The record-union., 1893-02-18
RAILROAD RATES.
Comments Upon Senator Gesford's
Position.

Position.
| From the Napa Daily Register, Feb. 15.1
The San Francisco and Sacramento
papers yesterday contained reports of
Monday nights discussion of the Leeds
bill before the Senate Committee on Con-
stitutional Amendments. The measure
was introduced by Senator Gestord of
Napa. At previous meetings OF the COM
mittee representatives of the small rail-
roads of the State had appeared with ar
gument and protests against the bill be-
cause Of its destructive elect upon their
interests. On one of these occasions the
allegation was made that the schedule ad-
Yocate by Mr.. Gestord raised materially
the freight rate on wine out of Napa Val
ley. \ communication on the subject
was later published in the Register. 1t
gave the rate at present charged per ton
on carload lots to Sau Francisco from
different stations i'll this valley and the
maximum rate provided in the Leeds
G;estord bill. The exhibit was not favor
able to the amendment as it showed a
raise of 80 to 500 per cent! In the same
issue of the Register a letter from Mr..
Gesford was published and very consid-
erably treated. The Senator was referred
to the figures set forth in the communica-
ton, the hope was editorially entertained
that he would be sure he was right before
he went ahead, and a copy of the paper
was sent to him.
Note the result: Mr.. Gesford favored
us with no more letters, but according to
the several reports made of his utterances
in committee he denounced" the Regis-
ter, talked wildly about its editor 'riding
on pass" said the Register had burned
him up' for introducing the amendment,
etc., etc.
This acerbity of temper may be neces-
sary to manifestation of personal, po=
litcal or legislative dislike TO the editor
of the Register, but it explains nothing
and refutes not single statement i'll tn o
article signed "Nindex,"' and which ap-
peared in these columns last week.
From the. bulletin our morning con-
temporary, the Journal, quotes what Sen
ator Gesiord said in committee Monday
night. 1t says he gave the figures of wine
rates in Napa County, showing that
where water competition ceased at Napa
the company raised its figures eXOrbi-
tantly; that if the rate that prevails from
Napa to San Francisco was in force above
Napa wine would be shipped from Ruth
erford TO Napa for 81 30 per car, instead
of So, the present charge. Further, that
there is nothing in the amendment
which requires the Southern Pacific to
raise its rates on wine"
Now we have it upon the authority of
one of Rutherford's leading wine pro-
ducers and shippers that something over
year ago the railroad company reduced
the freight rate on wine forwarded from
that station to Napa from Sl5 TO 5l1 per
car, and from SO to Sl9 30 per carload
from Rutherford to san Francisco. This
reduction was made necessary by team
and steamboat ompetition--Something
which emphasizes every time it is men
toned the peculiar natural advantages
this valley enjoys in the presence OF a
stream navigable for ocean craft. While
under this head II is well enough to note
what Hermann Bendel, few days ago,
said in connection with criticism OF
President LIE Counts address before the
Board of Trade of San Francisco: "Peo-
pie who are familiar with the railroads
rates in former years on many goods
wine for inStance-and the rates during
the past year, know that there is in many
cases reduction of 30 per cent. If we
had had the same freight rates in pre-
vious years as we now have, we would
have exported great many of our goods
much more satisfactorily than we did
as for instance, wine"
GesfOrd SAYS there is nothing in the
Leeds amendment which requires the
Southern Pacific 10 raise its rates on
wine. Those who speak for the railroad.
on the other hand, say the bill prohibits
an independent rating and withholds the
privilege the company now has of fixing
any figure necessary to meet competition.
II GeSlord Is right our objection 10 the
Leeds schedule falls; If he happens 10 be
wrong, and he acknowledges he knows
nothing about railroad tariffs, it still
stands. and the more transportation lines
there are 10 serve the producers of Napa
Valley the better for all concerned.
Our chief opposition to the amendment
was stated last week, viz: the Constitu-
ton is no place for a distance tariff.
When Senator Seawell asked Mr.. Ges-
ford if he would as a lawyer put this tariff
into the Constitution, his reply was that
he didn't suppose that Thomas Jefferson,
Daniel Webster or Calhoun would nave
indorsed it in its present shape; it was
the effect and not the looks he was after.
We don't like to desert Gesford en-
tirely, because he is a fellowtownsman;
but in this instance we shall cleaye to
jefferson, Webster and Calhoun with the
belief that their way of doing would
greatly improve the effect and looks of
things.