The morning call., 1892-06-29
MORE BUNCOMBE z.

It does not strike tie public that the rail-
read is conducting its campaign against the
people with skill or discretion. Mr.. Leeds,
on behalf of the Traffic Association, keeps
fling tables showing that freights on this
coast are unreasonable. being far in excess
Of the rates Of freight exseted in Kansas.
He givss facts and figures which have not
been disputed In reply, the railroad
thrusls forward the Railroad Commission,
which does not deny Mr.. Leeds state
ments. Iut calls him names This style Of
reioindeF falling TO carry conviction to the
public mind, the railroad now produces an
expert IN the shape q q Mr.. Morgan from
the East, who is said to be prepared to
show that freghts in this State are as low
as they ought to be, and that shippers
ought to thank their stars that they have
fallen into the hands Of so liberal aud fair
minded a carrier as tie Southern Pacific.
Only Mr Morgan naturally expects to be
paid fcT 80 pTodigiCUs a tssk as that by our
citizens. He seems 10 think that $4,000 OF
$4,000 would be about the figure which his
surprising feat would be worth. And Pres
dent Rea Of the Railroad Commission is
buttonheling the Governor and gentlemen
who expect to have influence in the next
Legislature to find ont if that sum would be
cheerfully appropriated 10 repay Dir. Nor
gan for his labOrs.
The Railroad Comm ssion costs the State
some Slj.C year; for this sum it deyotes
its energies to grinding out apologies for the
corporation it was created to supervise and
regulate, and TO opposing every effort Of the
merchants TO reduce freights.
What puerile business all this isl How
many Eastern experts viii it need TO con-
vince wheat and fruit shippers that they
ought not to be charged 90 or 70 per cent
more than shippers in Kansas, and that they
ought not to be called upon TO pay interest
on the water which Messrs. Stanford & Co.
injected into their stocks and bonds2
TIE pres dent of tie Southern Pacific aD-
pears to think that lie can 20 Gu forever
EoodWiuking the people and fOoling them
with smooth phrases. Did be ever know an
instance where a policy Of deception and
unfair dealing was permanently successful?
An intelligent appreciation Of tie present
state Of affairs should dictate to him that
there is but che way to couture the rising
storm, and that is by yielding to the just
demands Ct shippers, aud by eontenting
himself with something less that a gross
income Of S51,CC00J0 for the property in
order tnat producers shall be able 10 hope
for sCme small income for themselves. All
other plans Of campaign merely iIriiate the
people and confirm them in their attitude
Of hostility TO the railroad. Shippers are
not fools. They know when they are over
charged, and all the ak Of Southern Pacific
experts and Railroad Commissioners to ex-
plain and excuse the overcharge passes by as
tie idle wind so long as the facts are un-
changed. No amount Of palaver viii con-
vince the fruit-grower Of California that be
Is fairly treated when the difference be-
tween his freightbills and the freightbills
Of the Delaware or Jersey grower give the
latter the Chicago market. Nor can arrays
Of deceptive figures reconcile The wheat
grower 70 paying 20 or % per cent more for
The transportation Of his grain 20 market
than the Kansas grower pays. On these
facts The Californian keeps his eye IN
swervingly; and he is confirmed in the
opinion that he IS being wronged when he
observes that instead of attempting to JUS
tify the charges Of which lie complains the
carrier enliss Commissioners and its expert
agents to throw dust in bis eyes.