The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-05-18
What the Railroads Ask.

Tho railways therefore ask that il some
lines concede parts OF their tonnage or
earnings TO other companies ana both
they and disinterested shippers agree that
that method will best resist the persua-
sions of some shippers and wavering of
some railways, they in joint contracts
for such desirable purposes sholld be lie
CaliZed. This policy will sooner make
weak lines and shippers stronger. All
forwarders may continue the use of the
routes they desire and all lines may make
economies which VIII better Justify the
low present charges and betUerments and
@ extensions of their facilities. II smaller
shippers assent that their freights may he
used to so equaliZe the joint tonnage be-
cause thev thereby secured the desired
PARTIES of rates with large forwarders
which are their right and necessity, IL is
potential and conclusive argument
The largest shippers now get the best
terms, while the smaller ones most need
them.
1t is because the Interstate act has thus
and SO far failed to deal adequately with
such determinations ana their remedy
that the railway colItC ntlon seems under
standaDle and unanswerable. II the gov
ernment reserves its approval To rates IL
should also aid in their uniform collection.
Whatever rates receive its sanction should
receive its strong support like its own
tariffs, its arbitrations, Its treaty obliga-
-.
Government is justly jealous of its faith
in all those respects, and should be equally
so for its carriers, because they have done
and are doing more for Its extension and
power than all other agencies. III, there
fore, the carriers supplement- the railway
reports of Senatorial and House commit
tees and national and state commissions.
rs well as those In Europe, with pleas for
"A trial of the system commended by all
those authorities, and further propose to
submit their data contracts and rates OF
governmental review and approval, upon
what defensible grounds can the Lcgisla-
ture longer rely upon the present made
ouate act and answer, in effect:
"It is true you publish ostcnsibly lsgla
and reasonable rates; collect them III you
can: but we think competition, as we
understand it, should go on unregulated
and preferential, because otherwise
trade will he restrained. y
The reasonablenoss OF rates is now rarely
questioned, and hardly touches the present
discussion. Mr. Nimmo said:
during the year ending December 81,
1893, only..sixtccn cases came TO formal
consideration and hearing In only one
of the eases decided was tho reasonable
ness of the rates called In question, and in
that single instance the claim was decided
10 bc not well founded y
sSume'assume that the railways create all
their own difficulties, and that only their
mutual determination 10 oOScfNe JOINT
tariffs Is required. This is true IL they all
will, Ivy law or agreement observe like
rates aud conditions. but no laws and no
agreements are universally observed In
any business or between nations, hence the
multiplicity Of contentions and courts
aud all such critics should more fully
realize the essential differences between
railroad rivalres and environments, where
I'm the weakest and worst company may
make rates for the strongct and best
Stephenson. the youngest therefore said
To- n committee of parliament What we
ask Is knowledge All we ASK Is
"A tribunal that Is impartial and that
Is thoroughly informed, and II impartial
ity ard .intelligcnce are secured we do
not fear the result.
We believe that the pooling clauses OF
the act Of lSS1 are not enacted because our
Legislators were not thoroughly informed.
\ distinguished senator told his colleagues
I'm the senate debate of lSs1 of the utter
end lamcntabie Ignorance Of what pooling
contracts were.
We will endcavor 20 explain them ncyt
GEORGE II BLANCHARD.