The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-06-07

The next complaint read was from the
G!enwoOd Lumber Company OF Laurel sta
ton, Santa Cruz. II was signed by the
president. W. J. Rogers, and by The secre-
tary, j. 3. Collins. and charged discrimna-
ton by the Southern Pacific Company. The
letter states that the distance between
Laurel and San Jose is only is miles, but
the rate charged is 81 80 per 1000 feet,
while the distance from Boulder Creek 10
San Jose is 90 miles and only 81 % Is
charged for the same amount Of lumber.
On motion OF Commissioner BecEman the
letter was ordered returned to the lumber
company 70 have the complaint 1t contains
sworn TO, this being necessary before OFF,
cial cOgniZaHce can be taken OF 1t.
Secretary Kelly then Tead a cOmmunica-
ton from L. O. Shiyely. merchant and
member # the Board Of Trade and Cham
Der Of Commerce of San Jose.
Mr.. Shively says in his letter that he is
convinced that the freights and fares in the
State of California are excessive and that
a general reduction should be made through
out the entire State
Referring to the action OF the Traffic As
ISOLATION IN having as yet not fled formal
complaint with the commission as promised
Mr. Shiyely petitiOned the board to take
action on the following two points:
Flrst-That the rates Of railroad fares are, TO
the best Information and belief OF your com
plaiBGnt, much higher than those or other rail-
roads in OF her portions OF our country similarly
clrcumstsnced a. 10 grade, custom and cost OF
operation, aud that the present fare schedule OF
California should be reduced not less than 10
per cent over all It's transportation lines.
Second - Your complainant AYERS that the
freight rates OF the transportation companies OF
California are excessive and hat grave and un-
lust determinations exist between classes OF
produce aud points OF shipment throughout the
State; and mat, according 10 The Information
and belief OF your complainant the said freight
schedule Of all Tie transportation companies OF
California should be thoroughly revised, so "a 10
affect every class OF merchandise and every
point OF shipment and that the said freight rates
and cbai yes should be reduced not less Than 20
per cent upon existing freight schedules.
IN DUE FORM.
The complaint and the petition was duly
verified and sworn 10 before a notary lublic.
The board ordered copies of the Shively
complaint to be sent TO the 81 railroad COM
panies In California.
Commissioner Rea read typewriter adj
dress In which he declared that sucn COM
plant as the one before the board was
what the Commissioners had long been
waiting for, and he desired that Mr..
Shively's communication should be adopted
as the sense Of the board.
Mr.. Rea then explained that while the
board had the rover TO order such re-
vision as is asked for in the complaint. it
has so far RETAINED from doing SO for two
all-impOrtant reasons, which are:
FiTst-Because the proceeding is OF so
great ali importance that the commission
ought to be solely an aTbiter between the
parties interested and SHOULD not act as a
litgant and a court to render judgment at
the same time.
Second Because there is no provision
made by the Constitution or the statute for
funds with which 10 carry on any such in-
vestigati0n, which would necessarily be an
expensive undertaking.
''For the above reasons" said MT. Rea.
this commission has desired that its ma
chinery should be set in motion by the
filing of complaint. Such a complaint is
now on file. 1t asks for the most ample in-
vestigation possible by this commission.
Every Transportation company doing bust
ness in the State OF California is made a
party Of the proceedings; every class of
merchandise and every rate upon it is in
volved. The entire freight and fare sched-
ules OF the State are called into review.
The whole object Of railroad finance is be-
fore this commission. The investigation is
given the widest possible range, and this
commission is satisfied that this is so.
From time to time and in various forms the
assertion has been made that this commits
sion is the creature and that its members
are the corrupted tools Of the great railroad
corporations.
This proceeding gives to the people of
California an opportunity to investigate the
charge.
THE PETITION ADOPTED.
Commissioner Rea's motion to adopt the
Shively petition as the sense Of the board
was carried, only Commissioner Litcbfeld
voting against it.
Commissioner Beckman's turn TO read a
statement came next. He confined himself
10 a violent attack on Traffic Manager
Leeds in his communication TO the board.
The following extracts are samples of
Mr.. Beckman's abusive document:
On March IA, 1892. Mr.. Leeds filed a schedule
comparing grain rates on the Santa lie roads IN
Kansas aud also grain rates GU most OF the roads
IN California at that time asked him 20 swear
10 The correctness OF The schedule. he answered
that We could find that our, and IL was our busl-
ness u Ind u ont. So now have looked into il,
aud Dave found out, and the schedule Will prove
1t, that MIR. Leeds IS the most inge Nous dema-
gOgue that ever came TO this coast. .
Now, II Mr.. Leeds Is not denae0gue how easy
IL would be for him 10 file a complaint, swear 10
the same, bring the case before our board and
IN go days, at least, We would render the dec-
sion, and that would end The whole controversy
But, should we do so, his occupation would be
gone, as / appTehend that the Traffic AsSOcla.
lion would have no further use for MIN. .
a ingIats AZ we mlSL do eYBfVLhluP on ON