New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-09
MIR. ROBERTS IN ENGLAND.
THE PENNSYLVANIA PRESIDENT TELLS
AHOUT HI- TRIP.
LESSONS DRAWN FROM BRITISH RAILWAY MAN
AGEMENT-THE PR:HCIrLE GoVEnNlNG
LONG AND SHORT HAUL CHARGE.
corrp<NfENrr pFGITT,A-
GOVERNMENT REGULA-
TON OF RATE


TON OF RATES
Philadelphia oct. s." The Railway World to-day
prints an interview with President Roberts. Of the
PENNSYLVANIA Railroad, who recently returned from
four through Great Britain. In which he taKs ~ Ms
trip and the lessons English railroads taught th'n'
President Roberts particularly impress 60 WIN 'he
system OF terminal freight charges In vogue OF inc
railroads throughout Great Britain, ana told no" Such
plan II Introduced In this country, would 90 ia' 10
alay he repeated criticism Of supposed "''or'h""
ton In freight charges between long ana short
hauls.
The principle underlying the matter Of teTmna
freight charge, the railroad OF Great britain sau
Mr. Roberts. is fully rec gnizCd by Parliament. hn'i
roads In that country permitted 10y ACT OIL f'"i'
ment 10 charge l0r handling, billing and loading h'f
chandise in cars and that charge Is generally uniform
whether the freight l. To be- carried lOns or Nh'I
distance. Thus they recognize that the ie"Gth 81 'ul
has no connection with terminal Expenses. f"''"E
received IA fair and equitable comlensau"l Tor u' uS
OF the terminals and stations ana the labor cohhcc'cH
Herewith. n more uniform rate per Ton per mhe CON
be made for sporaon, whether for long or snort
haul. Consequently, the contnrou, complaints tA''
made In the local communities Ill ms country
would, 10 large extent, disappear
"The reasons why the long haul should cphinahu
less rate prOpoitiOnately than ne SNT' ha'l az
apparent every iam lar with TarotClh-' I"3iV
three principal items OF cost which enter NAV
the transp )riation Of merchandise First there Is
the labor and expense attending the loading ana M
leading OF merchapdise al tie terminal stations ihH
expense, you understand is the same foF ether !
long or a short haul, and the local tTathc shOid
bear the charge for this service Us TIE thioUg
trnfc second comes the consideration in the
OF and motive power and locomotives Ane
detention OF equipmci, used in local trarnc bears
= very much greater proportion to the service 'A''
can be compensated for br their Delay IN through
tr1f rd the
the cost OF the hauling of the when lolded which
Is about the upon local and through tIShc On
cept for the dctentlOp in staring ana stopping "0
trains. 1t would, therefore, seem plain TO III, ta' the
system OF charging Uniform rate per ton per hfe'
which Is what tie American pabic seem to demand
Is not the proper system c,her for the shipper or e
transportation company. unless such system be
accompanied with the proper adjustment OF charging
for the use Of terminals
Mr. Roberts then touched on the great dhcui'y III
the way Of n successful trial Of the system IN this
country In the absence of laws similar 10 those resu
lating English railway terminal charges. " All OIL
these terminal charges" said he, would furnish op
portunltes for rebating. At once would hear that
some railroad had forgotten to collect the terminal
charges and then the other reads likewise m'eh'
become very forgeful in that direction. thoer TIE
laws of England such state OF affairs Is next ~
impossible" In speaking further Of the reclprOcai
arrangement between Government, corporation patron
recognized fact I'm Great Britain, and one that should
prevail in this country is that railroads charge suc
rates as pay fair return on their investments ana
then are compelled TO give reasonable ana proper
tocirties In return. The railways are the high
WAYS Of the country, and the public rightly 4e
mand proper facilities The railroads ought 10 DC
required TO charge such COMPENSATION as S mUH.u
enaE u eouaIy the Gpi Of the Government If ii
that the railroads shall not charge high rate to
saw that they shall not charge too low rate. but nay
Ing assumed the duty OF providing highway Tor NE
pfhlic Shall conduct their business on reasonable
and proDcr basis and such remuneration a. VIII
protect the capital invested and insure such iuItcr
means as may be needed from time TO time TO give the
people safe, efficient and satisfactory service
PRESIDENT Roberts also spoke with favor OF tle
system OF stamping the railroad fare between ponts
travelled on Of the ticket, which Is another
feature Of English railway travel He said that NE
value Of every ticket should lie plainly stamped on II
face, and no one should be permitted TO traihc In IT,
In the event Of its not being used the companies
should lie compelled redeem il at It's face value II
presented within reasonable time. Mr.. Robers's
observations were alone confined 10 railroads ana
their manage for he found recreation and profit
~ investigating tie question Of employer ana empoye
and took great delight IN Ievi wing the Institutions 10:
the education OF the poorer classes.