The morning call., 1891-10-25
WILL CONTROL
A GREAT POWER.
Work of the California Traffic
Association.
A Session OF the Executive Body-Appoint-
ment Of ub-Committees-Mem Membership
Will Be Secret.

Thirteen members of the Executive Com
mittee of the California Traffic Association
held the first meeting of that body yester-
day morning. J. b. Stetson, Chairman of
the association, and Secretary Thomas
Haywards were also present. The four
members from outside the city were absent
and nothing definite in regard to the work
of the committee was decided. the meeting
resolving itself into an informal discussion
of the various features of the work
The work will not be rushed or unduly
hurried, as it is of too vast an import, and
the resisting force VIII be very great. The
methods pursued by similar associations in
other sections were discussed, and so much
of their system as can be applied to meet
the local exgencies will in all probability
be utilized. The question of monthly dues
was one of the subjects discussed, the
point being whether all business houses
should pay similar amount or whether
the dues should be fixed by a schedule
based upon the amount of business trans
acted.
Committees on bylaws, organization and
freight classification were appointed, but
the Executive Committee deems it tie
wisest policy to refuse to divuge the names
of the committeeman. These sub-c0m-
mittees will be expected to make their re-
pUItS ny lDS laIleT part Ol tlilS Week.
MEMBERSHIP WILL BE SECRET.
Membership will be a question of con-
sideraton, aud all applications will be
rigidly examined to proven: any possibility
of the railroads having representative in
the association. The roll of members will
also be kept secret 1t has been suggested
that the membership certificate be in the
form of contract TO keep faith with the
association. The Executive Committee will
have the power vested in it to route. freight,
although it is net likely that it will avail it
self Of the prerogatye, except in cases OF
emergency. Boycotts OH the various lines
are only to be enforced under similar cir
CumStanceS.
The Executive Committees attention was
called to q large number of articles pub
l1shed in papers from the interior sections
of the State expressing the belief that 1t Is
the intention of the association to separate
the city from the interior. The committee
was unanimous in the opinion that the arti-
cles were inspired by an opposition, but does
not think they will be of much effect, as The
idea formulated is ridiculous, from the fact
that the city and the interior cannot be sep
arated in this movement.
The producer will be as much, IL not
more, benefited by the formation of the
Traffic Association" as the merchant or
intermediary, as it Is q belief based upon
commercial experience that when the pro-
ducer is enabled to forward his products to
uurAet Win prODV upon the cdpitai
invested in the production the interior
and city store-keepers have a fourishing
business, and vice versa
SECURING RIGHT OF WAY.
1t Is the opinion of the Executive Commit
tee that one of the first efforts of the Traffic
Association should be directed toward Sc
curing right of way through certain coun-
ties for the purpose of enabling competing
roads to build in event of stubbornness on the
part of the existing corporations i'll making
the concessions which will undoubtedly re-
suit from the formation Of the association.
Some of the largest merchants in the city,
who have large interior dealings, have sig
nified their Willingness to permitthe Execu-
tive Committee TO route all freights, as they
feel certain that by combining their busi-
ness they have a power in their hands TO in
a measure regulate freight rates, aud COM
pei concessions from the Transcontinental
Association.
From the accounts Of firms who are repre-
sented on the Executive Committee of the
Traffic Association an estimate of traffic hls
been made, showing tnat they alone move
1900 or more carloads OF goods, and