The record-union., 1893-02-14
SOMEWHAT " Ratified"
THE TRAFFIC ASSOCIATION ORA
TORS WERE FLUsTERED.
Colonel Barry Reads Letter from
Leeds-rhe Old Story Again
Gesford Talks,

Colonel Thomas F. Barry, in behalf of
the Traffic Association, addressed the Sem
ate Committee on Constitutional Amend
ments last night.
He explained that Mr.. Leeds is absent
in the East on business "of even more
Importance to the State" than the bill be-
fore the committee, to regulate rates and
fares, and could not be present. Mr..
Barry presented a set of resolutions of the
Traffic Association, expressing confidence
in Leeds, which were not read, but filed
with the secretary of the committee.
Colonel Barry had letter from Mr..
Leeds, in which the latter reiterated many
of his vagaries regarding the operation of
railroads. Leeds says in the letter that
the long distance tariff he proposes in the
Traffic Association amendment is moth
ing new outside of the State of California.
As a part of the organic law, he agrees
that the tariff is quite an innovation. 1t
had been ridiculed for this reason, but he
did not think ridicule was argument, as
long as the innovation had not been
shown to be unconstitutional. AS to the
| merits of the classification, the use OF
! it west of Chicago and in California, ex-
| cept on the Southern Pacific lines, he
thought should be argument enough
that classification should be estab-
/ lished. The Railroad Commissioners
| had not in fourteen years made anv
general tariff changes without con
sulting the railroad companies. II be-
! lieye," he writes, that this tariff is rea-
sonable to the public and just to the car
riers. The arguments made against the
! bill have been without sincerity, and
shrouded in mystery. The statements OF
the smaller roads in this State, if true,
show much larger revenue and profit
than any like roads outside Of the State.
You are asked to pay for their poor rela-
tons, the property that is not paving out
side of the State. These objections are
| but technical and are subterfuges."
Leeds repeats his assertion that two
thirds of the Southern Pacific road never
existed. "a basis of $1,000 per mile is a
very liberal limit" he says. "In none OF
the States where rates are fixed by law
are any exceptions made on local roads.
! There has been no argument made so far
by the carrier which shows any desire 70
treat the question equitably. AS to the
Railroad Commissioners, will only say
that they have failed utterly in the per
Torrance of their obligations in every
particular as provided by law. They
have done nothing amounting to any
thing which has not been submitted to
them for ratification by the carriers.
Chairman Earl asked Gesford if be
really believed that uniform rate should
govern all railroads in this State-that a
road built over level and easy ground
at little expense, should charge as much
! as road built over the mountains at an
enormous expense.
"Well," said Gesford, 81 think 81, 900 a
mile is enough for them no matter what
the road cost"
Barry then branched off with a state
ment of his own. He said that the prin-
ciple object of the proposed constitutional
amendment was to get rid of the Rail.
road Commission. The Traffic Associa-