Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-04-11
AN AMUSING QUESTION OF DIsCRIM
NATION


When the Freeman blu some years
ago was a topic of general discussion, it
was remarked that It's provision, "rcgu-
lated freights and fare, on the basis OF
the distance Of certain interior town
without terminal or competitive relations,
from san Francisco, and would place that
town upon a par with competitive and
terminal points generally. The injustice
Of this being pointed ont, one Of the friends
uf the measure replied: Very true; by
nature that place has not competitive ad-
vantages, and we propose hy legislation to
correct the error" Precisely the same
spirit evidently actuate> some Of the more
RADICAL Performers who desire specific
diz,riminatiye legislation in favor of
certain localities and against others. though
they are similarly advantaged naturally
Che Of these greatly amused legislative
committee on Wednesday by his exhibition
OF anger because Sacramento, Marysville
Stockton and Los Angelo, are recognized
by the railroads OF the United States first
and the California roads lastly rs terminal
points, they being so located as to be
reached by lines Of transport in COMPETE
lion with each other. This vociferous
anti-railroad man gave the committee dis
tiuctly to understand that the legislation
ne and his following demand Is such as
viii force carriers by rail TO discriminate
against those citie. That Is to say,
though these termini are nearer the Easily
rail than san Francisco. and are connected
directly by other avenues Of transport with
tide water, he objects to their receiving
goods at as low rate as San Francisco
That though they may ship goods by water
lines to their ports, they shall not be per
mitted to receive them by rail at the same
rate. This leader in reform went even
beyond this, and unbIushiugly added that
to give interior citic~ with terminal rcla
tioas equal facilities u t. rates with San
Francisco is not only unfair to the latter
city. since God Almighty has disseminated
ia her favor 10y placing her Al the sea
shore he should hay, said, 10y maciol~Iy
placing the sea shor, rear San Francisco,
hut it is precisely a, Unfair 10 permit the
merchants, Of upper Market street
in that metropolis operating with
small capital, like special adyan-
tage> accorded to the heavier job5er
In other words, san Francisco is entitled
10 he the sole distributing Foin,, and rates
must be so adjusted as To force interior
dealer, to transpor; 10y water or buy in San
Francisco. and pay for the back haul by
rail from THAI city to the interior while
al the merchants Of san Francisco
save a few heavy iotber~ shall he
charged such rates thar Jhey viii he COM
PEELED to bny OF tine latter or 60 out Of
buSiuo~,. In short. M Harrison comes
up % the Legislature with the most as
t1undinc eflroutery Of his face and prop
oeition in his mouth that measures shall
be passed to "ciuch the consumer, and
the interior generally This j, precisely
what it amounts To, and athom, the shall
low depth of one of The chief mouthpieces
Of one division Of the mti-railroad Cruz
saders. Discrimination, according to this,
Is not ohjectional if only it Is exercised in
the right direction. The same reasoning,
carried TO logical conclusion, viii justify
handicappinc exports from all points cx-
ocpt san Francisco, TO the end that the
producers Of the State may lie compelled
to market their goods through metro
politan agencies only. Professor Sumner >
forgotten man" was by that political
economist wrongly piaced-he Is the con-
sumer. All things must be regulated, ac-
oording to the Harrison school, not to rem
der 1t easier for him to earn competence
or make living, but 10 add 20 the earn
incs Of those who live upon him. Seri-
ouslv. Is there not much in this view By
how much would the advocate We refer 10
benefit the consumer Of his beer if he aud
his friends are given, as they demand, the
exclusive right 70 ship at low rate ? The
absurdity, not to say the ridiculous ei-
froa:ery, Of the demand he voiced needs no
elaboration to expose It's infaIny- it Is
nothing more nor les than that-nor to
iay hare the selashne>s that underlie, a
vas. deal Of assumed philanthropy and
feigned public spirit Mongredicn wrote
better than he knew when he said
Whenever government actively inter
fe7es, however plausible the motive, with
The natural course Of trade and industry,
such interference Is almost always mis-
ehieyous. Left % themselres. buyers aad