The morning call., 1892-12-13
THE SECRET OUT.
Why the Union Company
Is Opposed.
THE RAILROADS. FINE HAND.
Further Interesting Testimony i'm the
Suit Between the Rival Stockton
Transportation Companies.

The trial Of the Injunction suit of the
Union Transportation Company Of Stock
ton against the Board Of Harbor Commits
sioners was resumed before Judge Wallace
yesterday. The evidence was all taken,
and as soon as it is transcribed day will
be fixed to hear arguments of counsel
Harbor Commissioner c. O. Alexander
was recalled yesterday morning He re-
lated the slight collisions that had occurred
when the Union line of steamers first COM
menced running. but stated that since then
complaints Of this character were few and
far between.
Witness, explained how he became &C.
quaiuted with ii. r. Knapp. having met
him in the office of Collector Quinn, in the
Appraisers building. He had not known
Of Knapp before and did not know tn at he
was posing as promoter" until the case
against the commission was commenced.
He could state frankly that Knapp as n
promoter had no influence with him nor did
he believe that Knapp had any influence
with any other member of the board.
Attorney Stratton for the defense placed
State WhaTfinger Daniel F. Crowley on the
stand, who testified that the plaintiff COM
pany was doing good business, about one
third being in produce and the balance of
miscellaneous character.
titled as 10 his first meeting Knapp at his
room in the Occidental Hotel and Tot being
favorably impressed with him gave him a
cool reception.
The second time he met Knapp he said:
General, l have something to tell you. and
think you ought to know II. | have heard
that MIR. ellis, president OF the Union
Transportation Company, has said that he
knew that the board. or portion of
the board. had been bought, and that the
boats OF his line would be moved to Mission
street.
II made no comment" continued the
witness, 'and cut the conversation very
short. Following this meeting with Knapp
i attended the meeting of the board. and
Secretary Remission was present.
~ spoke very plainly at the time TO Mr..
KennistOn and the other members of the
board about the statement made by Presi-
dent ellis, and which / had learned from
Knapp. Secretary kenniston denied that
President ellis had made any such state
ment regarding The purchasing of the board
and said ellis would deny il. / afterward
received letter from Mr.. ellis in which
he denied having made the statement attrib-
uted TO him."
The letter, which was dated September
q, 1892, was put in evidence.
The next move of Knapp's," said the
witness, was TO make the statement that
he could arrange matters satisfactorily fer
$1,000 l concluded that Knapp was work
lug both ends, and l determined to nyestl-
gate.
81 made inquiries through Local Man
ager NJ. Corcoran OF the California Naviga-
tiOn Company, now deceased. to ascertain
if Mr.. Knapp was in the employment of
that corporation. He gave me very little
information, but said he would write TO
General Manager Coreoran. who was in
Stockton. A reply was received"
The letter was PRODUCER and read as
follows:
NJ Dear Captain. You can tell Mr.. Brown
that Knapp never pretended TO have any Influ-
ence whatever with the HarDor Commissioners,
nor did be ever intimate 10 me that money could
be used with them, nor did l ever pay him any
money for such purpose.
lie has done detective work for me at various
times for the last TWO years. He told ne OF the
$1,000 proposition, ana l urged him to draw
them on. Giilis tOld him that lie would nav
$1,000 to remain at Clay street / am not sure
10 hOY Tar Knapp can be trusted, but he has
never done any work Tor me OF any special M
portance. He Is now mixed 10 win San Fran
cisco poiif!cs.
Knapp's connection with our company has
been as detective. ] frst got him from Cur
tln's agency, aud often used him 10 get Iniorma-
ton.
You ean show this to General Brown II you
wish. Respectfully, II. j. CORCoRAN.
Witness said lie was not acquainted with
any Of the stockholders, directors or other
officers of the two lines OF steamers. He
denied that CD the day the order WAS made
removing the Union line OF steamers to
Mission-stTeet dock he was in attendance
on the board.
Attorney Campbell asked witness: when
you came out Of the meeting-room did you
not say TO Knapp, IT'S all right; the
steamer will have to moYeY
Witness-I do not remember any such
remark.
ibid You not have a drink with Knapp
after the meetingP"
Il never had drink with him." replied
i har m
eeedings."
An adjournment was then taken for
lunch, aud on resuming Commissioner
Brown, in answer TO questions, said he
would have moved the steamers OF the
Union Company even though at loss 10
their business, but be did not believe loss
would follow.
eff such was the case" he continued. "and
IL was proven 10 me that the steamers were
losing ground, / should be the first to vote
10 restore to them their privileges is quickly
as possible. and | would carry out this prop
osition by placing them in as good berth
as could be found"
"What evidence do you require, General
Brown, to have demonstrated to you that ii
would result IN loss to the company to 20 to
Mission street?"
"WelI," was the reply. 81 can hardly an
swer that question. / may be little thick
headed, but cannot understand why
produce merchants will not send their teams
"
You know, as matter of fact. that the
produce merchants will not send their teams
there?"
"Yes, sir"
"Then it must follow that loss would
result?"
ayes, sIr.'
c. NJ. Remission. secretary of the Union
Transportation Company, was called in re
buttal lie testified that twice as much
freight was carried by his line 'of steamers
from Stockton and way landings 10 San
Francisco as was carried from San Fran
cisco TO stockton.
"Ihe result" he said, following the
placing of two steamers on the route was
that passenger and freight rates were i'm
mediaiely reduced"
what result" asked Attorney Campbell
did 1t have on the Southern Pacific Rail-
way Company Pr
Attorney Strarton objected on the ground
that no point was to be made in testimony
OF that character.
Yes, there is" said Attorney Campbell.
and in answer to the court, be continued
i propose TO show that the public is inter-
ested III this matter, and that as long as one
steamship company was in operation they
maintained rates similar to those In force
by the railroad company. The public was
no better off either way.
AS soon, however. as competitor ap-
peared rates went down and the bulk of the
passenger travel and freight, formerly go
Ing by railroad, was transferred to the
steamers by reason of the reduction"
The Court-Proceed.
WAS there decrease In travel" asked
Attorney Campbell. 'by railroads between
Stockton and San Francisco when the
steamer opposition commenced?"
Witness-Yes, sir.
Counsel Oh both sides then anpounc ed tho
case closed
at the request If counsel for plaintiff the
court consented TO postpone the argument
I'LL the testimony was written up, which
Will take two or three DAYS.
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To-Day's Races.