The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-10-30
LEEDS STRONG BLOWS.
Some Excellent Non-Partisan
Arguments.
THERAILROAD is HARD HIT.
A Showing Which Will Turn Many San Fran
cisco Merchants Against the "Repub-
iean" Ticket.

The RepuDHca1 Legislators A0A"SS
the Traffic Association pledge, ana Inc
decent citizens will vote against them any
usv lint here are some further arguments
from ]. s. Leeds, the traffic manager that
will help along in the Non-Par tisau hght
sgainst the railroad and political corTup-
tiOn:
To the Frectftfes Committee Traffic Assoc'a.
flor, o| Caiffornid-G ENTLEMEN: IN view OF
the approaching annual meeting Oh ino assSe it
ttc0 II IL proper that l submit 10 you OrleI
review Of the most important Work OF the aSso-
eialiOu since its organization Ahu 70 mans
suggestions Tor Lhe iutue saor, S
fore you Il will be necessary TO TeIer 10 the
conditions which existed when The organization
was created, IN order that we may luIB eslf
male The progress which has been made 10.
vard The ACCOMPLISHMENT OF the objects con-
teuiplated by our constitution aud bylaws.
Ii should be borne In mind that The WORK
which mas been done covers period OF only ten
months the organization being completed De
csmber l. 1891. Considerable time was also
eansum ed thereafter in looking Tue Ounu over
before any definite line OF Work was begun II
vas believed by many that time mat the cnlei
aff1eulfy uuder which this community was labor
% ing was in tie through traffic rs represented bl
he ORGANIZATION known as the IfanSeonlinenlal
Association; that II Il could be broken up or
modited great good would result. WINE ms 81, Is
literally true. II BY no means constitutes the
heavier pOrtlCn Of the unjust burden Imposed Dy
tie transportation companies ulon he com
neree OF Ills coast. il has been found that The
puucipal feature OF the trouble has its basis OF
fouIfdaton IN tie local rates OF his SAFE.
All conditions which were a1ee ed bY Trans
ppTyaflon were extremely unsatisfactory When
this OrEauIZaUOn was created. Shippers, Doth
local ana through, were under complete suOlec-
tiOn 60 such degree that many OF them were
afraid 20 t2se paTi openly In any move lot me
correction OF existing evils, and for very good
reasons; examples were not wanting where
IDUse WHO had courage euOughtO pI0est against
iheSe wrongs were subjected to the grOssest
kind OF Determinations and tleir business Serl'
Gu-iY uuIt OF ruin q.
TIE PACIFIC MAIL SUBSIDY.
The Transcoutinental Association. the most
ecnpe etc and powerful Of auy OF the Sindred
Examinations I'm this country, was IN tuN con-
troll Of the situation The rates imposed ny il
were sucn as it chose 10 exact without reference
10 Justice or equity as between The merchants.
producers or manufacturers OF TINS coast ana
those OF the MiSSl- sippl Valley and The bast.
Every avenue Of possible competition was either
eo>rd or uuder complete control, so that Inc
LOTdeH adjusted 10 serve best me purpose
OF tbe c1rIer The n utrRllty Of tie Paclhc Mali
Sic msh'n Company was purchased by SUBSIDY
Of $4,000 per month under the guiSe OF space
renal az meageT proportions, the rates on ne
freight carried by It IN both directions being un.
der the complete control Of The IranScontiDenlai
Association Tie commerce on mis- coast vas
assessed 10 Pay this subsidy-or, more plainly
spesking. the subsidy Was paid 10 order that the
assessment could be made The Cape horn
lines iu both diree ions were kept under control
By trades IN the business ana intimidation, 50
mat they weTo satisfied with liked amount
Of tonnage on high scaie OF Tates,
practically under control Of The Trans
continental Association Import and export
freight rates as Ieprc senled By the Pacific Mail
ana Occidental and Onenal steamship line'
we're SO manipulated as 10 destroy all posi-
hinty Of conn., eJiliOn bF sea OF land, and by IN
eeulUusly eouiTiyed methods eXacted such rates
as have driven large volume OF trade away
from this port AMI forced Tie estsplishBeht OF
branch houses 10 foreign countries by some OF
eur importers IN order 10 protect ihelr teOe.
All 81 which had produced tie effect OF closing
our seavOTt 10 all traffic which T was possible 10
crltr0s by subsidy or intimidation by The ali-ratl
ltDsS This, coupled Win lse nigh local tariffs
% the inieiiJr bad the effect OF holding Inc
trr llc OF tie whole State upon 40 unr easolaoiy
- high basis and 10 q large extent cur tailed the
rade q The business centers OF this coast al
the same time uiaciGg ! Ia tie hands OF Compel
lug markets outside Of the STATE The Traas
continental Ines also violated and are still ia
violation Of tie spirit OF the Interstate cCm-
BeTce law by fixing the rates between interior
Eastern points aud The coast Oh such goods as
are competitive via The Atlantic seab0ard with
vessels GA lower basis than tom The point
whee The competition exists, while The eXeep-
tonal circumstances aud conditions upon which
tbese raIes are made lower tusn intermediate
Tstes Cd this coast are said 10 be sea competition.
