as described above to provide fine metering out control over load speeds independent of system pressure fluctuations or load flow resistance throughout an initial range of load speeds without interfering with the maximum load speeds attainable by the system a bypass pressure reducing valve 86 is positioned along the bypass line 60 upstream of the three directional control valves 52 a 52 b and 52 c sensing lines 88 and 90 monitor the differential pressure across the three directional control valves 52 a 52 b and 52 c and in combination with a predetermined bias control operation of the bypass pressure reducing valve 86 to restrict excess flow through the bypass line 60 the bypass pressure reducing valve 86 maintains a setpoint differential pressure across the three directional control valves 52 a 52 b and 52 c to preserve a fixed flow distribution between the bypass line 60 and the three branch supply lines 58 a 58 b and 58 c despite load flow resistance variations each different position combination of the control valve actuators 68 a 68 b and 68 c within the working range of the bypass pressure reducing valve 86 supports a different total flow rate through the three branch supply lines 58 a 58 b and 58 c independent of variations in the total load flow resistance of the branch lines the setpoint differential pressure of the bypass pressure reducing valve 86 is preferably set to balance tradeoffs between flow stability and efficiency in accordance with the characteristic pressure profile of the hydraulic system 50 and its expected range of use however some systems which are modified to include the meter out pressure compensation provided by the branch pressure reducing valves 70 a c.