Sacramento daily record-union., 1883-10-25
FREIGHT RATES REDUCED
upon the Basis Of Mr.. Carpenter's order.

=
SAN FRANCISCO, October 24th.-The Railroad Com.
missouers have concluded their session, and ad-
journed to November 10th. Before doing SO, the
following business was transacted
A letter was received from J. C. Stubbs Freight
Traffic Manager of the Central Pacific Railroad, in
reply to letters sent him by W. t. Coleman & Co.
and W. D. Tupper, complaining that the railroad
company Disseminated sgainst Fresno by charging
at the rate OF S54 carload more for the transport
tion of canned fruit from Fresno to Eastern points
than it charges from either Los Angeles or Stock
ton. Mr.. Stubbs says be was considering the mat
ter some months ago, when he was called East and
its adjustment delayed The local rate from
Fresno to Stockton, he says, is 65S cents per 100
pounds on canned fruit. The charge from Stockton
to through Eastern po nts in carload lots is 81 p
per leo pounds. By combining the local with the
through rate, the rate from Fresno would be 81 903
per 100 The through rate from Fresno to Eastern
cities is but 81 81 per 100 pounds per carload lots OF
canned goods. The Central Pacific therefore, he
says, has reduced its through rate cam ed goods
the reduction having been made In August, 1882 at
the instance Of the Fresno Fruit Packing Company
1t is true, Mr. Stubs continues, that while the
through rate from Fresno is 81 50 per 100 pounds
from Stockton to Los Angeles it is but 81 %. 4
discrimination, he says, " of this nature light be
justified on the ground OF service, as the distance
from both points by the routes the goods are for
warded is less than the distance from Fresno TO the
same points. However, the element of distance is
not the sole or principal consideration controlling
the rates. Competitionigoverns almost wholly
built, Stockton and Los Angeles could reach Eastern
through points by the routes, at much
greater advantage In transportation cost than they
now possess over Fresno Il is the rate charged by
vessels following the Cape Horn route which GOV
erns the rate from Stockton and Los Angeles, and
not what the railroad companies may fairly claim
remuneration for their services. The Central Pa
ciic and its connections ars compelled to meet cem
petition wherever it is encountered. BY their doing
so, even now competitive points the line of the
Central Pacific benefited, as they enjoy lower
rates for so much Of the service rendered them as
is done the competitive line To enforce a rule
that the Central Pacific should not join with its
connec ions in meeting competition for through
freights, except by the sacrifice of its legitimate
earnings from local non-competitive traffic, would
be to ruin the company or compel it to abandon
competition. The same rule universally applied
would compel other railroads to do likewise Should
they abandon competition the freighting cost be
tween tine Eastern cities and San Francisco would Of
be restored to the level OF the cost previous
to the completion Of the railroad. Consumers and
producers OF interior and non-competitive points
would suffer just much as though located at the
tide water or competitive points. In fact such a
rule applied universally would revolutioniza trade
destroy existing trade centers and the industries
OF the country back at least fifty years"
Some discussion followed in reference to the let
ter. It was finally filed, the Board assuming that
it had no jurisdiction the through rate under
the Pacific Coast Steamship case, and it not
clear that any complaint made OF the local rate.
Another communication was received flom W. II.
Robinson, the Suisun dentist asking leave to amend
his complaint before the Board so as to show that
the dental lathe over which his trouble with the
company arose, was 4 sewing machine converted
into lathe. The complaint was ordered served on
the railroad company
Mr.. Carpenters order reducing freight rates was
then taken up.
Mr.. Foote said he had intended to offer an amend
meut affecting incoming grain, but as it was not
germaue to the order he would not do so. He said
be had satisfied himself that if the railroads would
a a "a Orde ba
Mr.. Carpenter said that was his opinion.
Mr.. FOote said he satisfied with the order so
far.as it went, but he also desired reduction
grain coming to tide water Such a reduction,
however, could be made subsequently, and after the
schedules had been prepared.
Mr.. Carpenter stated that il the railroads acqui-
esced in the orler, the Board could 20 over their
schedules made in conformity to it and adopt them
Printed copies could be obtained the corporations
made them out.
Secretary Andrus presented his comparative
tables, stating the general reductions to be % per
cent.
Mr. Carpenter said that an examination made by
him showed the reduction green fruit to be %
per cent and the reductions by changing classes on
.he Southern Pacific much larger. The order had
not cover incoming grain because the proposed
plish such purpose could be introduced Mt any
other time He had prepared this order only after
discovering the labor attached to preparing sched-
ule, which wonld require months OF time
Mr. Foote expressed himself satisfied, and the
! order adopted, all the members voting aye.
The Secretary was ordered to serve the order en-
the railroads. they having three days to answer.
Mr. Foote'S three-centa mile passenger schedule,
offered at the last meeting, not taken up. He
said he did not desire to press vote on it if his
| CO leagues were not prepared to taken action.
Some discussion followed upon the schedule, its
| effect upon round-trip tickets, etc.
| Mr.. Carpenter said he had doubt the time
would come when the railroads could bear lower
passenger fares. He was not satisfied that the time
had come yet, and expressed the opinion that this
fourcent passenger schedule had not been tried
long enough to jus ify change.