The evening times., 1899-12-07

The United States Industrial Commission
today heard the testimony of Charles r.
Blanchard, of New York. Mr.. Blanchard
was a member of the New York State COM
mission, of the Joint Traffic Association,
and has been connected with similar con-
Germs for many years. He is an expert on
railroad pooling.
Mr. Blanchard read his testimony from
a typewriter statement. He declared that
the subject of transportation is as impor-
tant to the counry as that of the currency,
postage, taxation. ETC.. and that it should
receive at the hands of the Commission
the most careful consideration. He said
that some of the causes for legitimate
difference in passenger rates were the en-
actments Of different State legislatures, for
while some States. New York, for instance.
limited the rate to cents mile, in some
other States the maximum rate by law was
fixed at cents mile.
This difference, he claimed, was justified
by mountainous regions. cost Of eievating
tracks, distance from coal mining dis
tricts. etc, and that for such trains as
the vestibule through cars compose, COM
panies should be permitted to charge
more fare than for ordinary train service.
for the expense of running them was much
greater.
Mr.. Blanchard said that new element
in fixing steam railroad rates was the
trolley car service, which can be operated
at a much less expense Water transpor
tation in connection with railway service
must also be considered in the establish
ment of rate. for the transportation is
less expensive
1T is impracticable, said Mr.. Blanch-
ard. Ito make the transportation fare
alike on all roads,
In respect TO railway passes, he said
that certain uses of them were Unstable.
He did not see harm in supplying large
shippers of animals with passes, for that
ensured good care of the animals while
in transit. and he declared that a proper
distribution of passes TO great manufac-
turers and ether shippers resulted fire.
uuently to the benefit of the road, giving
them: for they more than made it up from
the freight obtained from the shippers.
He believed. however, chat TO passes
should be issued to others than the Off
GERS OF the road, for charity. and for an
equivalent return in the way of business.
such as shipping goods advertising, etc.
Mr. Blanchard was particularly severe on
railroad ticket scalpers. and urged at
length the necessity of action by Congress
to do away with the business. He said that
it was his opinion that if scaipers were
abolished. the average railroad fare would
be as cheap as scalpers can make it.
Mr.. Blanchard informed the Commission
that at present there are 10000 miles of
railroad in this country devoted TO freight
traffic. He said many Of the roads were
built, especially in the West, by the
aid of valuable land grants, subscrip-
tions and subsidies, and that now
that there are no more Of these aids being
given the roads their only support comes
from the natural course of business. In
the beginning of railroad industry the rates
for freight transportation were always the
highest possible 10 obtain, but that there
has been a continual reduction of rates so
that now the lowest freight transportation
in the world is in this country
Mr.. Blanchard devoted much time to dis
elimination against individuals, enterprises
such as coal mining and elevators. and
said that he was opposed to differential
rates, for they uniformly built up the
busines sof the favored, and destroyed that
of all others. The system, he said. is re-
p-ehensible. He added that discrimination
against localities is not desirable but that
it may be justifiable to carry freight to the
seaboard for foreign shipment for less
rate than that charged for use at home.