The morning call., 1893-03-14
MR.. REA WAS BUSY
The Railway Commission
Did Not Meet.
MIR. Leeds Occupied With the New
Steamship Line-Its Pros
poets Very Bright.

bright fire burned in the CRATE, the long
table stood in the middle of the room, chairs
we're placed around and the room of the
Railroad Commission looked quite cheerful
yesterday morning, when meeting of the
BOARD was to have been held according to
the programme outlined last week
len o'clock was the hour set, but when
the hands OF the big clock pointed 10 those
numerals there was not a single Commits
sloner on hand, and with the exception Of
tall man with a scrubbY mustache, who said
he was Bailitf Stafford's temporary substi-
tute, nobody else occupied these cozy rooms.
Pretty soon the official stenographer and
the newspaper reporters dropped in and
they were informed by the man with the
mustache that he did not think there would
be a meeting.
Being only temporary bailiff this repre-
sentative of the great and only Railroad
Commission could not tell why he doubted
that meeting would be held
He had not been around these sacred
precincts long enough TO be in the confidence
Of the "Big Three"-Rea, Litchfeld and
Beckman; but on Saturday. he said, Bafiff
Stafford had told him TO inform all cOmers
that the commission would not be in session
this week
SO the stenographer and the reporters lett
him to the solitary enjoyment Of the place
and departed.
Brother Lltchfeld, who was found in his
tailor-shop, could give no explanation Of
hclaily OF the reason why no meeting was
held, but c0nsentlng to forget that lie held
the high Office of Railroad Commissioner be
expressed his views privately,
They are all up in Sacramento" said he
Except myself.
Don't forget that Litchfeld is ready, but
that the others are not
''Y on see." he continued, "every one of
them is Interested in the proposed removal
of the State capital from Sacramento TO San
Jose.
'Beekman and the balliff are Sacramento
men. while Rea and Secretary Kelly are up
there to make fight for their own town,
San Jose.
''Shively, whose case might have been the
subject for discussion had we met TODAY
and his attorney, Richards, are on the com.
miItee the Garden City people have sent to
the Legislature, so that absolutely nobody
except myself is here, and therefore a meet
Ing is out of the question"
That is all Mr.. Litchfeld would saw. and
when he was asked about Tie rumored res
ignatlon OF Rea from the chairmanship of
the commission he only shrugged his shoul-
ders and remarked something about that
being Beckman's business.
He is the man who made Rea chairman
let him put Rea out of the chair" he said,
Then the little tailor produced COPY of
the Texas Railroad Commissions ANIMAL
report ana Started In 10 read some long par
asraphs from it, but THE CALL man took
to his heels and escaped the impending in
Fiction.
The rooms of the Traffic Association pre-
sented pleasing contrast to the vacancy
encountered in the Railroad Commissions
ofhces and Manager Leeds was found yerv
busy as usual.
Members of the executive board, shIppers.
capitalists and lots of other people were ali
day long IN consultation with Mr. Leeds.
whose time Is now almost exclusively de-
voted TO the Interests OF the North American
Navigation Company.
There is lots of work to be done in order
10 get that new steamship line properly
started and IN working order.
Inc consultations which were held yester
day strengthened the opinion of Mr.. Leeds
that the new lines future will be a bright
one.
The merchants are all not only willing
put anxious to help the enterprise" said
ne, ana all we need now Is a little more
capital and the right kind of steamers.
As 10r the money, have every assurance
that there Will be no trouble In securing il
and we have several vessels in view which
SUIT our purposes and which we hope to he
able to charter"
II was learned yesterday that the new
navigation company does not intend to con.
me It's operations to the trade between New
YORK ana Europe and San Francisco by Tho
lsthmus route, but that cOasting steamers
Will connect the southern and northern
ports, as the company's Panama line. and
that IN towns In the interior will be con
neeted likewise as far as it cab be done bv
river steamers ~