The morning call., 1892-03-11

freight tariff of g of a cent pound. Is not
that enough to make free American
trader feel sick? confess that / de-"
Battery-street patron of the Pacific
Mail complained bitterly Of his treatment
by the transportation company.
Il have done my level best TO build up a
good trade in Central American products"
said he, land it seems to me that that CON
Germ has tried every way in its power to dis
courage me. 1t has certain merchants here
which ii favors. There are about six such
firms in the Central American trade-I
could name them all If | cared-which en-
JOY concessions from the Mall Company.
The others must take what they can get
when ii comes to a question OF rates, and
they have 10 be satisfied, for no amount of
persuasion will MAKE the company see tnat
one man is entitled to just as good rates as
another. 1t pays the company 10 have these
favored firms stand by 1t when there is
trouble at hand, and | see that they are all
trying to discourage the movement against
the Mail Company al present. OF course. it
is to their interest TO do this, though they
| certainly must see that'it is to the greater
interest Of San Francisco tn have her ave-
nues Of commerce open to all alike.
How do 1 know that these firms get con-
cessions? Why. | have the proof ia black
and white from the Mail Company's agents
themselves. They once wrote me letter,
IN reply to a request of mine THAT should
be given the same rates that were furnished
to one of the favored firms. In that letter
Il is plainly stated that they are in the habit
OF making concessions TO certain indiyid-
uals, and they gave the reasons why they
would not do so IN my case. These were
that l wanted 10 introduce competition and
destroy the trade of some Of The other firms
to which they were giving concessions.
in this way tile steamship monopoly
helps the monopoly OF the business by
others. 1t virtually forces the CORES pond
ents OF San Francisco firms In Central Amer
lea to trade only with those who are ia the
little ring with the Nail Company
There is a regular printed tariff of
freight rates for all shippers to and from
Central American ports. The tariff is for
the use of the general public.
There is another tariff, or a sort of
schedule, which makes much lower rates on
all classes OF freight That tariH is for the
use OF persons in the ring, who are fattening
Oft from the favor shown by the .ransporta-
ton company.
'The result of this is very far-reaching.
II benefits nobody in the coffee trade here,
except the ringsters themselves, whiie il
does not result in cheap euffee for the con-
sumer. A man goes TO one of these people
in the favored circle and asks for the prices
OF coffee. He is told that the price for this
is so much and the price for that is so much,
and there is no material difference between
the rates he gets from them than from
Others and yet the chances are there is q
little shade Of difference, too. aud this is
enough to cause the sale To be made. But
when the buyer wants 10 know why prices
are kept up SO high. he is told. oh. it is be-
cause Of high freight rates. Just look at
this tariff, and Won Will see that il costs so
much to lay these goods down here As
matter Of fact. the man selling the goods
never uses that tariff at all. He has another
hidden away that he never shows to the
buyers Of his goods. He would not dare to.
for if the Mail Company found that he was
handing it about. 1t would take it away
from him."
President SIetson Of the Traffic Associa-
ti0n has written letter to Senator FELTON,
with regard to the proposed petition which
the merchants want TO circulate and sign,
asking Congress to empower the Post;nas-
ter-General TO withdraw the subsidy pai
by tie Government to the Pacific Mail.
Whether Mr.. FELTON, favors the move or not,
1t will be made, but it is desired TO have
him consulted, so that 1t will be seen that
the merchants wish to take mold Of the mat
ter with him iD a friendly spirit.
The desire Is now general one among
the merchants lhat the subsidy shall be
withdrawn. OF large number that have
talked With MIR. Stetson on the subject
nearly all are In favor of sending out the
petition.
LII the Traffic Association had not so many
irons In the fire. and was not trying to first
settle the question of local railroad rates,
1t would bend all its energies On the Pacific
Mail subsidy affair, but Traffic Manager
pay particular attention 10 one thing at
time In order to accomplish the results
which lie has set out to secure TOR the mer-
chants OF this city.
President Stetson. however, feels that
the Mail subsidy matter is something which
demands Immediate attention, and he is de-
vutlng much OF his time to consideration
OF that problem. He says he Will have the
Government subsidy off the Pacific Mail
she'll IL be can get sufficient support In this
tnR ttut
proposes. There have been several i'm
portant conferences of late among the mem.
bers OF the Traffic Association for the nur-
pose 0f considering the matter, and when
the petition goes it will be seen at once 10
be one on which much care and attention
has been bestowed.
I'VE will break up that unholy combina-
tion between the steamship company and
the railroads." says MIR. Steison, If it takes
our miglItIest effort. We do lot so much
depend upon this petition. There are other
means at our disposal"