The record-union., 1892-11-15
RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS.
THE SHIVELY COMPLAINT TAKEN
UP AT YESTERDAYS MEETING.
General Freight Agent Smurr and Sec
retary and Controller Lansing
Placed on the Witness Stand.

Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 1.-THE quarters
of the Railroad Commission We're COM
fortably filed this morning by people
who had assembled to listen to the devel-
opments in the Shively case. It was ex-
pected that something definite would be
done, and the spectators, who were more
or less interested in the matter, were not
disappointed. Shively was not in at
tendance, but he was represented by an
attorney named Richards. There was
sprinkling of railroad officials in the
room, they having been subpenaed to ap-
pear to give testimony as to the workings
OF the Southern Pacific Company. All Of
the Commissioners were present.
Proceedings were opened by call from
Mr. Rea for the report OF Colonel Morgan,
the expert who had been employed to
compile statistics on freights and fares in
this State.
Che report had been compiled, it was not
III the hands of the Secretary. Some dis
cussion then ensued as to the admission
OF the report, Rea taVoring its reception
and his colleagues opposing such action.
Ii was finally decided to postpone receiv-
Ing the experts report.
This step was doubtless disappointing
that Colonel Morgan's statistical work
would be made public. The attorney,
however, soon got down to business, and
he addressed the board. making a short
review OF the case, and stating that with
out the report he would proceed at once
to the examination of the gentlemen of
the Southern Pacific Company who had
been summoned to testify before the COM
mission.
Charles F. Smurr, General Freight
Agent of the Pacific Division Of the
Southern Pacific Company, was the first
witness called. He stated that he had
held his present position for three years.
The Southern Pacific is a Kentucky cor
poratiOn and controls a number Of rail-
roads operating in California. The wit
ness then gave list of the roads i'll this
State controlled by the corporation, and
in answer to questions put by Attorney
Richards, furnished information relating
to the management of the affairs and
books of his office. He said that he had
in his office schedule showing the rates
of all classes of produce in this State.
Similar schedules had been filed with the
Railroad Commission. He thought that
the table of tariffs in the company's Office
was better classified than the one on file
with the Secretary of the commission.
In answer to a question as to the capital
stock of the company Mr.. Smurr declined
to reply, stating that there were other Off
GERS in his company who are in better
position to give such information to the
board. The same response was given TO
query regarding the receipts of the
company.
Mr.. Smurr then gave the attorney de-
scription of the duties of his Office.
Mr.. Smurr was then temporarily ex-
cused, and Attorney Richards asked that
a subpoena be issued for q. L. Lansing,
the Secretary and Controller of the South
ern Pacific Company.
The subject of Morgan's report was
again broached by Mr. Rea, but Beckman
insisted that he did not care to hear it un-
til the investigation was concluded. He
intimated that there was no foundation
for the Shively case, and he did not pro-
pose that the Morgan report should be
used to bolster up a weak case.
a recess was then taken until l P. NJ.
Mr.. Lansing, Secretary and Controller
of the Southern Pacific Company, took
the stand when the case was called this
afternoon. He was unable to answer
questions as to the expenses of the COM
pany and was given until next Thursday
to procure documentary evidence as to
the cost of the Southern Pacific road, the
cost of equipment and the operating ex-
penses.
Colonel Morgan was next put on the
stand. He was asked to produce his re-
port, but objection was made, and upon
vote being taken, Commissioners Beck
man and Litchfield voted in favor of post
poning the report until after evidence had
been put in.