Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-04-09
FRENCH
RAILROAD
MANAGEMENT


est In France the railroads whethe
the property Of the government or o.
corporations. are subjected to the SAM
national supervision. when a com
pany obtains the right to build and op
crate a railroad conditions are impose,
under which the property may at som,
future time be acquired by the nation
The management Of national control
under the laws Of 1851. In the operation
Of every great railway system Of
France is intrusted TO inspectors gener.
al Of roads and bridges, or Of mines
residing in Paris, who have seats IN
the councils and committees institut.
Cd By the minister Of public works.
These inspectors are Invested with the
authority 20 consult the books and pa.
pers aud reports Of the railway com.
pany 60 which they are assigned, as
well az an documents necessary 10 re.
veal the actual condition Of the com.
pany aud the eHaciuess Of the receipts
and expenditures The inspector gen.
eral assists or is represented az ali the
meetings Of the shareholders OF the
company, and has under bis eontrol the
railway track and buildings and the
technical and commercial operation Of
tho railway, He Il assisted By a chief
engineer Of roads and bridges, several
ordinary engineers and stan Of
clerks
The eohtFol Of the technical working
of the line comprises the supervision
Of the motive power, the rolllng stock
and the workshops That Of the CON,
msFeiai operation embraces the study
OF rates aad an commercial questions
interesting the railway system. the ex.
animation of the budget OF the com,
pany and the yeFiheatlou OF accounts
Tho salary OF a government director is|
$4,000 and be d, By right OF ofies.
member OF the consulting committee OF
railways. and can assist at any OF the
railway directors meetings OF the line.
as well as the general assembly of the
shareholders he must examine with
care ail propositions 90 change trans.
port rates, aud Fepost thereon % the
minister OF public works. No new
rates Of any Kind can be imposed by
The railway companies until they have
been authorized by the minister Of
public works, Before applying any
aew taFif or rates the companies must
draw up list or schedule OF the prices
hey propose 10 charge for the trans
port OF merchandise, passengers, cattle
and other objects, Copies OF this are
transmitted 10 the minister the pFefeet
lf the department, crossed By the rail
way and 20 the control service. These
schedules, when approved, are posted
In the station for the pub. !
ie information, and at the end OF |
month after the posting OF the SEIZED |
unless the new rates 90 into effect. The
are bound 70 transport with |
sxaetitude, celebrity aud without favor,
.tism, merchandise, cattle and an other
objects intrusted 70 them.
Any private agreement TO grant
rebate to any shipper is strictly for
oidden by the Law. In addition, if
'ompsny knowingly and willingly IN.
ieEEates any merchandise, il is obliged |
10 apply that rate to the same Kid of
merchandise Of all other shippers for
'eriod Of three years 1t is needless
% say that such errors or expedients
IRE Of rare occurrence.
In addition TO the strict supervision
which is exercised over rates ana re-
'ateA the French government pays
lose attention 10 the management Of
he roads In all particulars. II directs
ust how every train shall be made nm.
What precautions shall be taken 10 in.
uFe the safety Of passengers and
FeWsi determines the speed which
hail be maintained over different see.
ions OF the road and insists that al
er'ain portions Of the road loeomor
ives with steam up, shall be held in
eseTye, to be used In ease Of aeei-
ent. In fact, the entire control Of
ae road Is under government super
ision' and, in comparison with the
ATE oill now under discussion in con
Fesa the French law governing rail.
Dads is a very drastic measure.-New
'Ork TribsEa u