OCR Text |
Show Just Discrimination In Rsllwsy Rstes. All railroad men qualified to speak on Hie subject In a responsible way aro likely to agree with President Samuel Spencer ot the Southern Hell-wsy Hell-wsy when ho says: "Thcro Is no division di-vision of opinion as to tho desirability of stopping all secret or unjustly discriminatory dis-criminatory dovlces and practises ot whatsoever character " Mr. Spencor, In speaking ot "unjustly "un-justly discriminatory" rales and do-vlcos, do-vlcos, makes a distinction which Is at onco apparent lo common senso, Thero may bo discrimination In freight rales which Is Just, reasonable and Imperatively Impera-tively required by tho complex com morclsl and googrnphlral conditions with which expert rata makers have to deal. To abolish such open and honest discrimination might paralyse tho industries ot cities, states nnd wholo suctions ot our national territory. terri-tory. This distinction between Just nnd unjust discrimination Is clearly recognised recog-nised In tho conclusions ot tho Inter national Hallway Congress, published yesterday: "Tsilfrs should Ik td on ewamsr-cll ewamsr-cll pitnelpbia uklna Into account Itic spaUI cimlltlona which Ur upon Ih oKuircUI value of lb rvk i rendered. ren-dered. Willi IIm rcseivailan I In I ram shut b charm! wlilioui aitilirary ill"-ctlmln-ttun lo all ahluiirra ullka unil.tr Ilk eondlllnne, Ilia inaklnv of ralna aliould aa far aa poaalbla nave all ih elaallclly havtaaary lo liermlt Ilia ilei-l-oprtient of tba tiainc snd In praduoa ilia arealaat raaulu to Ilia publlo and to tha railroads tbainaelvaa " Tho present prosal Is, as Mr. Walker D, nines of Louisville showed In his remarkable testlinouy the otbur day beforo the Senate Committee at Washington, to crystallite fiexlbleand Justly discriminatory rates Into fixed govornment rates which cannot bo changed except by the Intervention of soma government tribunal, uud by this very process to Increase "the temptation tempta-tion to depart from tbe published rate and the lawful rata In order to meet somo overpowering and urgent commercial com-mercial condition "New York Sun. |