Ingenious schemes were devised for equalizing within certain zones or areas, rates irrespective of distance and other circumstances. There is a fashion in so-called Railway Reform. Such schemes are now little heard of; they have given place to proposals essentially different, which may in their turn make way for others. [2] See Report of Royal Commission, 1867; Report of Joint Select Committee of House of Lords and Commons, 1872; Report of Select Committee, 1881-2. In all the recent discussions of rates much was heard of those who were discontented, but very little of those who, being satisfied, were silent. Most errors in Political Economy, it has been said, come from not taking into account what is not seen. Especially true is this of the question of railway rates, not the least important problem of Political Economy. Of the trades and interests which are dissatisfied with existing arrangements, people hear and see much. Unfortunately they appear to take little heed of other interests, equally important, which are contented, or comparatively so, which do not send deputations to the Board of Trade, and which changes such as have been from time to time proposed would injure or even go far to ruin. SECTION II. THE PRINCIPLE UPON WHICH RATES SHOULD BE BASED. The first condition of any useful discussion of railway rates is that _all_ interests shall be considered--the interests of all traders, and of all consumers, as well as of railway companies. To every proposal this test--the golden rule--should be applied. How would any projected change affect all concerned? Every one cannot get such rates as he would desire; the utmost which is practicable is to fix them in the manner, on the whole, most suitable to the requirements of the community as a whole; and this will be found in the long run to coincide with the interests of the companies. In consequence of not applying this test, and owing to the fact that persons may freely put forward proposals without explaining what would be the consequences of a general application of their principle, little progress is made in the discussion. A second condition of any profitable consideration of the subject is obvious. To argue about the propriety of this or that rate, the question whether this town or that port is badly treated, or this or that industry is made to pay too much, is of little use without agreement as to the principle upon which rates ought to be framed. There is a third condition no less reasonable. When English railway companies are accused of imposing charges at haphazard, and in an arbitrary fashion, what scientific principle, it may be asked, ought to be followed? There is no escaping this question--not even if the task of framing or controlling rates were committed, as has sometimes been proposed, to the Board of Trade or the Railway Commissioners. To this question rarely, however, is any answer given. When one is attempted, very seldom is it made with reference to all