GROSSLY DIsCRENINATIvE RATES.
Tie above refers TO the situation OF our
through traffic snd the import and export trade
a. 90 was; il shows condition extremely unjust
ana uni eaSonable. But The local rates are very
much more burdeBsome, because they serve nor
only the purpose of securing immense local
revenue but serve as a high protective tarln
against the pOss bic Introduction OF measure
% competition 10 the Interior country OF
tbis coast. The whols being ingeniOusy con
trIyed 10 bottle up tie Interior OF the Sta and
reduce The radius OF trade OF all terminals 10 the
smallest possible limits, because the less busI-
ness done 10 aud from tide water the less trouble
there would be 10 keeping the water lln under
control So Il must be plain TO your committee
tina a more reasonable basis OF local tarld would
DeCessltaie a lower adjustment OF through tariffs
all over the state. Shippers are frequently In
formed that tie aTTier cannot make lower Iates
10 and from tide wafer because the fire igft
would move by sea. This explains the great
necessity for the contIOI of every aveO ne where
by sea cOmpe ition may be Introduced to tue IN
I TiOT: also tie necessity for the control OF The
Stale Board Of Railroad Commissioners who have
given no relief 10 the local situation dnTlng an
administration OF fourteen years. The tarins 10
effect to-day in all parts Of In state are re-
prGgch upon the intelligence OF this people
They are grossly disctimiDatiye; 10 attention !:
paid to the measure of service performed. There
aye in effect 10 the SAFE three different classih
cations. governed by widely differing rule, VIII lei
any one OF Intelligence on that subject knows
en- iTely unnecessary, except for the solt
purpose Of covering up the gross Determinations
which exist, and 10 hide . state OF AFFAIRS too
unjust bear tie light OF uniformly adjusted
tamil Between local points 10 the lntei or o.
The State there is practically no tariff al all, ex
ceGt maximum OF 10 cents yer ton pef mile
which pTpeiudes The possibility Of an Interchange
Of commodities except IN cases OF absolute he
CesSiiy. Under such conditions TO industry CAL
start with any assurance OF success until they
have first made special bargain with The car
Tler, whereby he becomes special partner In al
Of the profits but not 10 the losses besides beinl
placed In me position OF absolute suoseFVlenc.
. as The recipient OF the special favor of beni
allowed 70 do business at all IN he State OF Cali
fOrnia. OF course the vast resources OF TIL
Site and Of ais coast cannot deYelJp under an.
such conditions.
THE BOSSES HELP IT.
This local situation has been built up AM
perpejuated by the carriers very Largely through
The control fthe various branches OF the STAT
and municipal government through poliIca
bosses VINO are their EerYile tools, 10 whom Il
The past the Office holder has been obligated by
o bargain cOnsUmmated before nomination. b
past history OF the official acts OF these cfiee
holders under boss rule presents an object les
.. son too plain 10 require extended mention. lie
IL De bone 10 mind that The Prime object ha
always been the absolute control IN their Owl
hands Of The measure OF tie rates and fares a
AL tie traffic will bear" This one item
70 them Is moro than all others com
blneo, oiheT gu stlons being only lncidenia
TO his one. Our law as II now exists
has been most favorable TO them. il being a con
sltutiona prOYisO-aiming 10 give 10 the com
mission judicial power, but which the court
deny them-notabiy Ia a late order Of Judge Nc
COTmiek Of Que OF the Federal districts OF Texas
where be permits The intervention OF fOreig
holders OF securities, IN which order be says ID
actS OF The Texas Board OF Commissioners
''WbelheT reasonable or not, must have IN
sanction OF the court" SO that our law IS
now is Instead Of accomplishing the PURPOSE IN
tended. becomes a bGiwark behind which th
carriers have taken refuge, and apparently ma
continue TO do so indefinitely. Our Board Q
Railroad Commissioners is an expense 10 tn
State aud, instead OF performing service TO In
people IL becomes a means OF protection 10 tn
railroads against the performance OF their obligs
lions 10 the people as common carriers.
these Conditions were Ia full force and effect
when tie Traffic Association was organized
All branches OF Industry which were al ali de
pendent upon The item of transportation VIZ,
seriously depressed because working agains
determinations In favor OF markets outside o
the Stale 10 sucn an extent that tie cities wer
fast becoming the headquarters of brokers 70
The sale Of Eastern and foreign manufactured
goods. There was 30 encouragement 10 star
any business old and esta0lis she'd nrm:
we're gong out OF business; few II any cOul
report aD Increase. The list OF empty stores
OH s and dwelliDg-hOuses was laI gely increased
a mt. tts.a In cons ernQ nm II.
situation was the resuit-hrst OF the eXcossly
local IaIlfs of The Carriers this coasL: SECOND