New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-22
THE NEW ENGLISH RAILWAY RATES.
MAGNITUDE OF THE TASK OF REvIIoN-DIFF1-
GUILTY OF ESTIMATING ITS CONSEQUENCES

THE RAILWAY OUTLOOK.
landau aept. 21-After a Eve years unceasing and
COSTLY struggle, in and ont OF Parliament, eghlls'
the public demand for revision OF railway 'Aris' o
English railway companies have ooaineo ho" -
tom Of rates, the exact value of when I" ''e,l a
shareholders or TO the trading community ren'i'9
be proved since the joint committee made us os
last month and provisional order has been puDnsno.
ewing the principles on which the revision OIL ]'ri'o
,s IN proceed, the Of the railway ih'cro9' :.
ceased Their assumed indignation mas server ~
turn and although the drectoTates 90 not Ano" Pr
ciselv how the rates will Affect revenue u''
have tho comfortable feeling that the traders ssso
-. and the publie have failed TO get what was
asked for and expected. The enormous ulNor7is VI
tba rates amounting TO scores Of millions fen"ei a
comparative estimate Of the changes noh U"o - ~
tariffs almost impossible. But the reVJseu sou'oulo'
are not TO be enforced before August Oh hcAt soi'
giving ample time for the exceedingly complex ProosS
.. ,,o ,o no carried ont Meanwhile the presidents
~ tba leading companies their inability 10 lhe
clear statement concerning the consequences Vi 'i0
readiustment of the tarihs. ..o.
,rt -evision leaves entirely aside the passenger
,rarc dealing solely with freight rates. 10 ihe ioies
.roder American or European an important pracucSi
c.T 80 railway administration under this recent
iteIaHon Is to put stop TO preferential or dlscrh
rho substance of the provisional order issueu ey
.ha ioint committee under which order the revision Is
roce e.dinr was described to the Associated fIess WI
osnondont by Mr. CIiffen OF the Board OF Trade one
=. tho highest authorities on the subject Tne oruer'
h sald nroyldes for q new classification, applcaoe 70
oil goods and having new maximum rates Inc ou @
otes we're uharmonious and Inconsistent. Inc he"
Classification and the rates erect cohsiuer"Oie
odr .,lon upon the maximum rates liked by tho oiu
ac+s Rnt the traffic revenues are not likely " 10
nnrociably affected thereby, for these normal 'An"
ro oreay m excess Of the actual working rates upon
b,cb business has long been done by the compahes'
1,o compaues cannot cancel rates now, but 'lsV "o'h
within the maximum. They can contract III cohSo-
,rca with the maximum, but II they make cohurdcu
Nth one man they must give other contracts OH .'le
sorre conditions They must now prepare ana puOiSh
ther actual working rates. in accordance Win the ne"
cIassifcaton. If the companies have lost some "u-
vantares under the new classification they nave seu
IN Icing confirmed In their demand for terminal
charges. -, ,-,,, ,-,,,o
The positon Of railway property in tie Unl'eu hi"e
do,r anart from the rates question: is not ehcV'"e
inc Tbe returns for the last year. Just ssueu' so"
tba, the great trading interests whose phuup caPi'd
noU amounts TO $500 0OOOCo is not sharing anu mas
not shared in the Cow Of national prospenN. Ano
nrono-+on of net receipts 10 paidup capital eii &
during 1890 from AL per ceut 10 4.U pJr , bas
nrnnnption of working expenditure 10 JStn IT, ~ ~
haep ~ per cent for 1890 as conipareu @ltn D.
cont for The four preceding years Inc ISt non ~ "
ihe current year has presented thc saIIe @ En- ep
creaSe i'm gross revenue. with concurrent eActss IN
Henditrne The bulk OF the increase IN eAPenus,uutNo ~
z due perty 10 the higher price OF COAL Du1 Che"9 "
the higher scale OF wages.