Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-06-14
RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS.
The Consideration of New Schedules Of
Passenger Fares,

| '--N tiSA NAouAASc ulS Alu am.
dsvits made in June, 1881 with the record
that 1t has been referred to General Manager
iowHe. lie said he desired to use the record
| tor q determination of the matter in the
Courts. he also desired that his second
complaint, referring to exSortion and discrim.
ination, be brought before the Board for de-
termination. On motion of MIR. Foote the
requests were granted.
The matter Of the Foote snd Humphreys
schedules of frstclass passenger fares was
then taken up. Secretary Apdrus stated
that be had worked ont the details of the
Humphreys schedule from Los Angeles to
Lathrop AS prepared il showed the rate
not only from station to station, as proposed
by Foote. but from one station to any other
station. He explained that to exhibit the
whole scheme required great deal of msth-
ematical work
MIR. Foote presented supplemental sched-
ule by which the rate from one station TO any
other station could be figured out by the
ticket-purchaser. he pointed out that the
Humphreys schedule did not take in the
road between Oakland and Lathrop via
Tracey, nor between San jose and stations
| south. He said his schedule reduced rates on
all roads usder control of the Central and
Southern Pacific Companies, except on the
narrow gauge from p jaro to Santa Cruz.
Wherever the rate was less than three cents
mile his resolution, he said, provided that
they should not be disturbed.
Mr.. Carpenter said the trouble with the
schedules was that The law reguired the
Board to prepare rate in detail for the COM
psnies. All they were required to do was to
post them in their offices. This placed the
work of making the schedule upon the Board,
and hence the details ought to be perfect
He thought the schedule ought to show the
fare, not only between consecutive stations,
but between stations where several others in-
tervened.
NJ Foote said he would not stickle as to
details. If his schedule was adopted it could
be placed in any form and the calculation
made. He asked the Secretary il he could
not do the work.
Mr.. Andrua replied that he undoubtedly
could.
Mr.. Foote said the bulk of the passenger
travel in the State was now done at little
more than three cents mile The round
fare to Los Angeles was $34, which was very
little more than three cents per mile. His
schedule therefore did not contemplate SO
radical reduction ss generally supposed, the
bulk of travel beipg over the lines having
water competition, where the company now
made its money. The complaint came from
the local lines, where round trip ard commu.
tation rates did not prevail. Those he pro-
posed TO reduce to a maximum of three cents
Mr.. Carpenter said the Humphreys
schedule at first glance appeared to hin fair
reduction. 1t reduced from % TO 80 per cent.
on present rates. He was not in favor Of a
Uniform maximum, but thought spsrsely
travelled rosds ought to be allowed q little
more than other lines. He was willing to
vote for reduction to four cents, with few
exceptions.
Mr.. Foote-I don't believe that is enough.
A reduction to four cents to Los Angeles
would not be any reduction at all.
Secretary Andrus-A four-cent rate weuld
reduce all round-trip rates in the State ex-
cept those to Los Angeles San Fernando and
few other places.
three cents is that it wipes out round-trip
tickets. Every man will then be allowed to
ride to every station at the present round.
trip rates.
MIR. Carpenter-I think maximum of four
cents, generally applied, would make Ieduc-
tion enough.
Mr.. Foote--By looking ever this schedule
you will observe the rates between some of
the mountain stations are as high as II and
Is ceHis a mile. OF course. fOur-cent rate
would largely reduce those rates, but there
is only one passenger day between those
stations.
Mr.. Carpsnter-It would not hurt the rail-
road much If the people in those places were
allowed to ride free.
The question Of establishing a maximum
rate at all was discussed at length. MIR. Car
psnter said il the rate was fixed at three
cents on the Sacramento and Placsrville =
road the company would stop operations ss
they had once before done. There was no
complaint about the rates on that road. The
people wanted the railroad. He would not
consent TO reduce on this line so that it could
not be operated, and three cents q mile
would do it. This was why he opposed a
maximum so low. He thought four-cent
rate was low enough on ths valley lines.
MIR. Foote said it was his opinion such
reduction would make no material difference
in the income of the company.
Mr.. HumphreYs-Mr. Secretary, read from
my schedule the fare from Lathrop to
Goshen.
Secretary Andrus (reading) From Lathrop
to Goshen at four cents the fare is 50 80.
The present fare is $40 80.
Mr.. Humphreys-Don't you think that is
material reduction?
Mr. Foote admitted that in the case men,
toned it was. Adverting again to the ques-
tion of his schedule, he said the Board ought
to take into consideration the fact that these
roads were built out Of the peoples money.
He believed that when q reduction was made
the railroad Company would appeal TO the
Courts. An attorney Of the road had in
| formed him that the company believed the
roads were creatures of the United States
| Government, and when anything was done
they did not like they would test the question
in the Federal Courts. He thought while
the Board was about it 0 reduction ought to
| be made Euch ns the people desired.
| Mr.. Carpenter-You do not mean that you
have prepared this schedule Of yours simply
to get the railroads into the United States
Courts?
Mr.. Foote-No. I have prepared it In re-
sponse to what think is right. A reduction
| to four cents q mile will get the company
into the Courts as well.
Mr.. Carpenter-If the railroads want to
resist reduction TO four cents and go into
the Courts, then 1 am willing to 80 into ths
| Courts too.
The Board discussed how long it would
take TO prepare the four.cent schedule. Secre-
tary Andrus stated that it would take him
| ten days Mr.. Carpenter said be would vote
for the four. cent schedule, and asked that the
whole matter be postponed until it was COM
pleted.
Mr. Foote wanted action taken on his
schedule at once, but finally consented to
postponement, snd the matter went over
until week from Monday.
George y. Merriam, Vice-President Of the
Mechanics Congress, invited by Mr.. Hum
pbreys to address the Board, appesrsd. and
| said q few words upon the labor side Ct the
railroad problem. He stated that the me-
chanics were generally in favor Of q maximum
| passenger rate of three cents psr mile. The
| speaker had worked on railroad iron and roll
| ing stock for railways for years and UNDER
sto,d the feeling Of the mechanics on this
| matter. The railroads had reduced the
wages Of their skilled employees to
the lowest rates, and few OF thsir me-
chanics were now receiving more
than Fufiicisnt TO support their families.
| He did Lot think a uniform reduction to
three cents mile would result IN affecting
| the wages Of railroad employees, SIS prophesisd
| by Denis Kearney He said the mechanics
| had all voted for Commissioner Humphreys,
and now hoped he would take decisive action.
If this Commissioner failed to do the required
thing. the next one would have to be elected
| from the ranks of the mechanics and work.
| ingmeD. In concluding, Mr. Merriam stated
| that James Patterson, President Of the Me-
| chauics' Congress, would ike to address the
| Board on the came subject.
| Mr.. Foote said be was for three-cent rate
and wanted all the assistance he could get.
He moved that Mr.. Merriam and Mr.. Pat
ter8on be invited to appear at The next meet
ing and argue the question.
| Mr. Carpenter said he would like to hear
| ths argument, and the melon was adopted
The Board adjourned ur.dl Monday, June
25sh.
The first real skir cuea ever discovered was
| DIR. Benson's Skip Care, IL cures all rough