Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-08-24
THE COMING CONFERENCE.
SENSIBLE CONCLUSIONS ON BRITISH
COMPETITION.
Interview with Albert Gallatiu on the
Necessity of Protecting Amer
lean Commerce.
lsan Francisco Evening Post, August raj


The persistent manner in which the
Post is endeavoring to bring the business
men OF San Francisco TO a realization of the
Importance of the coming meeting of the
Chamber of Commerce has already had
considerable effect upon the mercantile
community" said prominent member of
the Chamber of Commerce TO Post re-
porter this morning, land it is to be hoped
that the meeting will result in something
being done 10 anticipate the Canadian Pa
cifc in its continual attempts to injure
Americas commercial interests"
The members of The Chamber of Com
merce are making great efforts toward hay
ing large representation of the different
coast interests al the meeting which will be
held on the 29th of this month
Albert Gallatin. the Sacramento banker
and member of the hardware firm OF
huntingdon Hopkins Company, through
his interests in numerous enterprises on this
coast, mas had an opportunity to observe
from commercial point of view the neces.
sites of the coast in protecting its import.
ant interests.
WILL RESULT IN GOOD.
There is no reason why this meeting
should not be productive of good results y
said he when interviewed upon the subject.
1t is necessary TO educate the Pacific coast
people up 10 what is essential for their
benefit, and | am OF the opinion that this
meeting will accomplish this purpose, al
though | think that ii would also be g good
plan TO hold meeting of representatives
trom ali the different sections of the coast.
The encroachments of the Canadian Pacific
threaten not only San Francisco's interests,
but also those of the entire coast. The ruin
OF our interests would naturally offset
those OF the Eastern States, and this fact
explains the noticeable attention being
given to the proposed meeting of the Cham.
Der OF Commerce by the Eastern press. Our
railroad systems and steamship lines are
not receiving the consideration they de-
serve from Congress. Heretofore it has
been the cry of the general public that any
reference made by a business mar to the
railroad in a favorable light was a display
OF parusanship, bui the people are begin
ming to realize that what affects railroad
or steamship corporation must naturally
affect the people, | own but little railroad
or steamship stock, but have had friendly
relations with those corporations. But in
speaking of this matter l only do so as a
mercantile man. | consider the past and
present policy of the United States Govern
ment toward the railroad and steamship
lines very poor one to follow, and | am
sure that my remarks will be corroborated
by the reports of the Canadian Pacific
which show the success of that line The
Canadian Government, with its gigantic
corporation, backed by the British Govern
ment, has proved itself the greatest compe-
ton to American industries and CONNER
cisl interests. England has never hesitated
in backing project which had a sign of
success in it, and has subsidized her over
land and maritime services handsomely.
SOME SUGGESTIONS.
'The United States can place its railroad
and steamship services on an equal footing
with the Canadian Pacific in only one way.
and that is by literally substituting them
for the transportation of its mails and facil-
itating commercial transactions. The main
object of the Canadian Pacific is to divert
the internal and foreign commerce from
this port, and it will eventually succeed, if
some action is not taken by our Congress
San Francisco will have to stand the blunt
of the Canadian Government fight against
this country.
The situation Of San Francisco in this
commercial fight is 10 be compared favor
ably with the competition which San Fran
cisco merchants suffer from Eastern con-
Germs. Several Eastern firms send an agent
to this city. He locates himself in room
in some third story, and maintains himself
for about, say 5000 q mouth. We have an
established house with about 81, 500 600 in
vested. When some big concern wants a
contract filled we put in bid, put discover
afterward that the Eastern agent has been
awarded the contract. And why? Because
the interstate law operates in his favor and
his small expenses permit him to bid
lower. We find that he has put in a bid
that is far below ours, and. in fact, so low
that should we attempt to fill the orders at
his prices We would be unable 10 even pay
the State and municipal taxes on the
amount we have invested IN our business.
1t is the same way with the other laws
OF this country; they do not operate so as
to favor our home industries and interests.
The Canadian Pacific, backed By liberal
subsidy from its Government, is permitted
to take every advantage of our railroad and
steamship lines. Our lines are like man
defending himself with shackled hands
against an antagonist equally as powerful
The interstate commerce laws should be so
modified as to permit our lines 10 place
| themselves on an equal footing with the
| northern competitor. While we are re-
strained from establishing freight rates to
suit the msl1rity of merchants the Cana
dian Pacific is given full sway. 1t arranges
It's rates to suit whom it pleases, and if it
sees fit can offer special inducements to one
firm to the ruinalion of another
ENDORSES TONNES VIEWS.
'T believe in Mr. Tnwne's views. There
should be remedy for the injuries in
fiicted By the long and short haul section
of the interstate law. But even if this law
should be abolished we would not have en-