The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-06-17
DIGGING FOR FACTS
UPON WHICH TO BASE RAILWAY
LEGISLATION.
An Ex-Commissioner Gives the Senate
Committee Some Points in the Con-
troversy-Figures on Gross Earn
ings of Illinois Roads.

CHICAGO. June Ii. George NJ Bogue was
the first witness examined by the senate
committee on interstate commerce Tuesday.
Mr.. Bogue was at one time railroad COM
missioner In the first place he reviewed
the history OF railroad legislation in Hi
nois since 1871, when the board of rail-
road and warehouse commissioners was
established, and gave to the committee
synopsis of the different laws passed ON the
subject of railroad legislation He showed
that the board had been enabled to fix the
maximum rate of freight charges, which
bad been adopted by the roads Rates had
been greatly decreased since state super
vision of the subject had been in vogue
though competition and the development of
the state had much to do with it. The
roads had manifested a willingness to abide
by the schedule, and the main struggle
with the roads was while the subject of the
schedule was under consideration by the
board. Senator Harris asked Mr.. Bogue
why freight should be placed in five differ
emit classes. Mr.. Bogue, while not giving
the reason, said he thought it was all right
to have different classes. The classification
was frequently changed and always
in favor of the people. The gross earnings
Of the Illinois business of the
roads for the year ending June
80, 1877, was $50 900, 600; operating ex-
penses, $24, 10000 net earnings, SIS, 000,
900. Gross earnings for the year ending
June 30, 1884, $4,000 90; operating ex-
penses, $50, 900, 900; net earnings, $40, 900,
600. The increase of mileage in this period
was 900 miles. These figures would show
that while there was great increase in ton
mage during this period there was great
decrease in the earnings per mile,
showing large decrease in rates.
In 1881 the rates in Illinois on
cereals, cattle, and hogs were considerably
less than in the adjoining states. The Hi.
nois law needed revision, as, if it was carried
out literally, indus tries in this state could
not thrive like those Of eastern states, for
the reason that the products of the indus
tries of those states could be brought here
at a much less rate than the lowest rate
that could be fxed by the Illinois board and
make the roads pay. He did not think II
would be wisdom on the part of congress t
fix rates itself or through a com
mission. He could not see how il
| could be accomplished or when il
could GO into effect without doing injury t.
the industries of the country. There wa
no necessity for federal commission to fl,
rates, in his opinien, as the law of competi
| ton would prevent extortionate rates beinl
charged. If the government did provid,
for a federal commission this commission
could do good as an advisory board,
board of arbitration, and a body to collec
statistics. The interests of the people woulC
not be served by commission with pows
to fix rates.
Mr.. A. C. Bartlett, Of Hubbard, SPENCE
& Bartlett believed that the unit for max
ing charges should be 100 pounds. There ha
been all impression among the merchants o
Chicago that there was discrimination by tn
railroads against Chicago jobbsrs and il
favor of the jobbers farther west Tn
Chicago merchants consequently formed
freight bureau to prevent these The resul
was that most of these evils were found t
he imaginary.
Mr.. c. NJ. Wicker, the commissioner of til,
Chicago Merohants' Freight bureau, toll,
the committee about the classihca
lions for freight charges Thes
were, he said, altogether arbitrary
The unit for charging ought to be 10
pounds, and where freight was moved b
the ear-lot the unit still should be 10
pounds by the car-lot. This would put til
small shipper on par with the great one.