The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-05-26
HOW DO YOU STAND, PORTER?
The Traffic Association Wants to Know,
You Know.
LEEDS Is VERY MUCH ANNOIED.
The jacksonville Mans Complaint Looks Terry
Much Like Southern Pacific
MCIe.
LEEDS Is VERY MUCH ANNOYED

"WhO is this man Porter, who is so ready
to annihiate the Southern Pacific Com
pany?"
That is question that the merchants Of
this city have asked each other many times
during the past few days.
John T. Porter has filed a complaint with
the Railroad Commissioners asking for a re-
vision Of the freight rates.
That is the very thing that the Traffic AS
ISOLATION would not do, and which Manager
J. :. Leeds has said would ruin the peoples
chances Of success in the fight for rate re-
ductions.
at would tie US hand and foot" Mr..
Leeds has said " The Commissioners
would take their time considering the COM
plant. They would take very long time,
and they would accomplish nothing
In spite of Mr.. Leeds strong advice on
this point Mr. Porter rushes in and tiles his
complaint
Il looks suspicious.
Who is Porter?
lie is The president Of the Pajdro Valley
Bank OF Wats0Hville.
What are his business or political afilia-
tions?
Nobody ia town seems to now.
is lie in with the railroad?
Perhaps not, but the members of the
Traffic Association and j. =. Leeds, its
manager, think he is.
This much is known: Porter Jr, is man ger
Of The Iona Prieta Lumber Company, a
corporation in which Timothy Hopkins is
Interested. Porter ST., the complainant,
was at one time identified with this OTgani-
Zation, but disposed of his stock about two
years ago. In speaking of this matter a
member Of the executive committee said
yesterday:
"A ror,u Iaipt asl-ipo for Cauaral ra1un-
ton OF rates at this time would just suit the
Southern Pacific Company ana IL would
surprise no one to learn that Mr.. PoreI's
action was induced by influence from this
source. We have no less authority than
Commissioner Red Tor the statement that 1t
will require al least 10 months for hearing
Of tie case. To tie the whole matter up in
the courts Is the object Of the company, an
object as apparent TO those who have
studied tile situation as it Is unjust. The
only hope Of the people in this question of
spurtatl0a lies in a Legislature pledged
TO take decisive action"
Leeds is very much worked up over the
Porter complaint.
at will spoil everything" he said. yester-
day, unless it is squelcRed. Mr.. Porter
ought 10 be made 10 withdraw IT. Il suits
the CommlSS Ouers. II Is Just exactly what
The railroad people want They became
frightened when they saw the way the fight
was going and The course It was taking, aud
this complaint comes 10 their rellcf. Ii It
IS kept before the Commissioners. and they
take it up, they Will diily daily along with
it for the next year or more. 1t will, Of
course, greatly offset the other work that is
being done TO reduce rates. and in this way
1t Will, in g eat part, nullify the efforts Of
the Traffic Association.
Some of the shippers declare that while
Mr. Porter may lie the best iutentioned man
in NatsonYllie, there is certainly good
ground for tie suspicion that he is being
used a cats aw by Commissioner Rea oil
san Jose. He NAV at present have no rail-
road affiliations. but if the proposed re-
vision OF the tarif is not IN de at Fourth
ana Townsend streets the Trails Associa-
tiOn will miss Is guess
bow do you stand with the railroad, Mr..
Porter?
That is what the San Francisco people
want 10 know.