270 AGRICULTURAL DEPRESSION 



It is to be hoped that the poHcy thus adopted will be 

 extended to all parts of the railway system, and may be 

 further expanded in its details, especially as regards 

 small consignments, and that it may result in a consider- 

 able increase in traffic and receipts to the companies. 



At the same time, it may be olDserved that the adoption 

 of this policy is a clear admission of most of the conten- 

 tions agriculturists have put forward for years past, and 

 demonstrates how large a share of the gross profits of 

 agriculturists has been appropriated by the companies 

 for years past. 



As the scope of our own inquiry on this subject was 

 restricted, owing to the recent inquiry by a Select Com- 

 mittee and the Act of 1894, the results of which are not 

 yet fully before the country, it seems desirable to briefly 

 indicate what has been done and what still may remain 

 to be done. 



The Select Committee of 1893 had to inquire "into 

 the manner in which the railway companies have exer- 

 cised the powers conferred upon them by the Railway 

 Rates and Charges Order Confirmation Acts (1891 and 

 1892), and to consider whether it is desirable to adopt 

 any other than the existing means of settling differences 

 arising between the companies and the public, with re- 

 spect to the rates and conditions of charge for the con- 

 veyance of goods." 



The report of the Committee makes it clear that it 

 was not intended by Parliament that the systematic 

 classification of charges provided for by the Act of 1888 

 should be so manipulated that the companies could 

 recoup themselves for the reductions made in maximum 

 rates in some cases by raising the rates in other cases, 

 even where rates so raised were still below the new 

 maximum rates. The Board of Trade, in fixing the new 

 maximum rates, did so on a definite understanding that 

 the new maxima, where higher than the previous rates, 

 were so fixed only to cover any possible increase in the 

 future in the cost of services. This understanding was 

 explicitly confirmed by the representatives of the com- 

 panies. But, in the new schedules of rates issued in 



