The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-10
BRITISH RATE LAWS HARMFUL
ENGLISH EXPERT so TESTIFJES
BEFORE SENATE COMMITTEE.

interference BY Parliament Injurious TO
Public, He Asserts Conditions There
Different From Those in This COm.
try-PrOtest From Lumber Dealers.
WASHINGTON, May s.--w NJ. AcwoTth
an English railway expert and a delegate
to the international Railway Congress
representing the British Government. was
beforo the Senate Interstate Commerce
Committee to-day. He gave a succinct
account Of the English railway conditions
and sGld they afforded no basis OF compaH-
son with American roads.
First, the organic law was different,
Parliament not having the limitations OF
a constitution in the enact ment OF laws.
Then there waA tho difference IN length
Of haul which In England was rs miles
on an average, "a against 40 miles In the
United States. The carriage Of goods
from the warehouse TO the train and from
the train 10 the point OF delivery was In
cluded In the railway charge In England,
whereas In the United States IL was not 40.
There was no basis Of comparison in rates.
Mr.. Acworth explained the rate regula-
ton In England, which was that Parliament
fixed the maximum rate, not on ton per
mile basis, but pract ically the rates charged
by the roads when the act was passed In
1893. The American short and long haul
clause was also adopted. together with
pro vision that in case a rate was reduced
by railroad II would only be restored by
the Railway Commission Court. The effect
Of the latter was 10 stop putting rates down,
and In his opinion worked TO tho detrlment
Of he shippers.
In general the interference Of Parlla-
ment In railway rates had been injurious
20 the public, as the tendency since had
been 10 maintain rates at the high level.
The less control the better. be thought,
although there should he some power to
correct rates which worked on undue pre-
ference. Excessive rates had a tendency
10 correct themselves, as the roads tenn
pered the wind 10 the shorn lamb and
would not charge rates which would hurt
traffic
Replying to Senator Clllom, the witness
said the English rates up 10 twenty-five
or thirty miles were slightly lower than in
the United States, hut above that distance
they were about three times as high. Labor
In England was a little more than half as
costly as in the United States. The Eng
lish roads were better equipped, having
substantial stone stations, for instance,
while. the. American small station was
usually frame shanty. The high price Of
land In England was another factor. The
main differences in rates, however, wen
due TO the longer hauls and the larger con-
Hignments in the United States.
Robert w. Higbee Of New Nork, represent
ing the New York Lumber Trade Associa-
ton and the National Wholesale Lumber
DealeH' Association, presented the nesolu-
tions adopted by the national convention OF
lumber dealers urging the comforting Of
greater power on the Interstate Commerce
Commission.
Mr.. Higbee denied the inference OF the
railway officials who had appeared before
the committee that there were no discrimi-
nations In rates in existence now. He gave
instances in which lumber rates for practi-
cally the same service were discriminatory,
one OF which had been taken before the
Interstate Commerce Commission. But
he congratulated the committee on having
brought out in the hearings the real ques-
lions at issue, and he said it, efforts were
undoubtedly bringing the shippers and the
roads closer together, He, urged, how
ever, that the present law be amended so
that some power be vested some where
other than In the railroads 20 FIX and enforce
reasonable rates. II might be placed in
the courts II matters would thereby be
expedited.
A protest from the Southwest Lumber
mems Associa ton against the unduly high
rates on lumber 20 central Kansas WAS
presented 70 the committee. The associa-
ton asked for the passage Of law giving
power 70 the Interstate Commerce Com
mission TO control rates.
+, =, Bacon, recalled, continued his argu-
ment IN favor Of the Esch- Townsend bill.
He pointed out determinations in export
rates on wheat, a. compared not only with
wheat for domestic points, but also COM
pared with mites on export -four.