The record-union., 1892-06-07

various forms the assertion has been
made that this commission is the Great
ure and that its members are the cor
rupted tools OF the great railroad corpora
tions.
This proceeding gives to the people of
California an opportunity TO investigate
the charge. This commission does not
SHRINK from the investigation, but on the
contrary invites the fullest inquiry and
the most vigilant inspection Of the official
honesty of its members and the integrity
OF its action, and hereby assumes entire
! responsibility for the justice of its con-
cIuslons herein. 1t is the purpose of the
commission TO give TO this investigation a
range as broad as the conditions OF the
case may require. For years it has been
matter of press comment, of current
rumor and of political capital that the
transportation companies of California
annually expend large sums of money in
the corruption of Legislatures and courts,
IN the prostitution OF politics, in the SUBJ
sldlzation OF newspapers, in the bribery
OF ofnclals and In the purchase of offices
for their fayorites and their tools. More
than one effort has been made to inveSti-
gate the truth of these scandals, but in
each case failure has resulted from the
absence of the power or the process to
make the investigation compulsory or
complete.
This commission has been given by the
Constitution all of the powers and pro-
cesses TO conduct any inquiry within its
jurisdiction To the ultimate and compel
the attendance before it of whomSOever
1t may desire, and the production of such
records and vouchers as may shed light
upon the inquiry. If it be true that any
transportation company of California has
expended or is now eXpending any por-
ton OF its earnings in the corruption of
any department of the body polite, or in
any effort TO peryert public opinion or to
maintain itself in the process on OF profits
or OF property to which it is not justly
entitled. the matter may very properly
come within the scope of this investiga-
ton; and If this commission should find
the proofs of any such expenditure it
might very justly make such Il reduction
OF TreightS and fares as should at least di-
vert this portion OF the profits of such
corporation away from its present chan
mel, and leave the same in the pockets of
the producers OF the state.
Upon reading and filing the complaint
Of K. .. Shively it is ordered that the
Secretary of the Board OF Railroad Com
missioners notify each of the transporta-
ton companies of the State of California
10 appear and answer the complaint OF X.
o. Shlvely within fifteen days after serv-
ice OF copy thereof. in accordance with
the rules OF this board.''
After reading his answer Commissioner
Rea moved that it be adopted as the opin-
ion OF the commission. BeckInan OBJ
Jected on the ground that it contained
statements personal in character which
he did lot wish to indorse.
Mr.. Litchfield said he did not favor
Mr.. Rea's motion. lie was willing that
the latter should put in any document
that he chose, but he did not propose to
be dragged into any personal controver-
sizes.
Commissioner Beckman finally voted
with Rca, and the statement was adopted
as the opinion of the commission. [ yOIf
the request Of Mr.. Litchieid he was re-
corded IN the negative.
COMMISSIONER BECKMAN's STATEMENTS.
Commissioner Beckman next took the
floor and presented two communications
one of which was as follows:
SACRAMENTO, May q, 1892.
To the Honorable Board ofitdttrOC,1L COM
aiSSiOaeTS of CuiJO1miG-GE ENTLEaiEN {:
According TO promise L have prepared
the wheat rates of California roads with
the rates OF Illinois as staUlishel by the
Railroad Commissioners OF that State,
and, also, as charged by the CHICAGO
Milwaukee and 81. Paul road iii iii
nois, the terminal point being Chicago.
and all shipping points GA Jne AiIssIs-
slppi River, on the OHIO River, on the
'
AS the rate on Wheat Is uniform in Hi
nOis, at SO much per ton per mile, ii does
not matter where the terminal point is
III California have selected Port Costa
South Naiiejo, Sacramento, Stockton and
san Francisco, all these places Detng
connected with water tranSpOrlatiOn
have only made a comparison rs high as
eIghty-Seven miles IN California, as !nere
IS 40 place III illinois where wheat has to
be transported more than ninety miles 10
reach shipping point on either the lake
or the rivers. AS illinois is bounded rs
you will see by the inclosed map. on The
east by the lake, on the west by the Mis-
SlsSippi itiVer. on the south by the Ohio
hlver, and on the east by the Wabash
River, and as the illinois River runs
from Alton to Peoria, and as Peoria is
nearly the center of The State. in no case
Is IL necessary 10 ship wheat more than
ninety miles 10 get water trans SportatiDa.
And yOu viii see, SO far as thai distance
is concerned by my comparison, that the
rates are lower III California tnan thew
are III Illinois. Now, wherever wheat is
shipped Il longer distance than ninety
miles, the rate Is higher in California than
IL Is III illinois, ana Will mention Tray-
er and heddIng for examples: IL is 200
miles from Port Costa to Traver, and the
rate Is - 9J--the Illinois Commissioners
rate is - rs for the same distance, anu the
Idle Ol tIlS SliiC-issO. -sIllWaukGe ana st.
Paul Railroad, Tor the same distance is
81 81. From Port Costa to Rodding the
distance Is 2O2 miles, and the ra.e Is
S3 80, While IN Illinois lor the same dis
tance the Commissioners rate is 81 4J
and the rate oi the Chicago, Milwaukee
and st. Paul Railroad, for the same dis
tance, is - 81; UUt there is no necessity in
Illinois 10 ever ship wheat 200 miles, un-
less parties wish 10 snip from the Mis-
slssippi to Chic go, which Will average
from lS5 to 2O1 miles, but the presump-
ton Is that a man having wheat on the
Mississippi River will never transfer it
to Chicago. as he has as good accommoda-
tions on the Mississippi as he would have
on the lake.
This schedule is filed simply for your
information. and / dO not claim that the
rates, both II California and in Illinois,
are not too high. Mr.. Leeds has filed a
schedule with you, comparing rates in
Kansas and California, which, plainly to
be seen upon the face of it, is delusive,
and tends 10 deceive this board, his en-
ployers and the people OF this State gem
orally This must be well-known TO Mr..
Leeds, as. prior 10 the time that he was
discharged by Mr.. Gould as Traffic Man
ager OF the Missouri Pacific Railroad. he
had all the information that any man
could have concerning rates and compare
sons.
In his comparison of Kansas and Cali
fornia he selects the Santa Re road and
the main line, from station to station,
running over the coal beds where coal is
from 20 cents to 81 per ton, while, III Cali
fornia, OF omeH160 comparisons, he Sc
lected more than one-half OF side roads.
short roads being off OF the main line.
and even then claiming that, i'll Kansas,
the rates were higher on main lines than
on branches. Now this may be all fac,
but, from a business standpoint, can
not believe it.
cussing the passenger rates of this State.
and w hon Ln rrrnl rL,is hna "a q -