1t can notbe done
by legislation, because you can not make
the prices Of local freight pro rata with that
of long distances, as that would be an impo
sition on a railroad company, even cOald it
be done, and again you can not make laws
debating to a railroad company what it
shall charge for a certain amount of freight
for q given distance. The thing
is utterly impossible, in my opin-
ion. A railroad company is
certain, jus, ike an individual to look out
for number one, and as long as competition
is impossible, that long will we be COM
PEELED TO submit to the inevitable. / think
there is s'lsw of this kind in effect in Ohio.
but it is ~disregarded, perhaps hundreds Of
times a day. Say, for instance, a law COM
polling railroads to reduce their prices on
local treights was made, what would be the
result2 Very likely they would be as much
dIsregsrded as the laws against gambling
rooms and selling intoxieants on Sunday.
1t seems to me that the. people have come
to the conclusion that these things are
necessary evils, and that is the conclusion |
have come to in regard the prices on local
freight traffic, as far as forcing railroads to
come to any terms is concerned
Henry Harper, of Harper L Sons, Hat
ters.-Gov. Wilson's ideas on the subject
are mine exactly, and now it remains for
him or some one else to devise a remedy.
J. Neil, wholesale grocer Il think
Governor Wilson's stand, hat charges for
freight should not be more for a shorter
than for a longer distance, is wrong-un-
business like, in fact. The railroad com
pany's principal expense is in loading and
unloading freight, and to me it seems clear
that if ship forty packages, for instance, to
be distributed at way points between here
and Cumberland, and my friend in Bellsire
ships the same number through to Balti-
mOre, my freight charges would and should
be more than his for the reason that his
goods once in the car, are no further
'rouble. In other respects, | endore his
views.
s S. Bloch, wholesale tobacco endorse
Governor Wilson's views, out consider it
impossible TO bring about the reform he
desires.
Other business men were spoken to, but
some had not yet read the address, others
were not prepared to give their views, and
still others declined to state as to how they
looked at the matter.