The morning call., 1892-06-29

The address Is in pamphlet form. and
among other matters contains 10 reasons
why the constitution Of the State shonld
be amended so SIS 10 allow a regulation q
rates and fares different from the provision
It now contains in that respect
THE ADDRESS.
The following is the full text OF the
pamphlet:
The transportation problem IS the most vital
OF any OF the questions with which the State OF
California has 10 deal al this lime. because IL
signifies more 10 material way 60 this com
munty Than 10 any OF TIE other states in tile
Union, representing as it does under the present
organization Of Tie carriers a greater proportion
oI The prOduct OF our labor both on what We
produce for sale aud UpOn what is brought 10
for consumption. Ibis difference IS especially
marked when compared with other States where
agriculture IS tile chief industry.
Tie Iraflc Association OF California was
ganlZed and put Ia operation Tor tile purpose Of
thoroughly Investigating THIS transportation
question from me Standpoint OF Tie IielEht-
payer, and 10 devise ways ana means
Tor The corr elton OF any evils which
were found 10 exist. Will the belief that lie
burden imposed 10y The C8uier is uHIedsun-
ably heavy. some progress has been made IN
This direction which fully confirms the convic-
lien. For this reason the carriers aud thus.
working 90 Their interests have endeayored tn
various ways 10 impugn tile motives or Tie Trat1ic
Association and eneendrr strife between THIS
ely ana DINER portions Oh te Stei me oNJect be-
ing obvious that divided community could more
easily De maze SUustlficui 10 iutlT organization,
when is responsible FOR state Of affairs which
is TetardlDg tie growth and development OF every
industry which Is In any way dependent upon
me item OF transportation, besides resulting IN
decline OF many enterprises already IN existence.
II IS therefore deemed advisable by the Traffic
Association OF California TO make such declsfa-
ton OF principles as may not be misunderstood.
INTERESTS OF THE STATE.
First-We believe that lie question with which
We are dealing Is one 90 which tile interests Of
The Whole STATE are Identical because Tie bur
Gen lies chiefly 10 the excessive local tranSporIa-
ton charges imposed by the carriers within It's
limits, for he reason tusf the locals form the
basis unon which their tariff organization Is con-
structed.
Secoud-The question Of changes 10 what are
now known as terminals has been raised by the
carriers and lie declaration made 10y o. EN- that
+ Is the purpose OF t5is ISOLATION 10 g. We them
discontinued, except as 10 san Francisco. We
hereby declare that 70 Is no part Of the policy
tie principles contemplated By this assoc alton
10 create or Oulid up monopoly IN favor OF
San Francisco as against other points IN the
state OF az their expense. on The contrary we
believe it would be detrimental 10 Tie common
Interests o. all II what are now known As ter
mlualS were 10 be discontinued a. such We D.
iieEe that reduction and equitable adjustment
Of The local tariffs and The establishment Of
uniform Classification throughout the entire state
is the tnug needed 10 help every point and every
Industry, aud thar lis effect would be 10 lower
The standard OF the thi ougu rates as vel.
MATERIAL RELIEF.
Thrd-Whiie these things are true, no mate
rial relief has Teen secured through tie Offices Of
the State Road OF RAILROAD Commissioners, who
have for u years been endowed win The fun
power OF the State 10 regulate The rates and
fares and they stlil decline TO act as the con
siitu!ion directs.
IoUrth-We commend for your consideration
the report and recommendations OF j. ). Leeds,
fraf1e manager Of this association, ga a commU-
nieation addressed 10 this executive committee
under date OF day 4, which has been luoCrssd
and The association pledged 10 tue principles
therein set forth. We lieve they are 10
harmony with tie Interests Of this whole coast
al may subscribe thereto.
Then follows the report referred TO, which
was published IN full IN The CALL on May
z. 1892 and tie resolutions passed by the
executive committee adopting IT,
WHAT HAS BEEN ASKED.
IN conclusion the address says:
We desire 10 add mat In dealing with the
Board Of Railroad C0mmIss toner's nothing has
been asked al tLeir hands WLich has not been
urged Wlll equal force for the whole Siale.
