The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-08
LEEDS A WITNESS.
Lawyer Richards Queer
Questions.
MORE OF THE SHIVELY CASE.
The Traffic rlanager Tells the Railroad
commissioners but Little of
What He Knows.

A"Soo "Ho Hdfo IlRHb along uOuDteQ the
sincerity OF Mr.. Shively OF San Jose in his
complaint against the Southern Pacific
Company's fares aud rates scored big
point yesterday.
Attorney Richards, who represents the
San Jose com plainant. had j. l.. Leeds, the
manager Of the Traffic Association, for
several hours on the witness-stand before
the Railroad Commission, ostensibly to ex-
tract from him facts which would contra
dict the statements made by Expert Morgan
Ia his report.
AS it turned out. however, Richards
questions seemed to be put in such man.
ner as to elicit such testimony only as
would be favorable to the railroad people.
VI course the Railroad Commissioners
were highly eiated when they found that
Richards did not ask any dangerous ques-
lions, and Mr.. HuntingtOn's representa-
ives, Messrs. Martin, Stubs and Lansing,
were overcome with Joy.
Expert Morgan, too smiled many smiles
OF Satisfaction, and the whole prOce edings
again resumed the farcical aspect they had
wnen The investigation was first commenced
ne nrst hour oil the session of the board
was consumed in the further examination
oil witnesses Lansing and Willcutt, who, as
comptroller and secretary respectively OF
the Southern Pacific. furnished statements
TO show who were the holders OF stock in
| the concern.
These lists were somewhat vague and in
complete, because, as the witnesses stated,
the bonds change hands quite frequently,
and 1t is not positively known just who
| holds them at present.
Mr.. Lansing promised TO look the matter
! up more particularly, and il possible he
VIII furnish additional facts in this direc-
ton later on.
| These preliminaries disposed OF. j. s.
Leeds OF the Traffic Association quietly aud
smIiingly took tie witness-stand.
True to his policy, outlined quite fire.
| quenlly since the filing of the Shivey COM
plaint, Leeds did not volunteer any testi-
mony, and he confined himself strictly to
answering the questions put to him in as
concise manner as possible.
lie does not regard the investigation as
genuine. and is OF the opinion that no re-
SUITS Deneheial To the people can be obtained
| by it.
Leaning comfortably back In his chair the
tariH manager told how he had been twenty.
seven years connected with railroads rising
from the humble position OF a telegraph
operator TO the office OF traffic manager of
the Union Pacific and Iron Mountain roads.
Messrs Stubbs and Martin sharpened
pencils and procured writing pads In ex-
pectation OF startling developments worth
| nollng, but subsequent events proved that
these preparations were not needed.
Continuing to answer Lawyer Richards
| queries Mr. Leeds acknowledged that he
had frequently asked the Railroad Commits
sion to lower the fares and rates of the
Southern Pacific Company.
What was the basis for those dem nds pr
| asked Richards
Il found. after my arrival In California,
by comparison. that the rates charged here
were higher than those OF other railroads in
olher parts OIL the country. and by investi-
eating the subject / discovered that these
| excessive charges were rot Justified" was
the answer the witness made.
lie then said that the rates Of the South
ern Paclhc Company were not only exor-
bitant, but that they also were arranged so
As TO discriminate between the various Sec
uols OF the State.
When asked upon what facts he based his
opinion IN regard 20 rates Mr. Leeds told
the board that he procured schedules and
reports and compared them with the South
ern PaeInc's, and from these comparisons
formed his conclusions.
witness declined u furnish the facts he
had gathered IN this manner because as he
stated. they were within the reach of the
commission or any one else, and could be
gathered by them as easily as lie had done so.
Richards then tried TO bolster ND Nor
gan's argument to the effect that tie high
price of coal MAIDS raiiroading in California
more expensive than anywhere else. but
when he examined Leeds on that question
he was told that the price of fuel is not TO
be considered by railroad company when
the latter makes up its rate sheets.
IT Is not what d ton of coal costs that
cuts any figure" explained Mr.. Leeds, but
what ton OF coal performs"
And then he called attention TO the fact
that IN the Icy climates of the Eastern
States ton Of coal is consumed more rap
idly than In the balmy weather of Cali
tornia.
did you take the gross earnings and the
cost of construction into consideration
when you made the comparisons which
prompted You TO ask the Railroad Com
mission to reduce rates?" was one OF Rich
ards next questions
did not, promptly replied the witness,
and when his reasons for the apparent
neglect were demanded an amused express
sion spread over his counteuance aud he
entertainingly told how these matters had
nothing to do with the rates.
The only consideration in this respect
worth having would be the net receipts of
railroad company" said he. land my ex-
perienee has taught me that railroad book
keeping aud railroad figures are created for
no other PURPOSE except 10 conceal their
own showing"
Everybody looked at Mr. Lansing and a
loud unanimous laugh interrupted the pro-
ceedIngs when this answer was made.
lhe oewiiderlng mass of figures presented
by Lansing as evidence during the hearing
OIL the case had apparently convinced the
commission and those present that Leeds
was telling the truth when he said that rail-
road figures are made to conceal facts
~ IneTe being an important meeting OF the
Irafnc Association yesterday afternoon Mr..
Leeds begged TO be excused from attend
ance after the noon recess
Ills request was granted and he will con-
tipuo his testimony this morning.
Inc board then went into executive sas
sion to consider the Morgan report, as Mr..
Beckman stated.
IL did bat very little considering. because
after being In secluSion but very brief
period II announced that it had adjourned
after deciding TO invite tile Traffic Associa-