The morning call., 1893-01-17
THE RAILROAD COMMISSION.
The Resolution to Gust 1t Passed in
Committee.


SACRAMENTO, Jan. 16.-Trafic Manager
Leeds attended a meeting of the Assembly
Committee on Corporations this evening for
the purpose of placing before the committee
8 substitute for the bin which provides for
a schedule of freights and tares.
Before the committee reached the subject
ShanRhan appeared and said that he wanted
il distinctly understood that the idea of
abolshing the Railroad Commission by a
constitutional amendment originated with
HIM, and he thought that he ought to be
consulted in the matter before any definite
action was taken by the committee.
He lid not believe in weighing down
the constitutional amendment ab0lshIng
the commission with bill fixing a maxi
mum schedule of fares and freights What
he wanted was to pass the resolution kill
ing the commission and then to pass a bill
fixing tie schedule. which should take effect
as soon as the people had ratified at the
polls the abolition Of the commission.
When Shanahan had taken his departure
the SchlesiDgeT resolution calling for the
impeachment of the Commissioners was
taken up. Bledsoe then stated that what
the resolution called for could not be done
| legally. He offered a substitute. which pro-
vides for throwing the Commissioners out
of Office forthwith. which can be accom-
plished by two-thirds vote of both houses.
Afford, the chairman of the committee,
MAINTAINED that there was ample evidence
without going into an nveStigatOn to war
rant tie Legislature in ousting the Com
missiouers.
EmeFie of Contra Costa was in favor of
the Bledsoe substitute.
SchlesngeT spoke against such summary
action and called for an investigation. He
said he wan led TO hear the testimony OF
Leeds and w. W. Foo!e as to whether or
not the Commissioners we're guilty Of dere-
LECTION of duty.
Mathews of Tehama was opposed to hasty
action. He said that tie freight rate from
Red Bluff to Port Costa had been reduced
from s. TO So ton. and the fare from SIC
to less than SO by the present Commits
sioners. At the present it cost about one
tenth Of the value of the crop to transport
it from Red Bluff to Port Costa. He favored
an inves tigation.
Mordecai moved to defer the matter
until it could be inquired into. and Lynch
would not vote to condemn the commission
! unheard.
Bledsoe's substitute was then carried by
| the following vote; Ayes-Emeric, God
chaux. Schroebel, Bledsoe, Kerns, Afford
and .Mordeeai; H0es-Mathews and Lynch.
The proposition is to throw the present
Commissioners ont of Office, have the Gov
ernor appoint new board and then pass
| the Traffic Associations new schedule oil
| freights and fares. Mr.. Leeds has pre- AIRED
a substitute, differing only in phraseolegy
| from the other. which is TO take the place Oh
| the other measures.
Leeds was called upon to address the
| committee. lie explained the California
| distance tariff rates, and said that if adopted
they meant reduction in the aggregate OF
| from % TO 30 per cent. They were higher
| than in some States from which mis- sched-
ale is taken. On cereals the reduction
will be fully 81 per cent. RE said
| there was DO State in the Union but
what had distance tariff except California.
| 1t was necessary as the basis for fixing
rates He was sorry the Biedsoe substitute
had beeh adopted, because it would lead to
investigation and delay, aud would result in
failure. The effect on competing roads, if
the system were adopted, would be that the
Southern Pacific Company would be
making more money in three years than
they are now. They certainly would IN
five.
Mordecai then moved to have a commit
tee of four appointed. which should include
the chairman of the Committee on Corpora
ti0ns, whose duty it should be to inyesi-
gate the legal aspect Of the case.
Afford appointed Mordecai. Mathews and
Bledsoe. They are 10 meet tomorrow night
ana Mr.. Leeds said he would be present to
adyise with them