The record-union., 1892-05-18

i4iSCI ulDIS conveniently Cllu
than at the larger city.
The remOteneSs of San Francisco from
the manufacturing centers of the United
States makes it a long haul to get there.
Her remoteneSs from the producing area
OF the State, and the fact that the shipper
OF anything but grain must 60 ont of his
way to get to the best markets of the
country, in order TO patroniZe san Fran
cisco even TO the extent of having his for
warding business done, makes it prac-
tically impossible to do business with
that city on as favorable terms as many
other points III the State. The result is
that the jobbing trade OF San francisco
has suffered to the advantage of interior
cities and the State at large. But from
line of reason peculiar to people working
at a disadvantage, many ofthe merchants
OF that city have conceived the idea that
there is something the matter with some
body else, and they assume that as their
business has fallen OFT, it must be that
something is being willfully done to in
jure them.
Among the first things to which they
have given attention is the original one of
transportation. AS money paid Tor
transportation is usually considered an
expense, and as expense affects profits,
they reason that it must be in that
item; and to the end that it might be thor
oughly and intelligently Investigated, a
traffic association was formed, and man
ager, learned in the operation of trans
portation lines, was placed at its head. 1t
seemed to be assumed that rates of
transportation were the cause of all stag
nation. 1t was also assumed that san
Francisco was of necessity the trade and
manufacturing center of the Pacific
Coast; In fact, the primary position was
that San francisco was the initial and
terminal point for the trade of the State.
The points Of production and consump-
ton were immaterial.
With this Tor basis, the Board of Rail
road Commissioners OF the State of Cali
fornia was requested to revise the trans
portation tariffs of the State, not that
there was any specific objection in matter
CT discrimination, but because the job
bing trade of that city was languishing.
The Constitution OF tt1e State empowers
the board Of railroad Commissioners to
examine the books of any and all per-
sons engaged in the transportation OF per-
sons or freight, and to fix the rates to be
charged. Not the rates to and from San
Francisco, but for the entire State. They
have done SO, and the lists are public; if
there are any inequalities or i'm
proper classification, they are de-
terminable and susceptible of illus
tration by any one interested.
So long as all persons engaged in trade
CHdGg6u
the same rates, there is no just ground
for complaint, for no one can complain of
another for simply charging high price
for labor or material. That is one of the
fundamental principles of trade-get all
you can for what you have. II the price
IS too high you do not take it; if the high
prices are caused by greed and results in
an undue profit, Ompetition is sure to be
induced; and whenever large profits are
made competition will inevitably result.
1t is only when one or more persons or
localities are favored over their competit-
OrS similarly situated that injury is sut-
tered. 1t is no ground for complaint that
one point cannot have lower rates than
another for the same service, simply be-
cause it will enable one locality to trans
act as much or more business than the
other.
There are Doubt instances where the
rates do not properly reflect the true stu
alton; in such cases the Board of Com
missioners have ample power to act if
the carrier win not. But it is reason and
common sense to believe that any carrier
will try to make rates and accommoda-
tons calculated to carry everything pos
sible which can be carried at profit.
Having access to the books of the trans
portation companies, the Commissioners
can and should consider the cost of con-
struction and maintenance OF all lines in
fixing the tariff, as also the character and
location OF the subject of transportation;
and that has doubtless been done; in fact,
there could not be any other way. If the
citizens OF Yuba and Suffer, Kern and
Tulare, and all other counties remote
from San francisco. had thought for a
moment that the creation of a Board of
Railroad Commissioners meant the arbi-
trary decision that San Francisco or any
other one place, was then and ever should
lie the sole and only initial and terminal
point in this state in the matter Of trans
porlation rates, there never would have
been any board, nor any authority by
which the laws of trade and OF nature
should be set at defiance On the other
hand, the Board of Commissioners with
their powers was created at the instance
Of the conservative and prudent element
of the people-thoSe who realized the
danger of local influence, and the neces-
sity for safeguard alike to the carrier
and the patron.
To that board all may go and have
hearing the same as to the courts; but it
must be borne in mind that the board is
the center Of the balance; they must
stand between, not upon one side.
1t is selt-eyident proposition that
there cannot be a transportation line or
system without the expenditure of
money. While the expenditure of that.
money is voluntary on the part of the
projectors, the expenditure or obligation
10 eXpend is necessary prerequisite,
and by every principle of right and JUS
tice investors are entitled to a fair return
on their money, which is usually in
vested upon the business Judgment of
the investors, as it is rarely the case that
lines of transportation are sure of profit
able returns Immediately upon being set
in motion.
Under the laws of this and every other
State III the Union, there are public high
ways upon which any person may travel
or transport people or freight without
any expenditure except for vehicles, mo-
tive power and their proper proportion of
taxation. Transportation upon those
highways, in the modes of conveyance
usually employed, is open to everyone
without terms or conditions, other than
the possible eXaction of a license fee and
such inspection as the police power of
the State may exact TO insure the public
against imposition and fraud by ire
sponsible parties. Then there are the
navigable streams and waters of the
State, upon which anyone may transport
freight or passengers upon compliance
with such regulations as may be deemed
necessary for the safety OF patrons and
carriers with respect to the preservation
of life and property.
But TO the greatest number of people
throughout this nation those artificial
ways, the railroads, are the most impor-
tant. In order that the lines Of railway
may be practicable, and that they may
be built wherever needed, the people in
each OF the States have provided for the
delegation OF sovereign power to all per-
sons or corporations desiring to construct
and operate railways by enabling them
to take such lands as they may really
need for right of way upon their COM
pensating the owners of the land, either
by voluntary agreement or by due pro-
cess OF law; such delegation of power
being made upon the ground that expert
ence has shown the practicability of rail-