Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-18
DISCRIMINATION,

ing communication interesting:
DISCRIMINATION.
TO the E'dHor Of the Dispatch:
On page 2 Of the report of the Select
Committee of the United States Senate
January is, 1886, on' interstate com
merce, the following language IS used
"The interest everywhere manifested
in its investigation has convinced the
committee that no 9encrW question n
governmental policy occupies ~ ms
time 50 prominent place in the
thoughts Of the peopic as Hof 81 con-
trolling me steadg groWth and crtc"d-
ina influence Of the corporations CI-
qdged in transportation, and Of rCgu-
Iqtingthcir relations 10 the pU6Nc.'
It is stated on page rs that the Rail.
road Commission Of New York saved
the people the first year Of their appoint.
ment $3.50, 600 in the single article OF
milk on the Harlem railroad, and 5000,
600 annually after that on the same ac,,
count. This same commission found
the elevated railroads OF New Yorkclty
stocked and bonded at &45, 100000 page
~ and claiming 10 per cent. dividend
on that investment, and upon nVcstl-
cation the actual cost was found to be
322. G80.0 900. On page 1919 a compare
tive statement is made between seven
States with q commission and seven
without as to the number of miles OF
railroads built in them in 1882. In
those which had no commission there
were 1.694 miles; in those with com
missions, 1921 miles.
On page 1913 the commission say
"Whcn unjust discrimination Is prac-
ticed by the carrier success III business
depends more upon favoritism Of nothing
worse than upon intelligence, integrity
and enterprise. Tho effect is democrat
ling in the extreme. Business is con-
Quoted upon false basis, false standards
of commercial honor are erected, and q
premium is offered to corruption. Worst
of all the advantages OF unjust discrimi-
nation are as a rule enjoyed by those
who least need outside aid, and the III
evitable effect of this indefensible prac-
tice is to build up the larger dealer
and crush ont the smaller, TO foster
monopoly, and, in snort, TO encourage
the existing tendency, already too strong,
towards the concentration of capital and
the control of commerce in the hands OF
the few.
jeremiah Black, in his celebrated
speech before the Judiciary Committee
Of the Pennsylvania Senate, stated that
by secret arrangement between the
Standard Oil Company and the railroads
the estimated injury direct and conse-
Guentisl to honest persons within the
State (the single State OF Pennsylvana)
amounted to not less than $3.50, 600, 900.
On page 1919 of the Senate committee 5
report a remarkable instance OF turning
the tables is gwen The Standard Oil
Company encountered a small obstacle
in the private wells OF certain Mr.. Rice,
and to shut him off they sent the follow
ing demand to the Cleveland and Mari
eta railroad
"The Standard Oil Company threat
ems to store and afterwards pipe ali oils
under its control unless you make the
following arrSngements-yiz. You shall
make uniform rate of 80 cents per bar
rel for all persons excepting the Stan
dard Oil Company you shall charge
them 10 cents per barrel for their OIL,
and also pay them % cents per borrct
oH of tie 30 cents Collected Of Other
shippers"
This was a scene behind the curtains
which the committee exposed, and which
shows the unbridled audacity OF one OF
the most powerful corporations that has
ever existed, built up by the very rail
roads over which it was exercising such
unparalleled tyranny. These long re-
ports are read by but few people, and ]
thought it might not be amiss TO Gull ont
a few samples for the people OF Virginia
to examine. BEDFORD.