The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-08-03

which the whole State is interested without
reference 10 political party affiliations, except
ID may be made so by political party leaders. and
that he support OF every man is due TO principle
OF the commercial prosperity OF his State.
1t has been demonstrated that our laws on this
subject ale and have for years been fat failure
and that change is necessary 10 bring the car
FlerS under proper control. To mis- end some
suggestions have been offered by the Traffic
Association Ia pledge which has been sub
United for your ratification and support. These
suggestions are made after a careful survey OF
the operations in the several States of railroad
legislation. There are so many reasons why
this should be made a legislative question that il
will be impossible 10 enumerate more than few
OF them In the space OF letter.
First-Ehe consti utiou has served ss a bull
wark behind which the commission have been
able 10 take refuge 10 escape the performance If
their duty, because after election they were be-
yond the reach OF The peopls or the Legislature.
Ii should be remembered that no ra e Is legal
now except II Is promulgated by he State Board
OF Commissioners.
SecOnd-It is reasonable that the Will OF the
people on this subject VIII be more easily en-
forced through the Legislature than by the con-
stitutiOnal provision. because the law can be
changed at any time by bare majority and The
people are always on nghlng ground, on equal
terms with the carrier whereas such Is not tie
case under present conditions
Third-li Ia urged that the Legislature also
VIII be under control OF tie carrier. II so. would
urge the abrOgatlou OF all Tegulatiye provision.
as II only acts now az pTeleXt for doug moth
Ing, besides the added expense OF the commits.
zion. But careful survey viii rev al the fact
that the argument above referred 10 comes from
the carrier. Other States have been able % pass
legislative 2ets which he transportation COM
p6Dies have been obliged 10 Tespeet and Call.
torna can do the same.
Fourtb-ADOiner good reason for 8 change
Is the fact that the present plan has served the
purpose OF the carrier so well for many years.
Ia couelusion,I want TO add that the great reg
uiator OF The transportation problem is cOmpeti-
tion. Experience teaches this from one end OF
our country TO the other. / am an advocate for
The competitive railroad owned, controlled aud
operated 10 the Interests OF this State as first
proposition. And / think our own experience
VIII leach us that such Is the True doctrine II we
consider the situation as IL is. The prime neces-
atty Is proper regulation OF the local situation
IN the interest OF this coast. so that all points
may have easy commercial intercourse one with
the other. IL this Is not done, sea competition
so far as the general good is concerned, is very
extend over radius of at lea,t 1000 miles
inland In order TO bring proper develop
menI OF the resources OF the. cOun-
should always be borne In mind that the sea has
always been an open roadway, as much so in tile
past as now. While 1 do not desire to detract
from the importance OF this means OF trauspor.
taton, want TO emphasize the fact that IL re-
quires the other auxiliary 10 make II a complete
success. and that IL Is necessary first, in order
that II may be made use OF freely and fully The
fact that IL is impossible 10 bring The carriers by
sea under railroad control demonstrates this.
III also demonstrates that IN oroer that a railroad
shall become auxiliary TO tie sea carriers IL
must be owned and operated as q California en-
tefprlse. Without such an auxiliary the Mica
aqua canal the TehuaDlepec Railroad, etc,
would produce the same effect upon the COM
merce OF this coast as is row complained OF as TO
the Entertainments OF the Canadian Pacific Rail-
road, unies: our railroads., as at present organ
lied, make radical change 10 policy, which we
nave no reason 10 expect. have reference 10
the import trade OF the Orient and other
foreign ports OF The Pacific 1t may be neces-
sary for ships to touch al this port on their way
East, but 1t would ha dy follow that they would
discharge In order to reload ana proceed from
this port; hence with the railroad they become
auxlliaries; without It their benefits VIII not be
mixed with the element OF commercial c0mpeti-
ton. BY all means Tie railroad frs. which will
carry competition for al least 1000 miles inland
both local and through traffic, and the others
naturally follow.
Another argument In favor OF competition is
found In tile States of the Union east Of the Mis-
slssip River. / think am safe ia saying that
nowhere else on The globe can as good and as
cheap transportation service be found even in
the very thickly populated countries of Europe,
ahd all brought about by competition in the
transportation business.
On motion Of MIR. Gray the following reso-
luton was adopted:
WHEREAS The heavy tribute levied by the
common carriers operating within he limits OF
lho Slate of California has stunfad nur inland
commerce. checked the growth aud prosperity
OF our trading ard Industrial pursuits and i'm.
posed condition of inertia In a city which by
Its many natural advantages should be one OF the
busiest IN the commercial world; ana whereas
the Traffic Association of California with a view
to the correction OF corporal abuses, has
adopted memorial Tor presentation TO the TWO
representative political parties requiring them
10 pledge their candidates for either branch OF
the Legislature to fefOrmatory legisiationoD The
transportation question, therefore
Resotved, That The California League Of Prog
ress heartily iDdorses The plan OF action pro-
posed by tue Traffic Association OF California
and pledges to 1t its unanimou. aud UNQUALIFIED
support
Henry Z. Wise OF the Board of Control
N ade the closing speech, in which he re-
counted the history Of railroad oppression
Tor the past quarter of a century and its
ruinous effect on the business of this city
Ia his opinion the only cure for the evil Law
In competing road which would parallel
the ramleatioms OF tho Southern Pacific
system and by fair competition bring down
the lniqaltous rates now imposed on ship
pers. He appealed TO the young men of The
CITY ana State to join the crusade and by
their votes help 10 bring about the needed
reforms.
The brief intervals between the speeches
were filed by the orchestra, and inmedI-
ately after Mr.. Wise's remarks President
~Harrold declared the meeting. which had
hAA II.