Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-01-30
DISCRIMINATION IN RAILWAY
RATES.


Gerrit l.. Lansing has an elaborate and
very interesting paper in the February
number of the Popular Science Monthly on
Discrimination in Railway Rates." show
ing, from the experience of Europe and
America, the beneficial operation of the
principal of discrimination between things
in determining the rates of transportation,
and that this principal is based upon COM
mercial necessity, and that, under the
operation of any other rule, the railroad
must fall short alike OF achieving its great
est usefulness to its patrons, and of yield
ing the largest profit to its proprietors
Our present purpose is only o indicate the
line of his argument, and not to present it
with its reasoning and proofs. He holds
that, in the general affairs of life, the abil-
ity to discriminate is as commendable as
the lack of it is discreditable The true
meaning of discrimination, in its applica-
ton to railroad rates, has, with some. lsot
its original and true meaning-the act of
Distinguishing between things which are
different. There must always be differences
which fairly affect rates, as competitive
routes and markets, the bulk and value of
commodities, and the volume of the traffic.
Transporters hold that their discrimina-
lions result from differences which exist;
if, in some cases, they cause injury to the
few, they effect much greater benefit to
the many. He points fact, well known
to all business men, that carriers are con-
stantly beset by some for concessions not
granted to others, and most of these claims
are based on interest rather than on prin-
ciple.
The Supreme Court of Illinois declared
State Act void because it was not in ex-
press terms directed against unjust discrim-
ination, but against discrimination gener-
ally Discrimination resulting from the
requirements of commerce and the interest
Of the corporations cannot be unjust in the
sense of political economy, nor operate
otherwise than for the common good. That
the principles involved are natural ones is
proven by the fact that the same ques-
lions arise wherever railroading is at
tempted, and that legislative remedies of
restriction and interference everywhere
fail to effect the result for which they
are invoked. In all older localities, he
holds, interference has been withdrawn,
and the common commercial law of self
interest has been found to produce the best
results. 1t was to this historical fact to
which the Chicago Times recently APP
pealed in its article deprecating interior
ence, and which article we published in
full in the RECORD UNION. 1t was the
result in Italy, and in Switzerland, where
Governments yielded the roads to private
corporations to operate. NJ. Leon Say and
Others are quoted as declaring that Gov
eminent operation of railways in France is
complete and irreparablen failure Mr..
Lansing finds that the other countries of
Europe have had like experience, and have
arrived at the same conclusion, and follow
ing the enlightened lead of the Massachu-
sets Railroad Commission, the tendency of
the American States is in the same direc-
ton.
Exchange in trade is the result of be-