CHAPTEE XXXVI. 



CONCERNING RATES AND GOVERNMENTAL RAIL 

 WAYS. 



CONTINUATION OF CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE, BY J. W. MIDGLEY, 

 ESQ., CHICAGO. 



Much as we claim to be in advance of the &quot; old country,&quot; 

 in the recognition of the fundamental principles of cheap 

 transportation, we are still far behind. This deplorable con 

 dition is begotten of that selfish determination not to let 

 others get the &quot; start.&quot; The grievous bubbles which stump 

 orators and the country press are inflating are not novelties. 

 They were pricked years ago in Europe. Inequality of 

 charges is one of them. Parliament disposed of it in the 

 Railway Clauses Consolidation Act, by declaring it &quot; expedi 

 ent that the companies should be enabled to vary the tolls 

 upon the railways so as to accommodate them to the circum 

 stances of the traffic,&quot; and pronounced it lawful for the com 

 panies &quot; from time to time to alter or vary the tolls, either 

 upon the whole or any particular portions of their railways, 

 as they shall think fit.&quot; The people still harboring the belief 

 that unequal rates were unreasonable, a Royal Commission, 

 comprising Lord Stanley, Robt. Lowe, Chancellor of tha 

 Exchequer, Sir Rowland Hill, Postmaster-General, Mr. 

 Ayrton, Commissioner of Public Works, and ten other influ- 



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