The morning call., 1892-08-13
LEAGUE OF PROGRESS.
An Open Letter To the People OF tn
State of California.

An Open Letter to the People OF the
State of California.
The League OF Progress issued yesterday
an open letter to the people of California
relative to the question of the collection of
State tolls on the city 'front.'
Taking up tile plan formulated by the Board
OF Control OF the California League of Progress
for the collection OF estate tolls" which plan
has been forwarded 10 the Stale Board OF Har-
Dor Commissioners for their conside ration and
brought 10 your attention by the press, we re-
quest your careful consideration OF this open
letter aud the views IL expresses in relation 10
the proposed construction OF union ferry depot
al the foot OF Market street.
II is proposed TO issue State bonds to raise the
money necessary 10 construct these ferry build
tugs. These bonds are 10 be paid at maturity
from funds collected by the HarbOr Commits
siOneTs. IL Is au admitted fact that various pri-
yate corporations derive & large revenue from
the small charge for state tolls" on merehan-
disc arriving 10 and shipped from San Frau
cisco. The state gets no benefit from the COL
lection OF tolls on merchandise that arrives or
Il shipped in less than Ton lots. The transporta-
tiOn companies. comprising railroads, steamship
lines. aud In fact common carriers of every class,
collect cents Oh every shipment. however small
In bulk or light In weight, and receive In the
aggregate sum very much Ia excess OF cents
per ton on the heights They handle. They set
lie With the Harbor Commissioners by the pay.
ment Of cents per ton, Estate tolls" Tie re-
mainder they convert 10 their own and bene-
TT. III this toll is collectable for the benefit OF
the State ami not for the Of these private
parties who for years have derived large rev.
enue by their unwarrsnted collections from
shippers and conslgnees OF merchandise, why
should this diversion of public money b. permit
ted TO continu-? Why should not the State re-
ceiye all the tolls that are collected and not
mOlety OF them as under the present system? It
is said, and we believe IL 10 be true, that
the amount OF Nancy diverted from the State
funds 10 tile Golfers OF private corporations
would be amply sufficient In year or two
10 build and pay for union depot al The foot OF
Market street that would be architectural
adjournment 10 the water font, and large enough
for the accommodation OF the present and all
the additional ferry systems that will be estab-
lished aud operated in the future. In Offering
this suggestion the young business men compTis-
ing our organization, having positive knowledge
OF the immense amount OF state tolls" diverted
from Its proper channels, earnestly appeal 10 the
citizens of The State al large aud 10 the members
OF the Board of State haip0T Commissioners In
particular TO give this open letter not only their
careful but their prompt consideration.
BY California League of Progress.
FRANK HAROLD, President.
HENRY GRAY, Secretary.
In discussing the matter yesterday, Sec
rotary keegan Of the Harbor Commission
said the credit-t0ll system was all right in
principle, effecting a saving of about $1,000
in salaries, and avoiding great deal of in
P0uyanianpa n chinDers