New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-19
CRIMES OF RAILROADS.
PLAIN TALK FROM CHAIRMAN COOLEY. or
THE INTERSTATE COMMISSION.
LOSS OF BUSINESS NO EXCUSE FOR VIOLATING
THE LAVA HEARING ON INLAND
RATES AND EXPORT TARIFF

LOSS OF BUSINESS NO EXCUSE FUN fNoNAAA'S
THE LAVA HEARING ON INLAND
RATES AND ExPoET TARIFF
washington, March 1s.-Tbe Interstate Commerce
Commission to-day resumed It's hearing in tho matter OK
export rates and the methods adopted by the trunk
lines in computing them o. @. Murray, franc "ansT
ger Of the Chesapeake and Ohio; W. T. WaiAer,gr''
of tho Kanawha Dispatch Fast Freight Lane 'onn
Porteous General Manager OF tho National Dispatch
Line: J. E. Childs, General Manager Of the Se@-forE,
Ontario and western; Mr.. HarTiott, Of the baltimore
and Ohio; Mr. FELTON,, of the Erie; DR. spiers, OF
the Lehgh Valley; DIR. HAS, Of the Richmond ana
Danville, and Mr.. Hayes, OF the Wabash western,
were examined. The glst Of the evidence was lhae
with few exceptions The inland published ra1cs nun
not for some months boon maintained, some OF 'no
roads had made an effort to maintain them, ana IN
consequence had practically lost their export business
The Lake Shore and Michigan Southern had In row
months from carrying IS per cent OF the eSpor.
business dropped to per cent Other roads hsd
suffered quite as severely General Manager Hayes,
Of tho Wabash western, said that his road hsd not
for some time maintained uniform inland rate, ana
that their inland export rates were often less IMAM
their domestic seabOard rate.
Mr.. Portoous, of the National Dispatch Line, ssiu
that he had no knowledge OF any manipulation OF
export rates by his company, and in consequence OF
its exactng full inland rates 10 had lost large share
OF its business The import rates from Lyerpooi 10
Chicago during the last SIX months, he said, nave
been considerably less tho rates from the sea-
board points to Chicago, tho proportion being scout
90 to 25.
Mr.. Haas, Of the Richmond and Danville, said that
the situation of the Southern roads was wholly
different from that Of the trunk lines, because Of the
fact that they have regular lines Of steamers plying
between Southern and foreign ports, and hence they
dependent upon tramps, whose rates are often
much higher than those OF the regular lines.
1t seemed to be the universal opinion Of tho freight
managers present that uniform through export tariff
could not be maintained in that the railroads
would be at tho mercy Of the steamship companies
But the opinion was general that full inland
rate could be maintained, contemplated by the law
and that faithful observance Of the law would re-
Eult in good to all concerned.
Chairman Cooley then said:
Hero is the law, and Il is not for you hereafter 70 say
that there practical obstacles the Of COM
plying with ~ that would lose business by 50 doing
aud all that sort Of thing. We do wish TO do any
thing 10 make you business at the time
not accept IL valid that II you obey tho law
you will thereby lose business.
The time ought to be considered as gone by when
manager can 70 and say: "I named this rate,
and did IL regardless Of law, because my competitor
had done the same thing" There is for that
practice. II wrong Is done by road to the injury
another the proper method OF redress is not TO dupL
cate the wrong, but to 20 before the common authority
with complaint Of tho wrong One crime In railroad
circles is 10 be excused by another than one
theft is to justified by another; and It ought to Do
Jus. as dscredl,sbls TO violate criminal law which
Affects railroad managers order TO make money for their
roads as II Is 10 violate criminal law in tho apprepria'
ton OF private property.
trust after what has been said shsf not hear
plalnts like these been hearing all along while
this Investigation remains over. trust also, that If
there because OF what has been done 70 make
complaint that the parties will not take the remedy into
their own hands. One Of my brethren remarks very
properly while continue this for two weeks
the law is suspended That remains In force, and rs
penalties remain In force.
Mr. Green-A circular was issued by the Commission
week ago relating only TO the understood where
the carrier had dled tariff In pursuance OF the order OF
March g. As understand It. Of the companies that
has been represented filed such tariff showing what
the export rate s Tho question whether that practice
is In accordance with the present views Of The Commits
slon or whether company, like the others should
Ole s tariff showing its export rate Is nxed rate In
stead ~ changing Il from day to dayi
Chairman Cocoy-I suppose ell parGes nnorrssaDh 49,
we regard that order March 1855 as in force ana
we expect n to DO complied with until we change H.
That Is the Law we understand IT,
Mr. Hayden tof the Hew.York Cen'ra)-N uhaes.
stand IL that goes with tho addition TO It that in case Of
a. ,n.,rasc ten DAYS notice shall be given OF the In
e,sa v,te and II reduced three Gays notice shall be
GIVEN Of the reduction Does my understanding agree
with the understanding OF the Commissioner
Chairman Cooley-Yes, SIR. that Is the uhae7sAnuins'
Tho Commission adjourned until Tuesday, April
o ypben the Southern carriers will be heard In the
natter OF export rates and the methods Of computing
them The Commission will give nearing 20 pSss sou
ger associations regarding the lssushVo anu P'""e
Of tariffs Thursday, March IL
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