The record-union., 1893-01-20
More of Traffic Manager Leeds
Expert Testimony.
Evidences of Disagreement Among the
Traffic Associations Members -
Statements Indicattngs that Mr..
Leeds Does Not Coincide with Some
of His Associates Ideas.

cross-examining J. 5. Leeds, of the Tratic
Association, on behalf of the Southern
Pacific, made it pretty evident that the
traffic manager does not hold the same
ideas as some of his associates.
'Mr. Leeds" began Attorney Martin,
''the complainant in this case has asked
for the adoption in this State of the rate
of what is known as the Western classifi-
cation, and you yourself have advocated
the same thing. Now, do you consider
that the Western classification is superior
to the local classification of the Southern
Pacific in this State because it covers more
ground and includes more specifications
than the latter?"
"Not altogether for that reason" re-
piled Mr.. Leeds, 'though / think the
Western classification better than that
employed here by the Southern Pacific"
Did you not state in your direct ex-
animation here that the reason for your
preference was as 1 have just suggested?"
Perhaps | did so on the spur of the
moment"
.'Well, in point of fact, don't you know
that you did SOP"
Very likely 1 did so state, in whatever
connection the matter may have been
brought up"
Every WE'LL" said Mr.. Martin. "But
in the outline of the plans and purposes
OF the Traffic Association, as set forth in
the report and recommendations of the
Legislative Committee of that body, 1t is
contended that the rates should be as few
and simple as possib How do you
reconcile these different statements?"
THE COMMITTEE CRITICIZED.
81 did not prepare the report of the
Legislative Committee" said Mr.. Leeds
Whoever did may not have been famil-
Jar enough with the subject TO arrive at
the most correct conclusions.'
well, is the suggestion made in the
report right or wrong?" demanded Mr..
Martin.
81 should consider it to be impracti-
cable" answered the witness.
''Oh, well; but say whether it is right
or wrong"
"If it is impracticable it is wrong" ad-
mitted Mr.. Leeds at last.
"Yet you, according to your state
meuts made here before this commission,
believe that you should carry out the
ideas of your employers, right or wrong"
THAT may so-that is so,' replied Mir.
Leeds, "but the members of the Legisla-
tive Committee may not be my employ
ers.''
This was all that could be got out of
Mr.. Leeds on this point.
RATES TO SAN FRANCISCO.
Then Mr.. Martin asked lot of ques-
tions with the purpose of obtaining Mr..
Leeds idea as to the proper rule to be
followed in the fixing OF freight rates.
II was very difficult indeed to obtain an
answer, and when something of the kind
was given the witness would usually
Immediately modify it in such manner
that it's effect was altered or destroyed
Finally Mr.. Martin asked whether Mr..
Leeds believed. everything being taken
into consideration, that san Francisco
should have a lower terminal transconti-
mental rate than Fresno, the former city
being much further away from the COM
mon Eastern shipping point.
Mr.. Leeds said that it would depend
upon the conditions of the case, and Mr..
Martin, who had been getting too many
OF these replies, became little impatient.
But why can'tyou answer my question
directly-whether, under the conditions
as you know them to exist to-day, you
being a railroad expert, San Francisco
ought to have a lower transeontinental rate
than Fresno, the former having longer
line of transcontinental freight transpor-
tation than the latter cityY
~ have answered." said Mr.. Leeds,
that the answer to this question would
depend upon the conditions OF competi-
tion and the operation of the Interstate
Commission"
"Why don't you answer the question
directly?'' persisted Mr.. Martin.
81 have answered you as directly as
can be DONE" said Mr.. Leeds, "and the
answer l have given youis all the answer
you will get"
"All the answer that I'll get is it?" re-
peated Mr.. Martin, perfectly unruffled at
the seeming defiance.
''Yes, SIR"
Mr.. RICHARDS INTERPOsEs.
Then Mr. Richards, Shively's attor-
ney, took hand.
"Gentiemen of the commission" he
said, lit seems to me that the line of in
quiry now being pursued is protitless,
and that it should be abandoned. This
investigation was undertaken with re-
gard to local and not transcontinental
rates.
Attorney Martin stated that the matter
was not of moment TO him, and since
both the witness and his counsel object
he was willing to drop this branch of the
subject.
THAT COMMITTEE AGAIN.
Then Mr.. Martin started in to put Mr.
Leeds and the legislative committee of
his association at loggerheads again, and
he did it very cleverly.
He brought up the question of freight
rates on paper, and first extracted state
ment from Mr.. Leeds that the latter had
had nothing to do with the mention made
OF this subject in the late report of the
legislative committee of the Traffic Asso-
citation.
whoever wrote it may not have had
much experience in the matter" added
Mr.. Leeds.
Don't you know" suggested Mr.. Mar
tin, That they did not have any expert
ence at al when they started in to make
these recommendations?
"Well, L won't say that" said Mr..
Leeds.
"All right" said Mr.. Martin; "but
your legislative committee recommends
and you yourself coincide in this-that
the existing freight classification in use
here in California should be superseded
by the rates of the Western classification.
Further than that, going into particu-
lars, the paper freight tariff as it now ex-
lists here is specifically condemned, par
ticularly so on the ground that some
thing more simple, something with
fewer specifications in it, should be
adopted.
''Yet there are but fifteen or sixteen
specifications in the local Southern Pa
cific classification, whereas in the West
ern classification there are thirty or more
specifications as to paper freights alone.
Nevertheless you want to have the rates
OF this Western classification put in force
as an amendment to the Constitution"
Mr.. Leeds had nothing to say as TO this
and Mr.. Martin placed a copy of the
norton of the Western classification
shedule from which he had quoted in
evidence.
DISTANCE TARIFFS.
Then Mr.. Martin took up another
branch of the subject, saying:
besides the western classification, you
want the Kansas local distance tariff put
into the Constitution by means of the
amendment. you have suggested. Now
we viii have few comparisons"
Then Mr.. Martin produced from some /