The morning call., 1892-05-20

Freeman, }. E........ 80 Merry. Hon. WIN. L. l07
points in the state; apparently the Intention is
TO smother everything In Ihs way Of enterprise
on tn part OF those who do not throw tbeir bust-
ness IN the channels selected by our one rail-
road.
Tie high locals serve 10 place the interior OF
the Stale completely u their mercy, and by un-
natural commercial methods they ueuTaliZe all
OF the natural transportation advantages which
are possessed by tie stale. lie high local rates
which close the interior out from tie sea neu-
traliZe sea competition, and render IL possible
for tie railroad carriers 10 subsidize the sea
carriers, aud 10 turn make possible the lmDOsl-
tiOn OF higher through Rates TO aud from all
portion OF the State II this is not a fact, then
would ask why does The subsidzlng of the sea
carriers become desirable 10 Them. I2ke II you
please ibis unnatural subsidy tax, which neces-
Sarily comes out OF the producer and consumer,
add 10 Il tile uigh local rate which Is imposed IN
order 10 make lt possible. add also tile increased
revenue on through freight, which Is assessed 10
render il profitable, aud then consider the IN
direct efeet upon our industries, and you have
sum total which Is appdlllngi enough 10 swamp
California even.
NATURAL FLOW OF COMMERCE.
Remove II you please this tax and allow free
and natural flow OF commerce between all points
on this coast add the difference 10 the profit
side Of cur producer ana consumer. ana you
have tie difference between a bare existence as
at present and prosperity. l point 10 the true
source OF the depression which exists in this
State in a CONNIE eitl way when | show the
great disparity between what The service costs
here and In other portions OF our country no
moro fayOraby situated IN the aggregate than
California. Ii should require no further argu-
ment 10 convince any fair-minded man that this
is so, II lie VIII stop 10 contrast the conditions
here and elsewhere. Consider II you please the
strenuous efforts put TORN by our one railroad
(IhfOUgh the press under their control and other.
wise) 10 biiug dlssensioHs aud sectional strife
between portions OF this State. There can be
but one purpose IN tbls and that purpose 10
divert attention from he local rate question and
thus enable them 10 perpetuate system OF or
m q Ia farss
OF every Industry IN the State. Tie SANDER
against the merchants Of This coast and city.
which Is given currency by this same press, IS
unjust ia tie extreme While every device which
their ingenuity can invent is employed to keep
the trade out OF their hands, while 1t is being
diverted into unnatural channels; II not unnat-
ural then II would 1Ow that way without bar
Tlers being raised TO prevent It's going otherwise.
REGULATION OF RATES AND FARES.
II Is true We have constitution and laws on
our talute-bOOks which bear upon this question
aud provide for the regulation OF rates aud
fares 10 tie State Though board Of three CON-
missioners; the law providing that "they have
the power and It shall be their duty to fix the
rates and fares" making u mandatory upon
them TO do so. 1t Is well known by all 10 The
State how this duty has been performed. After
an administration OF 2 years, by their own ad-
mission, no general revision by them OF the tariffs
In this State has ever taken place. In fact the
tariffs and elaSsl1eaiOns IN effect In the Stale to-
day are reproaeh upon the intelligence OF a
community of free American citizens, when con-
trasted with those In effect IN other States
where they are under similar control ana under
similar laws, showing dereiclion OF duty on
the part OF this Board OF Commissioners deserY-
| Ing of the severest consequences. BY their in.
activity In the performance Of their duty under
| the law they have sinned away their day OF
! grace and by their juggling with The question
| fOffel, ed all claim 10 the respect aud confidence
| OF this people, and under no circumstances
should they be diverted into a further indorse-
ment OF law which, after an experience OF ]
/ years, has been found wanting In all essential
/ features.
THE KEYSTONE TO THE STRUCTURE.
assert that the control of The local rates In
this State by the railroad is the keystone to the
! whole structure whereby the heavy burden on
this State Is imposed. II is selfeyident that The
! incentive which prompts them Is something
| more than the desire TO obtain revenue from tho
local trafilc alone. Ii is plain that the PURPOSE
| Is double one. FiTst-RevenUe on local trafic
| Second-Ihe arnihiatiOn as far as possible OF
sea competition ana The forcing OF Tie IraffiC
/ iDtO unnatural channels by the employment O
tue worst kinds OF unnatural methods. Remove
1 these Influences by the establishment OF local
rates on a fair and equitable basis, and the
| through rates Will, TO large extent, take cars
OF themselves. No one Is better aware OF
4 this fact Inan the parties who are responsible
Tor the present organization. In fact, IL the
| Nicaragua canal or steamship line, one oil
/ both, were fixed TACT aud In operation Today
/ the interior OF the Stale would receive only a
! partial benefit from them under conditions as
lbey exist al This time. The interior would sti
! he subservient TO them 10 a very large degree.
DO not think nature ever designed the bay OF san
/ EldAIl5IO ouOuil serve Only LuOS6 VINO are SiIu
ated near enough TO cast stone into its waters
\ It should be made as clear as possible 10 the
people OF the whole Stale that this excessive
4 local rate Is maintained In order that the rail-
/ carrier may also pocket that much more upon
the traffic, even though IL 90 direct 10 or come
| direct from Chicago. 81. Louis or other Eastern
markets, and that Instead OF the loo II dealer or
producer In the Interior being the gamer the
carrier pockets the most OF the gain; 10 other
words, as tile sea becomes available the through
tariffs must necessarily be iDfluenced In las
| not been made clear 10 me by any argument SC
i far adduced by ihe carrier wherein the whole
State would not be the gainer 10y the establish
ment Of equitable and reasonable local rates be.
tween all points upon such basis as would en-.
| courage the establishment OF local industries
VITA free and profitable intercourse between
/ all points IN the State.
ANOTHER INJUSTICE.
There Il one other Injustice In the transportation
problem OF this city and this coast, aud which is
| of vital importance, which / desire 10 touch
| otleny-one which shows The anmus OF those
| VINO now have our transDoTta ion facilities Sc
nfmiy IN their grasp. refer 10 the import trade
OF the Pacific, particularly the tea trade OF Asia
luis lrade under present conditions should
| naturally ana by geographical location belong L
| thls coast Tor large portion of the United
STATES ihis matter was pretty fully exnloIec
| IN what Is known The +" Inporl Raie Cases >
before The Interstate Commerce Commission aut
| Win %nlcn some OF you are more OF less fanilfa
ara 10 which an order has been promulgated b,
tbe commission, winch order has been observed
] Dy all lines ln The United States believe excep
those diYerging from tnis port and New Orleans
I 1be situation Is that the rates charged IN,
| dealer al this port for points east q
Ogcen are the same DOmuay as charge.
| Jointly by the steamship and inland carriers frou
the foreign port 10 the same destination bnyin,
| the effect 10 bar out our dealers here and al M
same Time destroy all competition on the sea I
| THIS port as WeIl as Inland. Another evidence oi