Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-06-21
SOME ELEMENTAL PRINCIPLEs-PERTI
MINT INQUIRIES.


The Examiner, in reply to the RECORD.
UNION, and dropping it's vituperative style,
attempts to treat the question of uniform
rates, and in doing so makes prominent
either its ignorance of commercial princi-
Piles or it's willful avoidance Of them. But
since it asks questions indicative of de.
sire to learn, we prefer to accept the
former explanation of its peculiar views.
In responding to ils inquiries the EXTREMIST
simplicity OF statement seems TO be de-
manded, inasmuch as our former analysis
OF the injustice of uniform or equal mile
age rates in such country as California
covered the entire question. bit seems not
to have reached the comprehension of the
Examiner Uniform rate, it holds, takes
into account "the entire length of line
aud the whole traffic upon it. Ga this
basis, then, there is no escape from the
proposition that those contributing most
business to the line on thiokly settled
section, with large local traffic, are to be
taxed to support and afford advantages to
remote sections either i'll adapted to
contribute, or sparsely settled and com
mercially iiaadvantsged by Nature.
in other words the suburban pop
ulstion of San Francisco, about 80 to the
square mile, must bear, according to this
theory, special transportation tax, in or
der that few residents on the borders of
the Mohsve desert may enjoy equal trans
portation and commercial advantages. Is
that the logic q city proposes to
be bound by that constantly OBJ.
iects to the law requiring her to
pay into the school fund money to afford
children IN remote districts educational ad.
vAntages But, says the Examiner, high
rate in spsrsely- settled regions and 3 low
rate IN dense communities will retard the
growth Of the former, and give the latter
undue advantages. although " able to
bear unusual expenses" Is the Eeaniner
prepared to pledge San Francisco TO stand
by that doctrine and forego her cOmpeti.
tive, natural and other advantages, II so,
this whole railroad question can probably
be settled IN an hour. Bat it is to be
noted right here that the Examiner and its
cohorts themselves avoid the logic Of their
plea, object 10 uniform rate, for they de-
msnd uniform reduction TO given figure,
but attach the proviso that where the rate
is now lower than that figure it shall rot
be increased to the new maximum. VIII
our illogical contemporary explain why j.
Is that such lower rates prevail! How is
it that such minimum was reschedf By
what Commission was it commanded. In
the obvious response lies the kernel of the
whole question. But the EraaiHcr, which
calls for elemental instruction in the most
settled doctrines OF commerce, absolutely
makes bold to ask some one TO respond TO
the amusing question why greater charge
should be made for transit over An unin-
hAbited section, 8 desert waste, noncon.
tributive and responding TO no cost of
operation, than for like distance through
settled region contributing local traffic
potn ways, Slu ShaSAnS eAHSIShs eSLNASo
TO be maintained! 1t has not been So
serted, as the Eromiaer alleges, that high
rate will tend to develop industries or
build up communities subject to it; but it
is true that just rate will not retard the
development Of the one, or check the growth
of the other. Rates decline exactly in
proportion to tie contribatiye ability Of
section until the lowest possible minimum
consistent with efficiency Of service IS
reached. LIST the EsaniRsr reflect upon
these A B C propositions Of transportation.
A low rate is possible BY rsssoa OF = per-
Missile high maximum uniformity Of
passenger rates compsls one class Of travel
srs TO contribute 50 the support OF another