The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-18


proof for the statement.
William SprOule, the assistant general
freight agent of the Kentucky monopoly,
has made the statement openly and I'M
reseryedly.
I'VE have been dragged into politics so
much Of late" we're his words. that we
have no time 10 prepare a few figures on
freight rates FOR the perusal of the public"
OF course the railroad has been dragged"
into pOltics-and It's too bad, really. But
il is in politics. That is the important
thing to remember One may be sOrrowful
for the dragging" but one cannot forget
the main fact, the result of the dragging"
A stranger walked into the sacred albeit
narrow precincts allo tied to Mr.. Sproule at
Fourth and Townsend streets the other
afternoon.
"What can 1 do for yon?" inquired the
official in his poitest manner.
The stranger said he would be pleased TO
have a copy OF the coast classification on
freights.
Il am sorry, but cannot give you such
thing. We have no Classification printed
for distribution"
Then how am [ to know in what class
certain commodities are" inquired the
stranger.
con. we will be pleased to furnish You
with any such information" said the freight
agent. "What are the commodities you
desire rates on and between what points"
There ara several commodities and many
points in the State to which rates are de-
sired"
well" said Mr.. Sproule. 1--WE will be
pleased TO furnish you the rates on any,
thing you desire and to any points you
may name. If YOU will make out list
will have it filed at once.
But have you no published tariffs by
when | could find out these rates at WILLY"
inquired the stranger
I'VE have published rates, oh yes; but
they are hardly in such shape that you
could use them readily"
Here btr. Sproue pointed to lot of loose
sheets and pamphlets laid between two
covers. which were bullying out TO about
double the thickness of WebSter's I'm
abridged.
I'VE get our rates from that book" said
he, but as you see II would be impractical
bic for me to lend it TO you. You would
hardly care TO carry it off with you, and if
you did it would not be seryceable unless
you know how TO use It.
Isn't there another copy | could take?"
asked the stranger, who did not appear to
be daunted by the size or weight OF that
wonderful tariff book.
mo; there are no copies to spare. H.
deed, we are unsettled about printing rates
just now. for they are discussing those mat
tiers at Sacramento, you know BY the way,
though, here is copy of our Southern
California special commodity tariff. You
will find it very plain ana complete"
rs there no publication like this which
would answer for the rest of the State ??
was asked.
None that we could give out now"
The Southern California special cOmm0d-
ity tariff is for points only that have rail-
road or water competition with the South
ern Pacific. aud the rates are only for a
limited number of comm ODDITIES and on car
load lots.
1t may he interesting 10 know how much
more the Southern Pacific charges than the
Santa Fe route &c ship a carload az axle
grease putty or salsoda 10 and from Los
Angeles.
Those who may want to send carload Of
gas fixtures. cream of tartar or Sauerkraut
from San Pedro to Santa Monica will find
this special commodity tariff sheet very valU-
able, bat the merchants of this city and State
declare the pamphlet IS far more Orna-
mental than useful. which 10 saying little
enough for is beauty.
The stTanger-wbO was a CALL reporter
promised to bring Mr. Sproule list of
places and things upon which rates were
desired, and then betOOk himself to the
Office OF the Railroad Commissioners.
Here about the same experience was met
with. The secretary took his heels off the
table when THE CALL man entered and
said, "Oh. yes" when he was asked
whether be had the freight rates in Cali
fornia.
Then he hauled down pile of pamphlets
and single sheets about two feet thick and
SAID. There yOu are"
"Wen, want the rate on soap from Sac
ramento TO Port Costa" said THE CALL
man.
"Oh. l can't give you any rates. You'll
have to 90 down to Fourth and Townsend
for that. They'll give it to you there"
"But doesn't the law require you to keep
the rates Of freight TO all points inside the
Slate in this Officer"
"Wel, we nave 'em right here. There
they are"
"'All right" said THE CALL man, an
just sit down here aud get the rate on barley
from Stockton to San Francisco"
"Oh, you can't do that; it would take you
six months, and then you wouldn't get il
right.
thing. The sheets are all mixed up. and /
don't know how they belong. See these
rate pamphlets, where it says subject to
change without notice? Well, the changes
come in fast Every day or so there's
change. We just chuck them in anywhere
instead of placing them right, so you
couldn't tell thing by studying this mass
of stuff in year"
Then you have not the Southern Pacific
freight rates in this ofice?" said The CALL
man.
"Oh, yes; there they are in that book
L
Tie next day The CALL man took
small list Of commodities and points of
shipment to Mr. Sproule.
well, we can't fill this ont right off, you
KNOW" said that official ave Will do it as
soon as possible. Who shall send it TO ?"
"To THE CALL Office was the reply, and
then. when The CALL man saw the look OF
panied surprise thatcame over Mr.. SprOule's
face, he volunteered TO call for them the next
day.
''What do you want these figures for2
Fixing up another rOast?" said Mr.. Sproule
with shade less of suayity In his manner
and tone.
THE CALL wants to publish them side
by side with the rates proposed by Mr..
Leeds in order to show the people the dlf-
ference. II they are honest rates they have
nothing to fear from the comparison" WAS
the reply.
We'll, come in tomorrow and I'll have
them ready for you"
But when the morrow came and The
CALL man stood before Mr.. Sproule's desk
waiting for those rates that gentleman re-
marked that he had reckoned without his
host in promising the figures so soon.
You see, we have been dragged into pol
itcs so much of late." he said. that we
have been unable to prepare those figures
for YOU"
"How soon do you think you could pre-
pare them?" asked the reporter
We'll, it would take days-many Of
them," he added, with an eloquent look
which meant plainly never"
And so it came out that the railroad is in
politics.
The truth Is. as everybody knows, that it
has never been out of politics, yet an ad-
mission from one of its own officials will at
least serve the purpose of showing tn the
policy of hypocrisy Oh this question has
been aband oned by the railroad
The present attitude Of the Southern Pa
cifc of Kentucky is summed up In eight
words-What are you going to do about it?
Well. the Legislature at Sacramento is
trying TO answer that question just now
1t may transpire that the people of Caifor-
MIA will do a great deal about IT. and do it
right away. too
AS TO the Southern Pacife's unwillingness
to furnish freight rates for public perusal,
the reason is obvious.
TheV Will mt stand nnni ra riann NTH Tho