The San Francisco call., 1905-05-15
RAILROAD MEN
DECRY REBATES

WASHINGTON, May 1.-THE con-
ciusions adopted by the international
Railway Congress, which closed its
seventh session here yesterday, were
officially announced to-day. The most
interesting of them related to railroad
rates, on which, after a prolonged dis
cussion, in which every country in
which railroads were operated was rep
resented, the congress unanimously ex-
pressed its conclusions as follows:
Tariffs should be based on commercial prin-
cipieS. taking into account the special condi-
tions which bear upon the commercial value
of the service rendered. With the reserva-
ton that rates shall be charged without arbi-
trary discrimination to all shippers alike un-
der like conditions, the making OF rates should.
as Car as possible have all the elasticity nee
and 10 produce the greatest results to the pub
lie and to the railroads themselves.
These conclusions were ratified at the
close of the session, after President
Roosevelt's speeches had been topic
of discussion, and two days after Sec
retary Taft's address on freight rates
at the banquet Of the congress.
Regarding methods of treating rail-
way sleeping cars chemically. or other
wise TO protect them against deteriora-
ton. and destruction by wear and by
the elements, and in that way to les
sen the draft on the country's forest
supply, ii was determined that some
method of preserving sleeping cars was
desirable. and 1t was urged that care
full records of experiments should be
kept.
With regard to locomotives, the con-
clusion was that the power of loco
tiyes is more limited in Europe than in
America, owing to the lower allowance
of weight per axle. European engineers
generally agree in thinking that COM
pounding admits of the construction of
engines giving a maximum of power
and economy"
There is a tendency to extend the
use of steam heating in many coun-
tries, the congress found. To obtain suf-
ficient heat for long trains when the
temperature is particularly low it was
deemed advisable to use special pipes
or to mix compressed air with the
steam.
Light railways (branch roads, merit
in the highest degree the attention of
public authorities. The report con-
cludes:
Their construction makes II possible to en-
courage the progress and development of dis
tricts which have previously remained in tie
background and II is accordingly not only the
Intent. but the duty OF the governments to
assist them. It is desirable. therefore, not
methods
struction, operation and regulation but to In
troduce every facility possible adap able 70
local needs and avaflables resources. Ii is also
desirable that State. Government and local au-
thorfties should accord to light raiwayss either
under the form OF subsidies relaxation OF re-
qusrennen.s OF other methods OF assistance
the support which they need for construction
and for operation. 30 that all PARTS of the
country may be adequately served.
The, congress expressed the wish
that The present tendency of legisla-
ton. to establish more. liberal regula-
-tions. that light trains may become
more g7nerai ard efforts of tte mana
nent TO equip their light traffic lines
with more economical organization,
which promise to give remarkable re-
suits. be continued" The movement
toward the electrification Of certain
American railway lines lends additional
interest TO the consideration by. the
delegates of auto motors. The con-
gress declares that experiments with
this class of vehicles should be con-
tinued-
= WASHINGTON May 14.-Embassa-
dor Jusserand of France, speaking on
behalf OF the French delegates to the
international Railway Congress to-day.
expressed deep regret over rumor
that his countrylneu were displeased by
the injection of a discussion Of the
railroad rate question IN the social
functions attendant upon the congress.
lie has taken occasion to confer with
all of the delegates frem France and
has learned that the discussion between
Secretary Taft and Stuyvesant Fish,
president of, the illinois Central Rail-
road, involved their keen. interest They
we're Impressed particularly by the