Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-05-31
RAILROAD COMMISSIONS.


The Subject of Passenger and Freight
Rates.
At the meeting of the Railroad Com.
missioners, sitting at San Francisco, Mr..
Foote offered the following resolution
WHEREAS, The present Board of Railroad Com
missoners have now been in office for nearly five
months, and daring that time have made no regula-
ton reducing either rcghs or fares for the pre-
vention OF extor lens and determinations upon the
part OF any OF the transportation companies OF this
Stare; and whereas, on the fifth day OF February
A. L. 1888 a substitute for resolutions Nos. ard
3 was passed by a majority of the Board, the pur
unrs Of which substitute was that investigation
should precede action by this Board and whereas,
this Board has investigated the subject of fares
and freights upon certain lines of railroad in this
State tie result oi which investigation mas been to
demonstrate that fares ard teghts upon ssId roads
are too high, and that determinations and eXtor-
lions have been md are now being Practiced which
are prohibited by the Constitution and should no
longer be tolerated; therefore, be it
Resolved First-That the Judgment OF this Board
is that upon the Central and Southern Pacific Rail
roads aud their leased lines the maximum rate for
passenger fares should not in any case exceed the
sum of three cents per mile, AMI where said rates
are now equal to or less than said sum per mile they
should remain as they now are. Secondhand the
present charges upon said lines OF railroad above
mentioned should be reduced at least 20 per cent
from the freight rates In force on said roads the
first day of January, 4. D. 1888. Third-That all
Determinations which are now practced ought at
once to be forbidden Fourth hat this Board pro-
coed Immediately TO revise the tariff of freghts and
fares upon the said lines of roai and copies
of said revised schedules upon the corporations a
fected thereby so that all OF said contemplated re-
auctions may so into operation on or before the
fist day of July, A. d. 1883.
Mr.. Foote said he wanted uniform rate
of fare to break up the determinations
caused by competitive points, and to en-.
force the sale of secoud-class tickets on
roads not selling them. He referred to the
statement OF Charles Croker that the
Southern Pacific contemplated reduction,
but that crop prospects had postponed it.
The Board, from its recent trip, has found
that the crop would be larger than since
1880, and the reduction ought TO be made.
The reductions, if found unequal, could be
adjusted when complaints came III.
Schedules could be made from the resolu-
tion, and if adopted he would undertake
to make them. The reduction would make
little difference with the income of the
company.
Mr.. Humphreys stated that he believed
the time had come to do something about
freights and fares, and that material re-
duction ought to be made. He was en-
gagged on a schedule, and would present
it in few days. Until then he desired
delay.
Mr.. Foote argued that basis was neces.
sary to proceed on. No one could make
schedule without adopting basis.
Mr. Humphreys said his idea was that
the Board should consider the difficulties
of transportation in fixing fares and
freights.
Mr.. Foote said that all allowances could
be made, even if basis was first adopted.
He wanted some action taken before the
railroad commenced to collect tariff on
the present crop in the San Joaquin valley.
MIR. Carpenter said that the Board was
proceeding under resolution adopted
some months ago. That was to take sesti.
mony, and having become satisfied that
rates ought to be reduced, then go to work
and fix up schedule. The resolution low
presented contemplated different course.
It proposed reduction OF 90 per cent,
right or ropg, in freights, and TO cents
per mile in fares. He thought the better
way was for the members to take The
printed schedules, go through them and fix
the rate between stations. He did not
think uniform rate of fare Of cents was
right. Even ii she resolution was adopted,
the Board would ultimately be obliged to
come back to the schedule plan. He
doubted if the Board could fix fares and
freights by resolution. At any rate he was
opposed to uniform reduction, but was in
favor OF material reduction on the pres.
ent rate. He did not propose to be hur-
ried in making this reduction, and would
resist all attempts to drive him into any
position he could not justly occupy. He
believed resolutions had no place in this
Commission. Nothing could be accom-.
Pushed by them. He refused to vote for
this one because it departed from the mode
prescribed, and because it was idle and i'm
practicable.
Mr.. Foote did not claim that the resolu-
ton was intended to fix rates. 1t was de-
signed to form a basis for making out
] ,hedules.
Mr.. Carpsnter-W I have indicated
that will not vote for q uniform reduc-
ton at all.
Mr.. Foote-Very well, I understand
you but this plan seems to me to be the
only intelligent method of getting at the
matter. This was the plan adopted, or
to be adopted, by our predeces-
sors.
Mr.. Carpenter said the resolution was
and merely repeated prom
Uses which sil the members of the Board
had made time and again. He referred to
the fact that notwithstanding the former
Board had passed resolutions no schedule
had ever been made.
Mr.. Humphreys said the schedule he
was preparing contemplated reductions
heavier on some parts of the Central Pa.
ciic than others, but it did not effect q
uniform reduction.
Mr.. Carpenter again said he would not
vote for the resolution. He wanted TO GO
to work and prepare schedules and present
tnen for adoption. A uniform reduction
the responsibility of opposing it. He pre-
posed to do his duty as sworn officer of
the people. 81 am" he said, "as deaf as
an adder and IS blind as bat to all that
i calculated to deter me from an upright
and firm course in this Commission. Here
l am not the agent of party, bu. an Of
ficer of the people. sworn to do my duty,
which / shall do without fear or favor"
He said he could not vote for as low a
rate from Auburn to Truckee as from Sac
ramento to San Francisco he could not
vote for as low rate across Tehachepi as
from San Francisco to San Jose, and he
would not. Under no circumstances, there.
fore, would he vote for a uniform rate. He
concluded by moving to lay the resolution
on the table.
The motion was carried, Carpenter and
Humphreys voting aye, and Foote no.
The Board then adjourned until Friday
at II o'clock.
An Ohio man named Msjor Stacy,
With toothache went nearly crazy.
He is happy sgain,
A fr.-