The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-06-01

increasing charges In other directions
was resented both by the traders and
by parliament and loss varying fron
10000 to 100000 per annum was
incurred by many companies. The re-
sentiment Of the public to the ut.
tempted increase in certain rates found
its outcome In another commission be-
ing appointed by parliament and the in
PRODUCTION of the act of 1894, which
gave traders who felt aggrieved by an
increased rate an opportunity Of apply
ing to the railroad commissioners
against tho enforcement Of such rate
and placed the onus Of proving the in
crease reasonable upon the shoulders
Of the railroad company.
There is no doubt, In my opinion, that
this act Of 1894 Is inimical to the best
interest Of the trader and the railway
alike. A man with a true commercial
instinct will always be ready to con-
slider the question Of reducing prices
with O view to securing increased busi-
ness, but be will always hesitate to re-
duce prices If be knows that should be
desire to restore them he will have to
convince a not altogether favorable
tribunal Of their reasonableness.
1T will thus be seen that the British
railway companies have always been
subject to maximum rates fixed by
parliament and from my point of view,
provided such maxima are In them
selves reasonable, they form a proper
protection to the public and one which
the public is quite entitled to ask for.
But this is altogether different from
an attempt ON the part Of government
to fix an actual rate. In all cases
which have gone before the railroad
commissioners tn which undue prefer
cnce to one trader over another has
been urged the judgment Of TIE COM
missioners has been not that such and
such a figure should be charged. but
that the preference should be abated.
This would leave railway company
free either to increase the rate charged
to A or decrease the sum charged to B.
and provided the preference was thus
abated the railroad commissioners have
been satisfied"
Samuel Spencer, president Of the
Southern railroad, said recently:
There is no substantial basis for the
view so often expressed that the rail-
ways are opposing legislation reason
ably and equitably protective OF their
interest as well as that Of the public.
It is not practicable to say at this time
what the exact provisions Of such leg
fsiation should be. This in fairness
should depend upon existing conditions
and needs, which ought to be carefully
and exactly ascertained and not as
sumed These conditions and needs
are now the subject matter Of diligent
inquiry by committee Of the senate.
Final opinion and the formulation Of
legislation based thereon should be left
until this inquiry shall have been COM
pleted.
'That the railways have considered
that the legislation thus far suggested
is not duly protective Of their interest
Is undoubtedly true. Those interests
cannot be equitably protected If de-
cision Is to be made and become ef-
fective upon the purely judicial ques-
ton Of the reasonableness and unrea-
sonableness Of q rate without strictly
judicial procedure; they cannot be
equally protected If one class Of car
riers is subjected to the provisions Of
the law and other classes competing
for the same traffic shall be exempt.
The carriers interest cannot be fairly
protected, and the commerce Of the
country must be injured by statutes
which provide that rate Of ranspor-
tation once fixed by any authority
shall remain perpetually in force there
after until changed by commission or
by court.
There Is no division Of opinion as
to the desirabillty Of stopping all secret
or untustly discriminatory devices and
practices Of whatsoever character, but
there is a Just and reasonable claim
upon the part Of the carriers that II
evils In transportation are to be sub
ject Of further legislation those evils
should be distinctly defined, that there
should be q fair and exhaustive dis
cussion as to how those evils can best
be reached and remedied and that in
the interest Of the commerce Of the
country, which is 80 indissolubly linked
with transportation, as well as in JUS
t1ceI to the carriers and their owners,
unnecessary legal restrictions and bur-
dens should be avoided, which, while
certainly harmful to those great inter
ests, will not aid in correcting the
evils"
PhotoRraphinR Swiss Glaciers.
Photopraphy has recently been en-