Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-06-26
RAILROAD COMMIS& ION.
DISCUSSION UPON THE REDUCTION OF
FREIGHrs AND FARES
Extracts from the Newly Drawn Tables of
Passenger Rates Between
Various Points.
Isnecinl to the REcoRp-UNIoN. ]

Railroad Commissioners met ct IL A. M. to-
day, al the members present, and also quite
an audience besides.
James Patterson, President of the Mechan-
les Congress, appeared, IS be said. to express
the sentiments Of the mechanical Classes.
The mechanics. he said, believed g reduction
in railroad passenger fares should be made,
but were willing that the corporations aft cted
should be allowed fair interest on the n ney
invested in the enterprises. de understood
the policy of the railroads WAS to charge on
the products IF the soil all they cguld bear, a
policy disastrous to Development Of the IT,
dustIies of the State. He thought the rail
roads could stand a reasonable reduction /;
that they could afford to carry passengers at
nearly the same rates as the Eastern roads,
and that the increased travel following SUCH
reductions would keep the income of ths rail.
roads up to nearly the present figures. He
instanced the Sacramento Valley and Placer
Vile road, on which fares ranged frc m nine
to ten c5nts per mile, as one wnlch prevented
the development of the county of Ell Dorado.
MIR. Carpenter interposed 10 say that while
lie did not believe tbs rates en- the Placervi lie
road were low enough, he knew the people OF
Ell Dorado were anxious to have the road on
auy terms. He had petition from several
citizens, signifyiHg that reduction to SIX
cents per mile would give satisfaction.
Jabez Turner, leader of delegation Of me-
chsnics in the employ of the Central Pacific
Railroad Company at Sacramento, and for
merly Mayor of that city, appeared before
the Board in reference to the statements made
at a previous meeting By George B. Merriam.
He stated that when several mechanics of the
company mad heard of Merriam's remarks q
meeting hsd been held, without any off ;ial
pressure, at which resolutions were adopted
coHtroverting them. He presented the reso.
lutions, in which il was asserted that any re-
duction in fares would affect the wages of
every woIkingman Ia the State.
Mr.. Carpenter asked what be meant by
that expression.
Mr.. Turner said the railroads employed SO
many mora men than any other firm that q
reduction of wages would be the signal for re.
duciDg all over the State. II the company's
income was reduced, wages would probably
have to be treated the same. He knew par
sonally that many of the found.ies of San
Francisco had brought pressure on the COM
pany to make them reduce the wages they
were now paying their mechanics. Any mao,
he said, who told the Board that reduction
of service on the railroads was in the interest
Of labor, was not friend of the workiugman.
The Central Pacific was now paying better
wages than any company east of the Rocky
AlOuUGElQ5s
present rate of wages disturbed.
Mr.. Foote asked the speaker several ques.
tons. Mr. Turner, who stated that he had
worked for the railroad at Sacramento for
twelve years, answered one question that over
three hundred men had signed the resolutions
voluntarily, and that no suggestions had been
made from headquarters.
George B. Merriam replied to the state
ment of Turner, asserting that the employees
of the railroad were raising their wives and
children in cellars and attics, because they
were not paid enough to support them in
decency. II the company reduced tie wages
of its workmen after three -cent-psr- mile
resolution went into effect, the Board could
reduce their fares again. and keep on reduc-
ing until the corporations had mad enough.
/. B. Wheeler, of Oakland, who said he ap-
peared for tbs liberty.loving people Of
America, gave his idea of fixing fares and
freights. He would arrive ct tho cost of
transportation and then allow Mr.. Stanford a
fair proft-not a profit on the value of the
road, for that had been built by thu people
but on the money he had actually invested in
the enterprise. The road had cost but % per
cent of the money given by the people to coz
struct it. He would allow Governor Stan.
ford about S50, 900 year for his services in
operating the road. he figured the cost Of
running ten-car train to New York at $500.
This he doubled, ard dividing by the CO.
pacity of each car. found that man could be
carried to New York for less than 81 At
this rate he thought everybody would GO
East, aad that the rosds would be crowded
with trains. He thought a reduction OF
three cents mile was altogether too liberal.
Is could be shown that the railroads could be
operated and a crest profit made at such g
rate.
Mr. Carpenter presented the following
order, which he asked the Board to adopt:
1t is ordered that the Central Pacific and the
Southern Pacific Railroad Companies for them
selves and leased lines, and also all other railroad
companies having an office IN San Francisco, be, AID
they are hereby required to appear before this
Board its office in said city, on Wednesday, the
9th day OF June, 1888, at 10 o'clock Of said day
then and there to show cause if any they have, why
reductions on rates Of freights to tide water and
thence to all interior points in this State should Lot
be made as follows:
First-An average reduction of from 10 to 90 per
cent for moving grain to tide water from the fol-
lowing interior points, namely: Willows to Rose.
vile Junction, Yolo to Sacramento Knights to Sum
ner, Curtis to Huron, Soledad to Arena, Eden Vale
and others.
Second-Such a reduction, not less than 3S3 per
cent on present rates for carload lots of grain fol-
seeding and feeding purposes from poiIts on tide
water TO all Interior points in the State, as shall
make the rates on grain the same from and to TIE
interior.
Third-The average reduction OF rates equal to 20
per cent. flour and mill stuffs from mills at tide
water and other manufacturing points to all interior
points in the State.
Fourth-An average reduction of present rates
equal to IS per cent on all kinds of household
goods and furniture and on emigTsnts moyeables in
carload lots in all directions to all points in the
State
Fifth-An average reduction Of 20 per cent. on
present rates for wire in carload lots TO all
points in the State.
Sixth-An average reduction Of So per cent. on
rates for backsmith's COAL dairy and table salt and
other articles of the same class in load lots TO
all points in the State.
Seyenth-An average reduction Of 20 per cent. on
the carriage Of grain sacks agricultural Implements
wagons and vehicles of all kinds to all points in the
State
Eighth-Why reductions on present rates for the
transportation Of wool and alsoye stock, especially
in less than carload lots, should not be made.
1t is further ordered that the time for showing
The afternoon session was mainly taken up
by NJ. r. Leverson, who advocated the adop-
ton of the schedule on a three cent basis.
Humphreys said he desired either to amend
his schedule or present q substitute for it.
The matter was laid over until tomorrow.
The following table is an extract from the
various tables of new rates drawn up by
Andrus, Secretary OF the Board. In no
case has there bsen al increase of rates.
Where present rates sre below four cents per
mile, such rates remain unchanged. But in
other instances rates have been reducsd TO
four or six cents psr mile, according TO cir-