Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-07-29

hence the provision that the contract should
no. be made use of to be, eft other parties.
This was reasonable and necessary prosec-
ton to the regular and honest dealer, as well
as the carrier Without it none C uld or
would make the agreement. 1t originated
with the merchant and nos with the railroad
company.
Again, if merchant were to buy 10 this
market, to supply his customers, goods known
to have been imported by sea, ne would not
perform his part of the agreement, but would
deprive the carrier of the sole consideration
the contract secured to it. Without these
provisions the contrsc. plan would be in
operative-of no value either to mer hans OK
carrier.
1t is not true that merchants who have
chosen to accept the terms of the railroad COM
panies have been forbidden by TIE companies
or their agents to buy goods in this market
Such shippers have voluntarily undertaken
for valuable consideration, to give the rail-
road companies the carrying of all the goods
handled by them which are brought from the
East. If this undertaking is any restraint
upon them. the restraining act is their own
and not tnst OF the railroad companies.
1t is not true that mex chants who hsvemsde
contracts with the railroad companies are for
hidden to sell goods to any party or parties,
even though such party or parties may be
shippers of goods by tes. The contracting
merchant is at liberty to sell to whom he
pleases, and can do so freely. In no case viii
he be charged higher rate than the published
tariff.
1t cannot be said that the plan has worked
as smoothly and pleasantly as the most exact
ing would desire. but it is submitted that
there has been manifested upon the part of
the officers of the Central Pacific Railroad
Company a patient and persistent effort to
work the business IL 8 manner to secure the
cooperation of the shippers. The business OF
transportation must be handled under rules
and regulations of general application, and al
criticism should be made with that in view
A general rule OF regulation may prove I'M
reasonably restrictive when applied TO POI
culiar case, but If made to cover that particu-
lar Gaze might prove, upon the whole,
burdensonas and oppressive.
The railroad companies participating in tho
overland carrying trade are numerous, aud
their freight agents do not always agree. The
shippers employing the railroads embrace all
trades, classes and ccnditions-a multitude Of
men whose interest often conflict. II would
be strange, indeed, if there we're not differ
ences CT opinion and complaints arising there
from constantly.
Every business man who has joined in
these contracts knows that he studied his own
interests in doing so j; that there was 10 coer-
cion, no threat, nor any words or means en-
ployed by the railroad agents to influence his
action, other than Whist q man of reasonable
tact and discretion would employ in soliciting
the trade of a new customer or an enlarged
patronage from an old one. All will acknowl-
edge that the effort to incresse the traffic
overland has worked an annual reduction in
charges by rail. aid that the benefits have
not been coufned - rail shippers, because the
reduced rail rates have caused material reduc-
tons by sea.
There are very few, If any, who will not
say. from their OVID knowledge. that most of
the complaints they have to make arise from
causes which the Central Pacific Railroad
Company cannot control; that in the distri-
button of their goods to the interior, over
lines wholly controlled by the latter COM
pany, they seldom have occasion for fault
finding.
The contract plan has been in use for sew
eral years, and judging from the constantly
increasing number Of merchants availiDg
themselves of it, has steadily grown in favor.
Is it not. then, very strange that it SHOULD be
suddenly discovered to be hurtful aud oppres-
sive, that the merchants of San Francisco en-
tertain q bitter feeling of animosity to the
Central Pacific Railroad Company because Of
it, and are in such affect fear of the company
that they dare not complain, except under
evident that those who are go industriously
engaged in spreading these ulischisvous re-
ports seek to create feeling of antsgOnisn
TO the railroad companies, in furtherAnce Of
selfish designs?
The people may well ask "whese ak Is be-
ing ground by these attacks on the railroad :"
1t would be well, also. for those who read
with indifference TO reflect, and ask them
selves what influence these misstateinsnts,
spread broadcast over the land, will have
upon immigration and the ultimate prosperity
of this State. 1t viii slso be well TOR the
farmer TO consider carefully what value is to
be placed upon the teachings of men who de-
nounce the railroad companies for pursuing
policy which has greatly reduced the freights
upon bis wagons, farming implements, hard
ware and all articles of general consumption,
upon the ground that it advances freights
upon his products by driving ships from this
port, and the next day denounces the came
companies for opening new line for the
transportation of those products, because it
compels the reduction in rates thereon, and
will have the effect Of driving tonnage from
this port. J. @. STUBS.