The record-union., 1893-02-08
SECRETARY LANSING.
He Throws Some More Light on Leeds
Theories.

He Throws Some More Light on Leeds
Theories.
Secretary and Controller Lansing fol-
lowed Mr.. Smurr III lengthy and con-
vincing argument against the amend
ment. He said:
The mileage of railroads in this State
as shown by report of the Railroad Com
mission for December 81, 1891, was as
follows:
Operated by the Southern Pacific
comps S04 36
Operated by other companies I'4S3.S2
Total.. 4,37S.1S
The companies not controlled by the
Southern Pacific Company thus owned
on the date named 81 per cent. on the en-
tire mileage. OF the effect of these roads
of the proposed tariff, it's author has
stated that he had no knowledge or in
formation. But when his attention was
thus called to the matter, the form of the
bill was changed excluding nearly all of
the lines excepting those of the Southern
Pacific Company from It's present opera
ton. Mr.. Leeds further explained
that though he had not examined the
effect of the tariff on the smaller roads, he
had examined as to its effects on the
Southern Pacific Company's lines. His
statement of the results of that examina-
ton furnish the principal, if not the en-
tire fund of facts on which the adoption
of the proposed tariff and classification is
justified. a fair and Just Judgment of
the conclusions which this bill assumes
therefore, requires a careful considera-
ton of the relevance and application of
Mr.. Leeds statements as to facts, their
correctness, and their sulliciency AS
the measure rests on the statements of
this man, fair judgment of its merits re-
quireS also to be considered, that the
bill is avowedly framed and proposed in
the interest of a society of men engaged
in business in San Francisco, the men,
bership of which is secret, and one of its
purposes has been stated to be to fight
the Southern Pacific Company whenever
and wherever it can do so.
The proposed tariff is based on those in
effect in some of the agricultural Western
States, and notably the State of Kansas.
Its rates are lower than those of the Kan
sas distance tariff, and will, as stated by
Mr.. Leeds, reduce the earnings from local
freight in California on the Southern Pa
citic Company's lines twenty-five or
thirty per cent. The person responsible
for its introduction as proposed portion
of the Constitution of our State is lately
from Kansas, was at one time Traffic
Manager of the Missouri Pacific Railway
operating large system of railroads in
that State, and as such is familiar with
the effect on that State of the Kansas dis
tance tariff. His statements on this sub
ject convey the impression, as 1 under
stand it was intended they should, that
Kansas and its roads have been prosper
Gus and that railroad construction has
been encouraged, with corresponding de-
velopment and advancement of the re-
sources of the country. The intended in
ference would follow that similar tariff
for California Though the tariff proposed
has been found to be lower than that of
Kansasl would bring like prosperity
and development to the people and the
railroads of this State. Let US inquire
into the railroad prosperity of Kansas.
In their report for 1890 (pp. TX, ct sep
the Railroad Commission of that State, in
a general review of the railroad situation
there, says:
I'VE have 1900 miles of railroad which
is worse than worthless to its owners,
and burden upon the commerce of the
State as whole, though blessing TO the
country along its line. 1t came by in
vitation, encouragement and support of
the people; it cannot be ignored in the
discussion of ate-making for the rest"
At the commencement of 1885 there