The morning call., 1892-03-11

have been urged to take the matter in to the
courts. 1t has been shown conclusvely to
US that the common law has been violated,
TO say nothing Of the eyaded provisions of
the interstate commerce law. for which the
railroads are now showing the utmost con-
tempt. We eau show that contracts made
in violation of the law and against public
policy have been entered into, and We could
make fine showing when iT came to the
matter of presenting our proofs. The CALL
knows what the proofs are and so do its
readers, or at least they know on what we
might base case. and the shippers are will
ing to testify, that is. those who do not re-
ceive concessions from the Pacific Mail
Steamship Company or from the railroads"
CALL reporter went about among the
leading coffee-shippers and others who are
interested in bringing Central American
products to this city. Here is a summary
of the principal facts which he ELECTED. 1t
shows at glance what the Mail Company
is doing TO advance San Franchises inter-
ests as the leading commercial center of the
Pacific Coast, aud make of 1t a great dis
tributing point for goods from Mexico aud
Central America:
Rate OF freight per ton coffee bags from
Cscutta 20 San Francisco, distance 20
Rate OF freight oa the same bags from San
Francisco to Champerico, Guatemala by
Rate OF freight shipment OF coffee from
Champerico TO San Francisco, by Pacific
Rate OF freight on snoIher shipment OF CO nee
from Oeos to San Francisco.
steamer and 10 same shipper distance 237O
Rate Of freight on sun another shipment Of
coffee from san Benito to San Francisco,
OF same steamer and to same shipper, dis
REGULAR rate o. coaee freight per pound by
the KOsm0s steamer line from Central
American ports to London. Bremen and
Hamburg. distance about 1 ,0oo miles,. 3-5c
Regular ate OF coffee freight per pound by
the Psc hc Mai from Central American
ports TO San Francisco distance varying
from 240O to 3400 miles ..-.... 5sc
IL carefully read this summary tells quite
story. San Francisco's interest in the
matter is not SO much In the fact that the
Pacific Mail is going along quietly AID
TakBg in subsidy CT $500, 600 10 $500, 600
from the Government and another OF from
100000 to S1,000,000 from the railroads
every year, but that in taking these subsi-
dies the Mail Company is showing pro-
found Indifference for the late OF our mer-
camille trade. 1t may readily be seen that
If these high rates are maintained and this
discrimination shown, San Francisco is
getting left out in the cold.
ION the Atlantic side," said big coffee
shipper yesterday, ''the Mail Company
fayors everybody that it can stand in with
and get freight from for its Central Ameri-
can ports On the Pacific side it has few
favOrltes, aud after these have been cared
Tor the company does not care what be-
comes OF the rest.
"Sau Francisco ought to control the entire
field west of Chicago in the trade in Central
American products and particularly coffee.
As matter Of fact it controls very small
field, and that is confined TO the territory
Immediately surrounding it. We ought to
be able TO sell coffee in Omaha, ST. Paul
Minneapolis, ST. Louis, indianapolis, Chi
cago and many other cities to which we now
send only an occasional shipment, and then
rarely at good profit. That trade belongs
10 us by virtue of our geographical position
and the Mail Company ana the railroads
ought TO be made to give 1t to US, either
through process OF law or any other way
that is feasible.
''The whole trend of affairs in connection
with the Pacific Mail is TO belittle San
Francisco and make her subordinate to
other cities in respect to trade of this kind. 4"
Now as TO the summary. 1t is shown in
the first place that the rate of freight on
coffee bags from Calcutta to San francisco
Is S12 90 ton, while the distance is 10000
miles. On the same bags the rate from San
Francisco to Central America, by tie Pa
cIfc Mail, is S12 80, or exactly the same for
less than one-eighth Of the former distance
This is great encouragement to the San
Francisco shipper. at the outset as he sees
At once that the Mail Company is discrim-
mating against him. 1t must be So or the
rate Of freight on the bags would be much
lower. If the Mail Company cared to have
San fTdUcIbcO MSICudDts DIlBR DdpS mere.
send them to Central America and ship
coffee In them TO this port for distribution
broadcast throughout the country, it would
put the rate OF freight on those bags down
to reasona Bile figure. AS it now stands, it
charges almost as much for the packages in
which the coffee must come to this port as it
does for the shipment OF coffee here. the
regular rate being $12 to S15 ton.
As for the matter of discrimination in
rates or the same steamer. coffee shipper
said:
"Ihe Mail Company brings to this port
carg3es OF coffee TO different shippers from
the same points, and some Of the men who
receive IL are charged one rate Of freight
and some another. 1t is very aneer, is it
not, TO get three shipments from the same
steamer from points along the Central
American and Mexican coast and have the
rates vary so as TO give the larthest point
the cheapest Fate and the nearest the high
est. That was my experience not long ago.
bad one shipment loaded at Champerco