between the Relay House and Washington, at 5 cents per

mile, is $1.60.

But the company is also allowed to make an additional
charge both on the main stem and on the Washington
Branch, for loading, unloading, receiving, &c,, which on the
latter road, is not to exceed the customary charges for similar
services in Washington or Baltimore. It was formerly the
usage of the company to make distinct charges for this ser-
vice, but of late years, the small amount charged on that ac-
count has been included in the charges for freights.

The company is also allowed to make special charges for very
short distances, or on small packages. It is also allowed on
the Washington Branch, to make special contracts for con-
veying on the said road the mail of the United States, for
the exclusive use of any car or wagon on the said road for a
limited time or distance, and for the transportation thereon
of horses and other living animals, and of carriages ma-
chines, furniture, and articles of large size or unusual con-
struction, or requiring more than ordinary care or particu-
lar arrangements for their conveyance.

Without setting out with literal exactness all the details
of legislation on this subject, it it believed that the preceding
statements will be received as a satisfactory reply to the first
inquiry contained in your resolution.

The highest charges made by the Company in the year
1866, as mentioned in the second branch of the resolution,
were in accordance with the "Washington Branch Tariff,"
of which a printed copy is herewith submitted. This tariff
was formed and printed in the year 1863, and has ever since
regulated the charges of the Company. Before it was estab-
lished, doubts had arisen as to the construction of the Com-
pany's charter in respect to some of its charges, and these
doubts had been settled in some cases by judicial decision,
and in others they had been resolved by the opinions of
learned counsel. It is confidently believed that this tariff is
in all respects lawful, and that none of the rates specified in
it are in excess of those allowed by the charter of the
Company.

It will appear, upon examination, that many of the charges
are considerably below the maximum allowed by the charter.
That maximum between the two cities, as has been stated,
is $2.24 per ton, without the additional charge for loading,
delivering, &c, and without regard to the special rates per-
mitted. On the whole second class the rate in the tariff is
but $2.00; on coal and manure, f 1.60; on flour, (which the
Company is authorized to rate at a ton for 10 barrels) $1.20 ;
on coal from the mines, $1.09 per ton of 2,240 pounds from
the Relay House to Washington, &c. The highest or first-
class rate specified in the table is $2.50, which, after deduct-
ing the above maximum of $2.24, leaves but 26 cents to cover