The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-13

creates The commission and preScrlbeS its duties;
in fact II i mandate upon the Ooaru 10 AA tue
rates and fares.
Your honorable body is vested with full power
TO extend the relief much desired ana so
urgently needed bv both The producer ana the
mercantile interests OF the State. aud IL shOulu
be unnecessary TO take further action IMAM 10
direct attention 10 the fact that IL Is easy OF
demonstration that the rates OF TRANSPORTATION
in this State do show glaiing disparity as com.
pared with similar service in other portions OF
The country. ] would therefore earnestly re-
quest IN the name OF the members OF the aSSoci-
alton that You tase up The act upon Tie matters
outlined herein. Yours very respectfully,
}. S. LEEDS.
Mr.. Leeds made some telling points in a
later communication to the board under
date of March u, 1892 1t was In part as
follows:
Gentlemen: I desire 10 refer briefly 10 the
discussion which ensued during the consldera-
iion Of my letter Of February "a, In which II was
stated and acquiesced In by meers oI your
board that your dulles are practically wholly
judicial; al least such was stated as The estaD-
Iished order OF business by tie board, III thAt
you were in The attitude OF waiting for com
plants TO be brought before you, upon when
you would act as judges as between the com
painant and the transportation company
against which the complaint Is hfougnt.
/ have carefully examined th- a. tlcles OF the
constitution eating TO this SUBJECT as also lbe
act defining The OrganlZa ion ana powers OF inc
board and ! cannot agree win you IN the post
ton taken by your honorable body. Section -
OF article XII OF the constitution IS very plaln.
oNf-+'
power aud 70 shall be their duty. 10 eStaDlSh
rates Of char geS for the transpotl atl0n OF ias-
sengers and freight" etc. l ma hothlng
therein which says they shall Wat Ior COM
Section 81 provides that "no discrimination In
charges OF facilities for transportation shall De
made by any railroad or any transportation CON-
pany between places or persons, etc PERSONS
aud property transported over any iairoad, or
by any oIner transportation company or indlVld-
ua shall be delivered at any station etc, al
charges not exceeding The charges Tor the trans
pOTtatiOn OF persons and property OF The same
class IN the same direction TO any more distant
Section / OF The act defining the powers OF the
board provides: Wherever said board, III the
discharge OF IFS duties, shall establish or adopt
rates Of charges for the transportation Of pas
sengers and freight, pursuant 10 the c0uSlttu'
ton" etc.
Tie above clearly Indicates The intent OF The
trainers OF The cons tuition ana the bllI 10 nave
been requirement al The hands OF the commits
sion oiuei than THAI OF Tie hearing aud the ad-
judicaliOn Of complaints. desire TO stare lhat
there is very strong ana growing sentiment
throughout the Stale that something luflhef
shall tie done 10 relieve the merchant ard pro-
Queer from a too heavy burden Of local trans
poriailou charges. / is my purpose and desire
that everything possible shall be done on the
part Of The Traffic Association OF California
which may operate 10 lie Teuei ana DehehI Of
the Stale.
Some further communications between
Mr.. Leeds and the Commissioners called
forth from J. B. Stetson. president OF the
Traffic Association, IN April last vigorous
communication of considerable length. at
the close Of which the writer says:
There are bur two sides 10 the controversy
win your board. The rates Of nspOIIdtloR IN
the State ar either too high OF they are not. II
TOO high your GUY is plain under The law not
only plain, but imperative.
wh~lmlng proofs which We have given you oil NE
great disparity between lie rates 10 tulS state
and other portions Of this country, and when
3 van an artfv rtlnngr J.
/ sci The machinery In motion, as you are pleaseo
! 10 term 20. tile responsibility rests Win your
honorable body, and you must answer 10 your
constituents.
/ The commission has declined to set the
machinery in motion.
s proceeding called the Shiyely case has
been going On before the Board Tor several
months with as much promise OF resulting
! in relief to the people as there IS IN meet
I inc OF the Southern Pacific directors.
I'VE are a judicial body" says the cCm-
mission. bring in some complaints and
In a year OF TWO we Will see about them. W Q
/ have no official knowledge that rates are too
high"
The Traffic Association and a large p0r-
ton If the press Of the ) ate have presented
an overwhelming mass Of proofs that Coli
foTna freight rates are excessive and dis
crimative; tie duty Of the commission
under the plain language OF the constltu-
ton and The statutes has been urged anon
them, and the board has been convicted Of
/ HOrthlessness by common consent.
Being forced TO lock elsewhere for the
reforms so badly needed Mr.. Leeds, as tie
leader OF the agitation for lower rates. now
proposes to the PEOPLE that they do the
business themselves. Il is urged that there
is no hope of succeeding boards doing any
better, and that now is the time for the peo
pie to do something for themselves.
If any one doubts that local railway tar
I ifs in California are unjust let him study
| the following comparative Statements.