The morning call., 1892-12-21
HE STICKS TO 1T.
Lawyer Martin Entertains
the Big Three.
RAILROAD COMMISSION FUN.
How Traffic Manager Leeds Refused
to Contradict What He Had Said
i'm an Interview.

| AtttI many ua1S III iu'
Quiries into the rates of the Southern Pa
cifc Company the Railroad Commission
| yesterday took a new departure.
For the first time since the notorious
Shively investigation has been commenced
the great and only big three, Rea, Litch-
field and Beckman, devoted their $1,000
year time to a good purpose. namely, to
| listening to the reading Of extracts from
| THE CALL.
| Strange TO relate, these readings were
| introduced by Lawyer Martin. the South
| ern Pacifc's attorney in the case. and Ii
| was he who, pulling a copy of Saturdays
| CALL out OF the capacious pockets OF his
| Prince Albert coat entertained all who
| were present al the meeting of the COM
mission by reciting with rare elocutionary
! powers an interview with Traffic Manager
Leeds printed in that paper.
To be sure, the object of Mr.. Martin was
to extract denial Of the statements con-
tanned from Mr.. Leeds, who was on the
| witness-stand, but the Traffic Associations
| manager was not accommodating enough
| to crafty Huntington's lawyer in that re-
| spect.
The witness refused to recall any of the
| statements he was quoted as having made
TO CALL reporter, and Mr.. Martin was
| corTeSpOndingly unhappy.
Leeds even pushed matters further by
| stating point blank that he lid not consider
| it necessary to tell the commission or the
| Southern Pacific Company'S lawyer all he
| knew about the causes which led up TO the
| dissatisfaction existing among the people
| with the eXorbiant Rates Of the Kentucky
Il have stated repeatedly that do not
| believe in the sincerity of this investiga-
| tiOn, and l am still increduous," said he.
| Therefore, while / am ready TO answer
| questions. | do not feel it my duty to volun-
| teer information not asked for directly"
This did not suit Mr. Martin at all. and
| therefore, with great show of suavity and
| frankness, be wanted to know why Leeds
| considered the investigation q farce.
| Because Ii is absolutely impossible for a
| complainant TO produce the evidence which
| is needed 10 establish the TACT that the
| Southern Pacific Company's rates are too
| high" answered the witness, explaining
| that all the means at the disposal OF any
| one not connected with the railroad COIN
pany are inadequate to make a proper
| showing.
THE burden of the proof should be on
the railroad company's SIDE" he said, "be-
cause they alone have the key to the situa-
| ton.
LET the commission reduce the rates or
| give notice that they will do so on a certain
date and make the Southern Pacific Com
| not be put INTO effect"
Mr.. Martin was not satisfied with that
| explanation. however, aud after some side
remarks about sentencing people before
| they were tried be mentioned the famous
| Texas decision of last summer. which pro-
! hibiled the Railroad Commission of that
| state from lowering rates arbitrarily.
Leeds leaned back in his chair and smil
| ingly said that where there was a will there
| was way, or words to that effect, and Mr.
| Martin gave his eyeglasses another rub
| with his silk handkerchief. before ne asked
the next questions. which were for the pun
| pose OF finding out how Leeds found mat
| tiers from railroad point of view, when he
| first arrived in California about a year ago.
| Il found the people were not educated as
| TO their wants; that the Railroad Commits.
| sion was a useless body; that the laws of
| the State and the constitution needed TO be
amended, and that California was sadly in
want Of relief from the excessive high
| rates which the Southern Pacific Company
was charging the people" was Leeds an
| swer.
And you have ever since been engaged
| in trying 10 change these cnBditiOns?" asked
| Martin.
II nave done so in behalf and with the
| assistance of my employers, the Traffic 4 s.
| ISOLATION" was the witness prompt reply.
| A great deal of time was then consumed in
/ a vain endeavOr TO make Leeds appear as be-
| ing ignorant Of how matters really stand in
| this State, but Martin met with no success
| in that line, nor could he make the witness
| tell anything of the Traffic Associations
1
| questions III that direction.
| WAS the Traffic Association organized to
| fight the Southern Pacific Company? ?" was
| Martins pet query, which he prOpounded
| about dozen times.
| The only reply that Leeds would make to
| this was that the purposes of the associa-
| ton were clearly set forth in its coDsiitu-
| ton, peTusal OF which lie recommended 10
| his inquisltOr.
| Commissioner Litchfeld, on whom the
4 nf lstfnE has lftsrv
| effect, wanted TO know from Leeds whether
| or not the Traffic Association had taken any
| part III the recent campaign, claiming that
| lie had heard prominent member of the
| organization state that the latter was sup
porting certain candidate for high Office.
| Put that man on the stand aud ask him
| what he knows, replied Leeds teTseiy, add
ing that be could not see why he should be
| questioned about other peoples utteIances,
| OF which he had no knowledge.
And so the whole day passed as usual
without any result being obtained in that
| Investigation"
In the afternoon Martin questioned the
| yeraelty OF The comparative schedules filed
| By Leeds some time ago with the Railroad
| Commission, which shows gross discrimina-
| ton ~ the matter of rates.
| But with the exception of slight error
| affecting only one section OF the road the
schedules were pronounced correct by the
| witness.
There were occasional little tits OF sar-
| easm and the dizziness OF the crOss-examina-
| ton was at intervals frightened by some
| amusing coDtretemps. but when the time
! for an adjournment came every body realized
| that nothing had been accomplished except
| the killing Of time.
| That the commission is DESTROYS OF drag
| gipg the Shively matter along until after
! the Legislature meets became apparent by
| Chairman Rea's motion 20 postpone the
| further hearing Of il until January 4.
Beckman wanted to 90 right on for at
| least few days longer, and Litcbfield also
| pretended to be anxious 10 hear more testi-
| mOny at this time, but Rea positively de-
| claTed that he would not be present AT any
| meeting held for the purpose of continuing
| the investigation until January 4. So the
| Shyely case was declared postponed until
| that day.
The Railroad Commission, however, will
| be in saesinn this mnrninn 10 frnnonnt nn.n,o