The morning call., 1892-03-29
REA'S ADMISSION.
lie Says That Leeds Charges
Against the Board Are True.
An Undignified Attack Upon the Traffic hsso-
cations Manager by the Railroad
Commissioners.

rather tedious process. for the San Jose
| Commissioner realizes that he occupies a
| strange and somewhat hazardous position.
| Behind him stands the Southern Pacific
| Company with a rcd of iron, threatening
| his political ambition with ruin, and before
| is the Traffic Association, constantly re-
minding him Of his duty to the people of
California.
At Yesterdays meeting of the Commits
sionerS he admitted. without even an at
tempt at evasion. that all of the charges
made against the board and the Southern
Pacific Company by Mr.. Leeds were true.
I'VE differ" said he. addressing the traffic
man, upon one proposition only, and that
is in the method of procedure. If you want
this board to act in the matter of reducing
rates you must file a specific complaint. We
| do not know what the members Of the
Traffic Association want"
THE FATE OF LETTER.
The above discussion was brought about
by letter from Mr.. Leeds, replying to
Commissioner Reas argument of last week.
Before tile meeting was called to order
Messrs, Beckman. Rea and Litchfeld held
an executive session ana decided the fate Of
the letter. Then the chairman raped for
ORDER Secretary Kelly read his minutes of
the previous meeting and Beckman made q
motion that the communication be returned
to Mr.. Leeds as an insult to the board.
ne motion was carried anC al this moment
Mr.. Leeds appeared.
I'VE have decided" said Rea, looking
toward the Traffic Associations manager
ITO return your newspaper advertisement.
Instead OF leading the Traffic Association
you are misleading; in fact we do not think
that you represent the sentiment OF the San
Francisco merchants. There is no evidence
that the communication is indorsed by the
association which you pretend to repre-
sent"
what you are after You want your salary
aud all the newspaper notoriety you can
GET
Yes" drawled Litchfeld. as he gazed
stolidly at map on the wall, 'and you will
get all the free advertising you want before
we get through with you"
lyon are playing to the gallery" broke in
Rea; you want to get money enough to get
into politics."
Beekman then added: "How do you dare
come nele, Leeds, and advise the commits
sion what TO 90? You are making us ride
ul0us IN the eyes of the people"
During this shower OF undignihed abuse
Mr.. Leeds sat facing the Commissioners,
with just the suggestion of smile lowering
about his frm-set lips. When he arose TO
address the board there was nothing in his
manner to indicate that his temper had been
disturbed in the least
NOT DISTURBED.
In deliberate way he reviewed the nom
action of the Commissioners referring par
tlcularly to the extensive power granted by
the constitution. and their duty 10 the pee
pie. You admit" be continued, THAT you
have been misled by sOphistries of the rail-
road people"
who admits ?" interrupted Litchfeld.
Commissioner Rea admits it" responded
Leeds.
'He speaks for himself" replied Litch-
field. Il don't admit il, and never will"
Rea took exception To this remark, and
turning angrily to Litehfeld said: My re-
cent communication went on record as the
sense of this board"
1T was not tie sense OF this board" said
Litchheld. II did not concur in your
opinion and so expressed myself"
MT Leeds then continued his address:
" on admit that you have been misled by
the railroad people, and that the time is ripe
for action. Now answer me this question,
Why don't you aet?"
I'VE have acted" said Mr.. Litehfeld.
We have revised rates when asked to do
So"
Mr.. Litehfield." said Leeds, 'can you
stand up before this commission and say
that you have made any general revision
of California rates?"
- The present rates." replied MI Liteh-
field, stand as law, and are approved by
this commission, otherwise we should reduce
Them"
Beckman here interrupted the discussion
with a motion to adjourn, which was
carried.
LEEDS LETTER.
Mr. Leeds communication to the board was
as follows:
Hon Board Of Railroad Commissioners of
California, san Francisco CdE.-GENTLEMFN:
see some account In The press of this city of
an attempt Oil the part of your honorable
board 10 make a reply for record to some pre-
vlous communications which l nave addressed
10 you, IL II has been correctly reported, deem
IL advisable 10 take some notice OF il az This
time. q have not been favored by your board
WIN an oftclal copy OF The document.) desire
TO call ate nilon 10 few points admitted In the
reply OF Mr.. Rea which / am advised was con-
Cured In by tile board:
FlTst-Ihat IL is the duty OF the board under
tile law TO fix the rates and fares.
Second-lhe board has the power 10 do so of
Their own motion without the necessity of waiI-
ing for complaints.
1hird-Nben the rates and fares are fixed by
them they become The same as judgment In a
Fourth-Tbe Inactivity OF the commission In
tiiat no general revision Of the tariffs has taken
Place ana relief has been granted In isolated
cases only as complaints were made.
Fifh-Admlts that efforts to make a general
revision have been thwarted or prevented by the
misleading statements and sophistties etc of
The carriers, which is practically an admission OF
office. Wv
OF the duties OF The Office IL Is apparent no well.
directed effort has been put forth 10 master The
problem else it would have been done
Seventh-The above admissions surely estab.
isn the TACT That the ONCE Is not wholly judicial
Ia The usual acceptance OF the term, aud only
becomes so when formal complaint is made
EighIh-Admiis that he time Is now ripe Tor a
complete revision OF the tariffs OF the State
yiousy been DONE
trust your board VIII lose no further time in
proceeding with work which Is SO urgently
needed.
Your board was the creation OF the people OF
The State, The object being means Of relief from
100 heavy burden OF local freight charge. How
Wen the plan has succeeded the record of the
many years administration of the board Will an.
swer. And yet you ask me as The representative
oil Tue lraiiic Association OF California 10 bring
a formal COMPLAINT for adjudication beforr a
tribunal with such record Now In our or
game law there Is no prescribed method laid
down as 10 how shall proceed with reference
10 your board. Unfortunately, The Traffic Asso.
ciaIon Is unable 10 invest me with the power
and authority 10 fix rates and fares as The con
hlHution oil the State has done for your board.
II Sc, 1 would not hesitate 10 perform my duty
1 would like 10 inquire how much time this
Doarc las spent and how much did their prede.
cessors spend in endeavor TO master the
transportation problem in this STATE? Let the
member who has been an Incumbent OF the office
for five years and has drawn $4,000 from the
STATE Tor MS services answer this question TO bis
constituents.
place yourselves on the opposite side of the uIies-
Ton from the power which created the board by
throwing the burden OF proof upon them after
you nave been Invested with their full power 10
perform duty which you have shirs ed and
which you continue 10 shirk by declining TO act
except upon complaints backed IN bV uroois
which you should be able and which Il Is your
duly 10 supply; aud, further, by an sndeavor to
shield yourselves hind the derellction OF your
predecessors who allowed such a state OF affairs
10 con lnue, thereby bringing reproach upon the
once OF iDe Railroad Commissioner. 1 say bet
ter drive the carrier into court Of justice TO
escape the operation OF inequitable rates which
you may have Imposed.
You make admission: 'They have perfect or
eahlzatlon; TREY have OH GERS aud agents
skilled ia all OF tile secrets and subiieties of the
subject OF transportation, who la We been edu-
called 10 The trade by years OF experience; they
Know every trick OF numbers aud every sophistry
oil computation employed by trans port alton
companies; they understand how to prepare
statements. array figures and submit tables