The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-10-23

"just and reasonable, and this scheme
will be submitted to Parliament. Rail
roads having now an equal right to
charge terminals will continue to do
So. In other cases their existing
maximum rates will be liable to be
reduced so as to provide for terminals.
The undue preference clause has been
somewhat altered. The burden of
proof that a diferential charge does
not amount to an undue preference
still lies on the railway company.
Lord Jerseys proviso is maintained in
it's integrity-and is so placed as abb
solutely to prohibit any preferential
charge for foreign us distinguished
from home merchandise for the same
or similar services. Power is given to
the commission to direct that in re-
spect Of similar services on the same
line of railway higher charges shall
not be made for short distances than
for:greater distances. Through rates
(per truck or per tony may be applied
for by any person interested, provided
that the complaint be made to the
board of trade under the Cancellation
clause. The commissioners, if salts
fed that such through rate is in the
interest of the public, may either allow
it or fix such rates as seem to them
just and reasonable. Through rates
are l~egalized, provided (l) the dis
tances are reasonable; (2) that no un-
due preference is created; (3) that the
railway companies may apply to the
commissioners to decide whether an
undue preference is created; and (4)
that any person aggrieved, or any
chamber of agriculture or associated
traders may apply to have the order
varied or rescinded. By the concilia-
ton clause any trader may complain
to the board of trade, who, if they
think that there is reasonable ground
of complaint, are to endeavor to settle
the matter amicably, reporting the
proceeding to Parliament. In con
veyance of merchandise partly by
land and partly by sea the proportions
Of each are to be set forth. From the
foregoing summary it will appear
that, although full and fair considera-
ton has been given to the interests of
the railway companies, many of the
chief complaints of farmers and traders
have been satisfactorily dealt with in
the bill as it now stands, and your
committee recommend that the meas
ure be accepted, and trust that it may
speedily pass into law"
The Iowa Homestead, commenting
on the foregoing, calls attention to the
similarity between the proposed bill
and the lowe law nov in force: I'm
each case there is a railway commits
sion, with this difference, that the
English commission is presided over
by a Judge, whose opinion prevails on
points of law. The English law is
more severe than the Iowa law in that
the decision of the commission. is final
on matters of fact, of which they are
the judges, and there is but one ap-
peal on points of law. Maximum
rates are provided for by the joint
action of the board of trade and the
railroads. 1t devolves upon the rail
roads to prove that a differentiated
rate, that is, a lower charge to one
point than another or nearly the same
distance, is not an undue preference.
The commission is to be given power
to direct that higher charges shall not
be given for the shorter than the longer
distance. The fundamental idea that
all rates must be just and reasonable
is the Distinguishing feature Of the bill,
as it is in all bills for the regulation of
railroads."