New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-29
RATES? RATSi
an IreUerent Contribution To =
Craze Debate.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

10 the Editor OF The Trfbrlne
SIT; For many months mast the ,,,.-...,-
u rates on freight has been a Ieadinr o., q ~
p"DVIs winch 1t has been my good fortune ~ s.
ana have endeavored to follow the ,arloI-.
'.Iousht suggested by the writer's therein and b,.
'IIed 70 see where the great mystery q,
Ia'e making lies. It Is said by some aha ,,,.-
10 exist. Certainly there is IN sor,. r,r.1. :
'eIy connected with the why's and v-beraeo-.. :
'a'e making which many railroad men have 80,
80 nara 10 explain clearly in the past that IT,
800 III some instances adopted the much rno-a
method OF the greatest Chief OF Poica
->e"-4ork ever had" who is said 10 ba,-s -
remarked. when his explanations dido -
0e"rly' AW. let 'en go tell There really mus. -
sou'ething mysterious about the making ~ a.
O' the reason that am personally aware OF tba
Iact that rates have been made by a man ,vb,
lea"y Couldn't tell just why he named the rata
o1ner IMAM that he wanted the business and - b
didn't name that figure the other fa1ro,~ ,,-,1, -
would get the business
me 4ohS WlRded talks given by various writer's
as 10 certain reasons supposed To exist which =,
.eqaIeu mead wearing that misft No. S hat
70 STU out and dig into before rate could be mad
are 10 the average mind all pOppycocl,. and must
cause men who have made rates for yes-,
20 SVEN with pride when they read what wonder
tul fellows they really are. Bosh! During tina
west Shore-NeW-York Central war who ulads ths
rates and were they duly considered by The ma,
initial was used where necessary and rates bearing
went and the auditor passed them without
question, while millions Of tons OF freight were
hustled through on any old rate and the man with
the No hat was I'D IN the air and is thers YET
so far as rate making IS concerned as described by
some.
Few OF the dear public are ever called On 70 mat
the eminent person who decides the matter o..
freight rates. although to see the corresponss,cs
olreeted 10 his department. one would think had
the earth TO reSuate' and when you get a reply 70
your lester you know he must have or he couldn't
be SO unfamiliar with the most ordinary r,atta-s
In your line as to reply as he does. There ara men
who question the honesty OF certain traffic officers
who have the rate making power IN their hands
and certainly with good cause. There are other
matters pertaining to railroad matters which I;
the officials OF the various lines have their STOCK
holders good really at heart. they might 20 Int,
With as great prospects Of brilliant success as 70
spend all their time grinding the old srst
OF rates.
It was my good fortune for a number Of years to
attend many sessions OF so-calIsd rate making con-
ferences in the general Office OF a trunk line rail-
F9a6 II New York City and my experience has
ing was gwen Over To- reca e Of f ne q me meet
on almost any topic rather than the for which
cussion" called. and an adjournment 10 scms
neighborins cafe by certain Nc. hats was always
was tip end f, for the head where it belonged
pGWers and and yS S ma SeBi5d P Il al 5e F9 aS
or the son Of some director drawing good fat
salary from the position, while some poor hard
working clerk performs the duties OF the Ofics at
nominal salary, and he viii, in the event OF any
thing going wrong. 10 made the sclpegOat Of tra
officers who get the big money
There Is no mystery about rates that tia ordf-
nary man cannot fully understand who viii givs
the matter consideration. and the talk that tia
rate making powers on all railroads are endowed
with mental qualifications superior to those Of ths
rest Of the world Is species OF rot which the
pushers OF the anti-rairOad commission people
would do well 10 puc IN dea0 SONS an 49,
have seen general freight agent appointed whose
whole preparation for the position had been In
village school and small college. and his slod
fathers influence placed him Immediately IN the
rate making chair because OF the fathers Influence
with the man who wrote president after his
name, and the boy didn't know what railroads
neCted with the one on which he general
freight agent, at certain points, could be
a through rate without consulting the chief clerk
while to hunting up the proportions OF rates en-
tOyed by his line q through rate ne knew moth
ing A No g? Well, he held down the position as
long Mr.. President lasted and pas influences
| died. and the boy Is working.
Sift the wonders Of railroad rata making down
and you find that It is simply question OF making
rate per ton per mile freight which shall have
a fair margin OF profit for the road. and then
| that the operation Of the road IS economical and
careful: don't at the sp!gOt and let the bUnE
4 run. As above stated. there leaks on most
| railroads which rates VIII plug Howl less and
| do mora. You can't handle big load away OF az
| arms length-get up TO Il and lift FREIGHT.
| Utica. N Y. May p, 1905