The morning call., 1892-03-05

care for it. and would, in fact, quote no rates
on the goods.
Il thought you were In the carrying
trade, remarked the shipper. "If my rep
resentative In New York should offer your
people there the freight hardly think, as
common carriers, they would dare to refuse
to take it,"
-"oh. We'll take II, II You insist upon It;
put you might just rs we'll give il to the
appreciate difference" was the reply.
Il see there is not" said the shipper,
''and therefore l will have my freight come
around by the Horn" Which he did
When a CALL reporter went among the
merchants yesterday it was found that lot
few of them had been told by the agents
OF the steamship line that their freight
from New YORK was not desired by the
company. EaStbound freight would. how
ever, be taken without any objection.
The reason for this is that dry goods and
In fact merchandise of different Kinds from
New York. take high rate of freight by
rail, and that the eastOound freight, being
as rule Of cheaper sclass. takes much
lower class of rates. Thus the Pacific Mail,
after receiving its little $4,000 a month,
modestly steps aside and lets the railroads
take the very cream Of the business.
Even this high-class freight - silks,
woolenS, dress goods and many other arti-
cles of fmerchandise-would be shipped here
at low rates." said a merchant yesterday
this confounded subsidy. It's all wrong;
and l tell You, sir, that If the Government
goes on paving its subsidy to the Mail Com
pany. and thus still further discouraging il
from legitimate competition, it will stand as
sort OF partner in transaction which
has for years injured our trade. This rail-
road subsidy Is just so much money out of
our pockets"
Ia order TO test the truth OF the assertion
that the Pacific Mail is not making rates in
otf for fraf tsf frn
York CALL reporter suddenly became a
shipper Of freight, and going to the office OF
the Mail Company on Front street, near
California, lie made an inquiry for rates on
shipment Of furniture.
Cant make any rates." said the man at
the window.
"Have you no westbound freight tariff"
asked the reporter.
NO"
but the railroads have"
II know il, but this is steamship line"
''Is it not in competition with the rail-
roads?"
The agent gave the shipper plying look.
II was evidently too bad there ould have
to be another trusting mind undeceived as
to the true situation.
'As matter of fact it is not. The Trans
continental Association runs the whole
business"
''But is your company member OF The
Transcontinental Association"
mo. but it might as well be. They make
the rates for US. All We do is to take what
freight the railroads don't want. That is
about the size of IT."
but would it not pay you to haul freight
anyway, and let the railroads look out for
themselves {"
Il DON'T know whether 1t would or not.
You'll have to ask the company If you want
an answer to the question. They know
their business better than do"
DO you carry much California freight
from New York;"
"Very little"
"Tbe railroads get nearly all of 1t. then"
Yes. our people don't care il they get
only enough for ballast. There are times of
the year when Central American freights
over our line are pretty heavy, so we don't
lack for actual business. The Central
American traffic pays very well. The COM
pany gets about SIG a ton for it, space
measurement or actual weight"
Then you are open for New York busi-
ness Of some kind?"
"Oh, yes; but we don't bother much
about freight that would naturally come
overland"
What was meant TO be implied by the
first remark was that the freight which the
railroads were after the steamship company
was not after.
As showing the fact that practically the
same condition Of things prevails as to
freightS from San Francisco TO New York.
1t was learned that the Mail Company en-
ploys no solicitors to go about regularly to
drum up business, as the railroads do. 1t
evidently does not care for any more busi-
ness than may actually fall into its hands
And for very good reason-it is paid not
TO care,
There is plenty OF evidence that the Mail
Company Is content to pocket its subsidies,
reaching out one hand to the Govern
ment and the other to the railroads-and
let Its business 60 into decline Every en-
pioye OF the company knows that the service
is suffering from dry-rot. The steamers
cannot make the time they ;could il they
were properly repaired and attended to at
the end OF each trip. The City of Pekinr.
which Is three days overdue at this port be-
cause OF her bad condition. is a striking in
stance OF this neglect and It's CONSEQUENT
decay. The Peking. when launched. was
one of the finest examples Of marine ar CHI
lecture afioat; to-day she is driven by en-
gines that through want of timely overhaul
ing, send her through the water at q speed
which hardly equals that of the average
ocean tramp. Although she Is badly Ia
need Of repairs, 1t is understood nothing
will be done to her on her arrival here. but
she will be dispatched to China on the re-
turn voyage Saturday next