In the table headers below:
| A = ENGLAND | B = FRANCE (Nord.) | C = FRANCE (Ouest.) |
| D = FRANCE (P.L.M.) | E = BELGIUM | F = HOLLAND |
| G = GERMANY | H = CANADA (Any Quantity.) | J = CANADA (Car Loads.) |
CLASSES. | |||||||||
| DESCRIPTION OF GOODS | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | J |
| Aerated Waters | 2 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | Gen. Tariff | Gen. Tariff | 3 | 4 |
| Agricultural Machines | ” | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | ” | ” | 1, 1½ | — |
| &D1 | |||||||||
| ” Seeds | ” | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | B | S.T. 1 | 2 | 5 |
| Bacon and Hams | ” | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | Gen. Tariff | Gen. Tariff | 2 | 4 |
| Bedsteads | ” | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | ” | S.T. 1 | 1 | — |
| Biscuits | ” | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ” | Gen. Tariff | 2 | 4 |
| Cattle Food | ” | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | B | S.T. 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Cheese (Packed) | ” | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | Gen. Tariff | Gen. Tariff | 3 | 4 |
| Cider in Cases | ” | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | ” | ” | 3 | 4 |
| Colours and Paints, Common | ” | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | ” | ” | 3 | 5 |
| Confectionary in Casks | ” | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ” | ” | 1 | 4 |
| Flax, Raw | ” | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | ” | S.T. 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Hemp, Raw | ” | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | ” | ” | 3 | 5 |
| Leather, Undressed | ” | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | ” | Gen. Tariff | 3 | 5 |
| Osiers | ” | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | B | S.T. 2 | 2 | 6 |
| Preserves, Casks | ” | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | Gen. Tariff | Gen. Tariff | 2 | 4 |
| Cotton Yarn forWeaving | ” | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | ” | ” | 3 | 5 |
The following is a comparison of the number of articles included in each classification, so far as such exists, in France, Germany, Holland, and Belgium:—
CLASSES. | ||||||||
| England. | Mineral. | Special. | First. | Second. | Third. | Fourth. | Fifth. | Chargeable at Mileage. Scale, &c. |
| Railway Clearing House | 80 | 446 | 453 | 500 | 672 | 319 | 180 | 103 |
| France. | Sixth. | Fifth. | Fourth. | Third. | Second. | First.[39] | ||
| Ouest | 36 | 329 | 533 | 250 | 212 | 326 | ||
| P.L.& M. | 35 | 104 | 231 | 265 | 279 | 511 | ||
| Nord | 36 | 106 | 253 | 279 | 288 | 557 | ||
| Belgium. | Fourth. | Third. | Second. | First. | ||||
| 168 | 177 | 294 | Goods of all descriptions in part loads. | |||||
| Holland. | B. 158 | C. 84 | ||||||
| Germany. | Special Tariff 1. 314 | Special Tariff 2. 119 | Special Tariff 3. 176 | |||||
The number of articles which the companies proposed to provide for in the standard classification by their Bills deposited in the Session of 1885, was 2,656, classified as under:—
CLASSES. | ||||||
| Mineral. | Special. | First. | Second. | Third. | Fourth. | Fifth. |
| 86 | 389 | 469 | 483 | 682 | 334 | 213 |
Assuming that any maximum classification to be framed should comply with the conditions which have been already stated, and that it should accommodate trade in all districts of the country, the classification suggested by the railway companies in their Bills will bear the test of any fair inquiry. When the change which we have indicated is carried out—when the maximum rate clauses of the companies are consolidated and revised on an equitable basis having regard to the present powers and to the new classification—traders will be able easily to ascertain whether the charges made by the companies are within their Parliamentary powers.