Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-04-10
-or,d have to carry fruit. express matter, ct

would have to carry fruit, express matter, etc,
in preference to ores, iron, hardware, etc.
To Senator Nrooman-lf a company were to re-
move Il depot or the latter be destroyed by fire,
this bill would require il to be replaced whether
or not the company had further use for it. There
are serious objections TO the provision against
the removal of station from one point to an
other For instance, a town ON the line OF the
road might become deserted, in which case II
would become a hardship on the railroad com
pany to maintain its tracks and other structures
at such place
To Senator Kellogg should suppose that,
under this bill we would be forced to rclinquish
our charter should we {aS would be inclined
to do give preference, in transportation, to the
| household goods OF an emigrant over ores re-
| ceived in advance thereof
To Senator Nrooman-Think il would be I'M
! fair for any railroad company to remove station
| buildings and tracks simply out Of spite or to
| iniure some town. Section (which appues 10
| this point would certainly not tend TO encOur-
| age railroad building. The bill would be lnJurl-
| Gus to the carrying industries of the State
| Q.-SuppOse you where running railroad
| say from Sacramento to Stockton-and should
! see fit 10 construct branch line TO some other
town. After while suppose You should find
| the branch road losing enterprise, and should
desire to remove your track could you do So UNI
| der this bill. without FORGETTING your charter?
! Al think could not and that the inhibition
! would be unjust. As Il business man, would
not feel like investing money IN railroads under
| this bill
To senator Sullivan-As to transporting two
| classes of ore, one fine and the other of low
grade-One worth 500 per ton and the latter so
i should take the latter at bare cost but would
ask better rates on the higher grade ore. If one
carload of silk be worth $4,000, and another
| 5000 rates must be graded 50 as 10 cover pos
/ Sible losses by accidents etc. Do not think the
/ bill under consideration would leave matters rs
| they now are in regard to the classification of
| ireightS. Higher rates must be charged for some
! kinds of freight of the same class. or else We
could not afford to operate our roads. Several
| kinds OF ore. or produce. would not stand the
/ If
80 average the rates Us To enable US 10 carry all
! qualities of the same class OF goods
Q.-Do | understand you 10 say that II you
were ont of the railroad business you would not
| again 90 into it A-Under this bill, most de
| cidedly would not. If an agent OF railroad
/ company should, as | understand the bill. vio-
/ late any Off provisions, the company would be
| the sufferer by having to forfeit its charter.
! To senator Murphy-By the present system of
grading rates we encourage industries that could
| not otherwise exist. We once had to pay Il 800
| damages for the loss of some high grade COnS0l
| dated Virginia ore, owing to an accident. Tn
/ der some circumstances, say on roads running
/ through thickly-Settled communities discrim
/ nation might not be 50 necessary. Railroads
| need fair rates of freight and should have the
privilege of handling and transporting it i'll such
| manner rs circumstances may require. Ii is
| hard to please everybody. There is such thing
as hampcring railroads in such II way that they
can do little toward helping to develop the coun-
| try and building up its industries
To senator Whitncy-if this bin were Il law,
! possible for railroads 10 operate in this State
! To senator Spencer-By our present classitica-
| ton of rates, many men operating mines pro
/ duciug lOW-Erdde ores are enabled 10 continue,
in the hope Of some day developing high-gradc
| ores. This system is causing people To so back
and work lOw-grade mines that were abandoned
! years ago. The discrimination now practiced
| certainly does tend 10 develop the country
through which We operate our road.
senator CrosS-Wiil You look at Section :,
| which provides that ANY railroad corporation
#
| of this Act shall forfeit its charter and cOrpO-
rate privileges etc, and then look at section
+, which provides that e on the expiration or
! forfeiture of any railroad corporation its road
| and appurtenances and right of way acquired
by il remain vested in the people OF the State
for public use | desire to ask you, by whom
is the bulk of railroad company's business
transacted At the various stations along its line
| A.-By its agents
Q.-Now look at Section l, which provides
! that freight must be forwarded in the order in
which il i received Does ii ever occur that
these agents of the company become hostile to
| the interests of the company? Ayes, sir it
sometimes happens, but very seldom.
Q.-Suppo>e that under such circumstances the
authorized agent of the railroad company should
fail to follow the provisions of this statute, and
should forward IL carload received second in or
der before the first one received, could the per
son do 50. if he was 50 minded without the
. knowledge of the directors of the company
| A.-Cerainly.
Q.-Suppose the agent Of the company was
furnished with some printed statements, and
some man should apply to him for one and that
he should refuse to furnish it, do you think that
might transpire under the provisions OF this law
| Ayes, sir.
Q.-What is the value of the rolling stock OF
your railroad? A.-Probubly 100000.
Q.-What is the total valuation of your road ?
| About si.uuu0HO.
Q.-Then. under this bill. if one Of your agents
became hostile to the interests Of your road and
. forwarded Il carload of freight ont of lis order.
all of that - o0O.Oo0 would be forfeited, except
the rolling stock? A-ThHt is the way under
On your Judgment as Il business man. is
that a reasonable law? Al should call it
pretty rough.
QLThen what would become of all this
! bonded indebtedness A.-ltwould be worthless.
/ Q.-Wherc are your Si,O0DUO0 of bonds held ?
An New York and san Francisco.
/ Q.-What are those bonds worth inthc market ?
] A.-Sevcnty-hVe ccntS-IrOm three to three and
| half millions
Q.-What would those bonds be worth if YOU
had to forfeit your charter through the act of an
/ irresponsible agent? A.-They would not be
worth tt dollar.
Q.-Then the effect of this bill would be to
place il in the hands of any agent Of a railroad
| 10 destroy the entire value OF the bonds, which
are worth now from three and II half 10 four
/ millions of dollars? A.-Ihat would seem To be
! the effect
Q.-Would you consider that an objection to
| this bil2 A very great one.
Q.-Nhat would be the value OF that road If il
| laid in the hands of an agent to pcrpctmte an
! act (which would in IL moment turn that property
| over to the State Alt would be worthless
Q.-Now as to this schedule. which must he
exhibited when demanded. If one of your
I agents becomes dissatisfied and hostile to the
company, and refuses to deliver one when re-
que,ted. and thereby the entire property became
I forfeited, it would involve loss of your whole
I property OF S3.UpOO1O. A.-NcS sir
/ Q.--Would you consider that possibility un-
/ der this bill2 A.-GcS. sir
/ Q.-Supp0Nc this bill was passed, by which an
agent, by simply refusing 10 give one of these
printed blanks, could forfeit the entire property
of the company and render it valuele>s. ds well
4 A. the bonded Indebtedness, where Is the man
1 that would. under such law, furnish capital 10
build railroads in the state of California? Al
don't know OF any.
Q.-Could you lind him in the State? Al
don't think you can lind him anywhere.
/ Q.-COuld you find him in the world? Al
think not
Q-1his bill is al great deal deeper than you
/ thought II was! A.-lc>, sir. An examination
of it shows that railroads will have to be con
Quoted by agents