The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-04-05
NEARING The GULF.
Brilliant Argument Made by Rail-
road Commissioner Rea.
He Voices. With Terrible Effect the Well.
Worn Editorial Subterfugs Of w. H. Mills.
Another Letter From J. S. Leeds.

The Railroad Commissioners have adopted
a new line of defense. and are now openly
intrenching themselves behind Southern
Pacific argument. advanced by Southern
Pacific employe aud published In Southern
Pacific newspaper. Fortunately it appeal Is
oDly To those who are up to their necks In
corporation mud, and loses what little
strength it would otherwise possess from
the fact that il was borrowed for the oc-
casion.
Since the organization of the Traffic Asso-
citation a few months since w. Ill. Mills,
land agent of the Southern Pacific Com
pany. has been industrionsly engaged in
abusing the merchants effort in the direc-
ton Of lower transportation charges
through the columns of his Sacramento
paper. On several occasions, presumably
in periods IF forgetfulness, he has risen 10
dignified, if not logical argument, only to
descend again 10 silly sermons purporting
TO contain sound advice for interior mer-
chants and shippers"
The interior people, especially the mer-
chants, according to this Sacramento organ,
have learned from this fountain of wisdom !;
that the Traffic Association Is CONNER
Cial SNARE" set by the shrewd San Fran
cisco merchant for his interior patron that
il is controlled by half a dozen wholesale
houses" that it was mot formed to promote
the interest of trade for the whole State.
but rather TO benefit the merchants of San
Francisco. as against terminal points in the
interior; that the country merchants we're
not represented in the executive committee
Of this organization, etc.
All this the people have read from the
pen OF MIR. Mills, and now IS last resort
tile Commissioners have made a summary
of all that he has written on the subject and
filed IL as an excuse for refusing to take
action in the matter of local rates
At yesterdays meeting of the board, Com
missioner Rea, In long communication.
defined the attitude OF the commission
toward the Traffic Association. using the
published arguments OF Mr.. Mills all the
way through.
In this document he says:
On the 2Sih day of March, 1892. J. s. Leeds.
purporting 10 act as the representative Of the
Traffic Association OF California came before
this board with a communication upon the sub.
1ect Of its powers ana duties In which he as
sumed 10 criticize the position Of the commits
sion and impugn the motives OF the members
which compose a.. THIS communication was
returned 10 Mr.. Leeds for the reason that 1t was
couched in terms of such dscourtesy 10 the COM
nissloners and nlled with such garbled unfair
aud misleading excerpts from their official
statements as TO make IL an improper doca-
ment both In form and substance for the files
OF this commission. We are slow TO believe
that Mr.. Leeds represents the attitude Of
the Traf1ic Association of California toward
the members OF this board. its views 10
The disposition OF the commission In tile impend-
ing revision OF transportation charges. IL has
sioners that tie membership OF The executive
committee OF the association Is drawn mainly
from The mercantile honses Of San Francisco and
that such other terminals as San Jose, Stockton,
Los Angeles and Sacramento have merely per-
functoTy representation in the association. The
press and the merchants of these terminal
poluis claim that The real object of the Traffic
Association Is TO promote the commercial inter
ests OF the wholesale houses OF san Francisco
and that It's purpose in coming before This COM
mission Is 10 compel The transportation COM
panles 10 return 10 the former condition OF trade
when san Francisco was The only terminal point
OF tfatiic In The State; when The railroad COM
panles were able 10 wiring double and treble
freight charges from the Iradesmen OF Interior
cities, mus placing them at the mercy of the
Wholesale merchants OF the metropolis. II tie
Traffic Association OF California has any such
object In view; If It's real though hidden purpose
is 10 procure the withdrawal OF terminal adyan-
IAgeS from the towns OF the interior and 10 lees
iabiish san Francisco as the only terminal point
OF trans ortatlon In California. u may expect no
ald from lie Board OF Railroad Commissioners 10
attain lis ends.
Mr.. Rea moved that his letter be filed as
part Of the records of the Office, and that
copy be sent 10 each member OF the Traffic
Associations executive committee. liz WAS
80 ordered, Beckman signing the statement
and L'tchiield refusing 20 do so, saving that.
in ms opinion, the Traffic Association is
working in good faith.
A long discussion ensued between Messrs.
Rea and Leeds as 10 the power of the COM
mission TO regulate transportation charges,
and other matters referred 10 at previous
meetings. Only once did the dlsputants lose
their temper.
In replying to question from Rea, MT
Leeds spoke Of volunteering certain infor-
nation In the matter of rates. when he
was sayagely interrupted by the former, who
said
1--WE don't want Of your volunteered in
formation. There is nothing before the
board for considerations"
MIR. Leeds replied that he had a right TO
address The board and intended to DO so,
whereupOn Rsa made haste to withdraw his
objections, ami the traffic man proceeded
with his explanation, at the conclusion of
which he presented the following compare
tive table Of rates on commodities from San
Francisco to points on the Southern Pacific
IN California, and points in Nebraska, q like
distance from Omaha, over the Burlington
and Missouri River Railroad