The Placer herald., 1874-03-28
SACRAMENTO CORRESPONDENCE.


IL n :
SACRAMENTO, March 25, 1874
ED. HERALD
The all-absorbing topic just now is the ques-
ton of Fares and Freghs.
THE FREEMAN BILL
happened to be first on the file, and was firsl
considered by the Senate in committee of the
whole. AS soon as it came up nearly every Sen
ator had an amendment to offer, looking to the
interests of his particular section. The princi-
pal objections to this bill that were urged by the
true friends of reduction and regulation of
Fares and Freights were that it bore heavily on
long distances, and the coarser articles of COM
merce, such as grain, hay, wood, shakes, lum-
Der etc. Had the Senate concurred in amend
ing this BILL so as to abvate these objections, 1t
would be decidedly the best regulation that has
been offered in either House. But they seemed,
from the first, determined to defeat the bill,
and, therefore, persistently voted down every
amendment that was offered of any import
ance.
Mr.. Perkins, of Butte, made a hard fight for
the adoption of an amendment providing that
any higher rates of freights and fares than such
as were in force prior to Jan. /, 1874. Though
the intention of the amendment was doubtless
good, it was very vague, as it would puzzle a
Virginia lawyer, in some cases. to find out ex-
actly what the exact rates at that time.
The amendment was defeated. Mr. Martin Of
fered an amendment to section l, so as to pass
children under years of age free, and those
from to ~ years old at half price; also offered
l. -
application, lumber, wood. and shingles; and
limiting hay, in bales, to so per cent. of tn,
rates allowed in section one. TIL first amend
ment was concurred in, but Mr.. Martin, seeing
the last amendment in reference to wood, lum-
Der, etc, was likely to meet with opposition that
would defeat it, arose and said in substance
The amendment WAS in the interest of his
particular constituents. He was ELECTED like most
OF tn members of this body-pledged to vote
for reduction of fares and freights. He came
here for the purpose of passing u bill for that
purpose; and this was the only opportunity he
had had of voting for such a reduction. But
when he found the provisions of the bill in
creased the rates of fire. ght for his con-
sttuents in order to be faithful to their interests
he believed it his duty to propose such an amend
ment. Under the present railroad rates from
Alta to Sacramento, seventy miles, the price per
ton was 81 cents pei mile, or $2S carload,
equal to 50 so per ton. Under the Freeman
bill, calculated by the cubic foot green lumber,
weighing about pounds to the foor, or 1000 OF
two tons to the thousand feet of lumber, the
cost of transporting green lumber would not be
increased; but for dry lumber it would be in
creased in proportion to the dryness, 25. so and
rs per cent, being $56 dollars per carload or
just double the present rates. On hay they now
paid $24 81 for tons, equal to a carload.
Under the Freeman bill it would be increased
to IS 80 per ton being $29 carload. They
were shipping 12,5O0,000 feet of lumber, a
million shakes and abont six thousand cords OF
wood per annum. While ask for this amend
ment, am in favor of the general provisions
OF the bill--and ! intend to vote for it, even as
it has come from the Assembly unamended.
shall support it and vote for that bill, even if
cannot get incorporated in it the provision l de-