The carriers 10 their utter disregard 0i the in-
teTests Of this people by The control and corTup-
ton OF every branch Of our BODY uolitc and
their payment OF lar, subsidies for the purpose
Of reulBlZiug and closing an avenues OF COM
petition 30 order 10 lufct the burden OF "Ah tie
ITaftc viii bear" demonstrate more plainly
than any argument when can be Made the cry
ing necessity for sucn legal regulation as viii
eheciu8ly correct these great evils which are
sapping the industries Of this State. &c has
been pretty definitely demonstrated by az
eN erenee extending over the period from
1879 10 the present date that nothing can be
accomplished ugQer Tue CONSTITUTION OF the state
IN he mattel OF the gulalCn OF Inc Iates ana
fares as provided by article XII, section %,
win The Board of Railroad Commissioners as
now constituted. There IS no doubt but It is
necessary to proceed as early as possible in such
manner as II secure TeEUbmissiOn OF this ques-
tien 10 the People with an amendment which viii
remove from The constitution al reie ence 10 the
regulation OF the rates and fares. and place the
question II the Hands Of the people IN Ough their
legislators. here ale many reasons why this
should be done without delay, and no good reason
why II should not be done.
THE SITUATION.
Flrst-The situation Is such to-day that 20
one will question he necessity for such action
&C viii bring tie most speedy teIief IN the matter
Of equitable rates Of tran TOTtattOa. also that
results have not been aud are moi likely TO be
attained under existing organization.
SecOut-Ine law Is Administered has been
complete failure from the beginning. because the
roads have been able 70 procure tie nomination
aud election Of their candidates for tie Board Of
Railroad Commissioners lhelr powers under
the constitution after election beng arbitrary
and exclusive, ths Legislature has no power 10
deal with the matter Of rates and fares, 50 that
81 the road Is able TO control the board. they
occupy an luVulnerable position. EXpe fence
mas demonstrated how etfectually this has been
cOmDIlsned.
Thrd-Wbile this Board OF Commissioners are
elected By the people, the provisions o. lie law
under which they hold Office are such mat it re-
qures a majority OF me people and a tWO-thir8s
F0Te OF tie Legislature 10 reach them,
THE BOARDS.
FouFth-The board is CHOSEN by districts and
simultaneously for period OF four years, which
has tie effect OF placing 10 Office three mex
peTieBced men, each four years. 10 deal with the
most Important aud complicated question IN ths
STATE BESIDES the result IS 10 promote sectional
strife with reference 10 their acts, both OF which
favOTs the purposes OF the carriers.
Ffth-II has been urged tbat The carriers were
able 10 the past 10 c0nJrO. Legislatures. Admit
ting the possibility OF such thing, IL Is borne
out by experience that the present plan has oBiy
not cured tie evils OF which complaint is made,
but has made Is worse, because It has actually
been bar 10 any legislation on tie subject aud
has iu fact been a bin OF expense TO tie Stale
which has resulted IN Fixing burden upOG the
people which amounts 10 millions or dollars an
nuaBY.
Sixth-It IS sef-evdent tpat II the board were
acting under legislative act, where a bare ma
1oriiy OF the people would regulate both them
aud The Legislature, they would not or could not
refuse The performance Of DUTY imposed BY the
law; nOt only that but the same Influence would
induce tie Legislature 10 provide the necessary
Law.
RULING OF THE COMMISSIONERS.
seventh-Ihere is a great deal OF significance
IN The manner 10 which all the rulings of Tie
Board Of Commissioners have been received aud
put 10 force By The Southern Pacific Company,
even when such rulings have had every appear
aDce Of being favorable 10 them. IL viii be
noted that they ale Invariably put 10 force under
protest denying the authority Of Tie board 10
regulate their rates and fsTes-ceary indicating
what they are preparing 10 do II a ruling or de-
esiOn is promulgated which they do not desire 10
put into effect. They Will refuse 10 do so aud
throw he case into the courts lhOiding 10 their
own figures ia The nieautlme) Tie contest would
be a long one, Will very grave doubts as 10 IN.
fnal result wi odds IN favor OF he road for
reasons with which all are familiar. II would
appear, therefore, that q IS constitutional pro
vision has proved an utter failure thus far, with
no prospects for any practical result, 10 future;
therefore that portion Of u when relates 10 rates
and fares and provides for the State Board OF
Railroad Commissioners should be abrog TED, II
Tor no otter reason than 10 stop lie expense az
tacbeo 10 an Office which not only does not &C
eompllsh It's purposes, but actually serves as
bar o something which may be made effective.
WITHOUT RESULTS
Eighth-CaltiOrna Is tie only State in tie
Union which has had Board Of Railroad Com
mssioBeFs for long series OF years without
results, either by their direct effort OF In an ad-
vis0ry capacity. Ii is also the only state so far
as orr knoMledge extends. where lie hnard