Advantages of the Prussian System. 89 
advisory, no railroad administrative officer can disregard their 
conclusions with impunity. By giving them only advisory 
power, full legal responsibility is fixed upon the minister and 
the directories. And because the administration bears full 
responsibility, it is not legally compelled to act upon the con¬ 
clusions of the councils; but, no matter which particular course 
the administration sees fit to follow, whether in harmony with 
or in opposition to the advisory councils, in either case it is 
held responsible to the parliament. A railroad administration 
can regard properly the commercial and industrial interests of 
a country only when these interests have not only an op¬ 
portunity but a right to be heard. This right the Prussian 
system insures to every man. Any person may either be heard 
himself or have the testimony of uninterested experts presented 
in his behalf. This system has been adopted by most of the 
European states (France, Austria, Italy, etc.), but so far Prussia 
stands alone in having given it the sanction of a special law. 33 
To an American business man, who often has no more influ¬ 
ence on railroad rates than on the appearance of a comet, the 
enjoyment of privileges like those enjoyed by his Prussian col¬ 
league, must appear almost utopian. Yet, we have not ex¬ 
hausted the topic for Prussia. There are still other institu¬ 
tions which must be considered. Foremost among these stands 
the general conference (G-eneralkonferenz), composed of repre¬ 
sentatives of all German railroads. It meets at least once each 
year, discusses matters relating to tariffs, fees and operating 
regulations. Votes are distributed according to the number of 
miles of road represented. A standing committee of the gen¬ 
eral conference constitutes a permanent tariff commission, which 
occupies itself exclusively with questions concerning freight 
rates, and the recommendations or complaints of shippers. Its 
proceedings form the basis of the deliberations in the general 
conference. It is composed of sixteen members, fourteen rep¬ 
resenting German state roads, two representing private roads, 
and two Swiss roads. Acting as an advisory board to the tariff 
commission, which represents railroad interests, there is still 
88 V. d. Leyen, Lectures. The remainder of this section is largely 
taken from my notes, supplemented by material from various sources. 
