Clause 3 of the regulations of the Bergish-Märkische Railway, which was transferred to the State on the 1st January, 1882 (concession dated 12th February, 1884), states that-- “The tariff for goods, as well as passengers, must undergo no alteration without the sanction of the Royal Ministers of Finance.” In the more recent concessions the same rights have been reserved to the State Ministers; but greater freedom is now granted to the railway companies than was permitted during the first years of working the lines. Maximum rate tariffs are fixed by the Minister of Public Works for the various classes; and, as in England, the companies may adopt rates, and modify them as they please, as long as the maximum figures, fixed by the State, have not been exceeded. For the Prussian States railways the tariffs are now fixed by the Royal Railway Administration, which is a species of a Provincial Court; but before they can be put in force they must be submitted for the approval of the Minister of Public Works. The Railway Administration consist of a Chairman and eleven Directors, and there are eleven Boards of Directors to manage the Prussian States railways. For private railways the arrangements are of a similar character. The application for rates and conditions other than those published in the official tariffs is prohibited by Prussian Law of the 3rd November, 1838, relative to the working of railways. The granting of special conditions to any particular sender or consignee is therefore legally inadmissible. Any alterations in the tariff system must be submitted to the Permanent Tariff Commissioners of the German Railway Administration, appointed to study the interests of trade. They consist of thirteen members of German railways, four elected members for the protection of agriculture and trade, and (in accordance with stipulations made by Bavaria) of, a representative of the Bavarian trade interests. On the proposals discussed at these Assemblies resolutions are passed by the General Conference of German Railway Administration, and the resolutions are submitted for the approval of the Courts of Judicature. FRANCE. There is no uniform scale of rates in France; each railway has its own tariff and classification. The following tables, however, are illustrations of the basis of the old tariff in force on the Western of France Railway, and of the reformed tariff adopted by the Paris, Lyons and Mediterranean Railway. WESTERN OF FRANCE RAILWAY.