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

Shall the Railroad Commission be abOl-
ished?
This is the question of the most vital i'm
portauce 10 the State that Is now being
considered by the Legislature. A wide
spread opinion exists that on the outcome
of the move 10 do away with this worse than
useless feature of the State government de-
peuds the hope of the people for relief from
the burdensome tariffs that weigh so heavily
en- the agricultural and commercial interests
Of California.
That the present commission has failed to
perform its duties, exercise its powers IN
behalf Of the people, or do anything Of m-
poTyanoe that it should do, is so selt-eyldent
that the Assembly by good majority has
voted TO Dust il, and this action has The very
general approval of the press and people OF
the State. Whether the Senate will concur
in this action remains to be seen.
But the removal of the present Commits
sioners and the substitution OF others who
may OF may not prove more competent and
more inclined 10 perform their duties Is
matter Of much smaller importance than
the propsitlon Of the Traffic Association to
abolish the commission entirely by constl-
tutional amendment and return the duty OF
fixing rates aud fares TO the Legislature.
After an experience of twelve years with
Railroad Commission this means OF curb
ing the greed of railroad mOnoDolies and
protecting the just rights of the shippers
has been found TO be failure and the
board is not only useless thing, but aetu-
ally shield to the corporations.
The proposition to make such radical
change in the government OF railroad cor
porauons and the marked reductions which
would follow The change make the meas
ure one OF very general interest The bill
embodying the measure proposed by the
Traffic Association and being vigorously
rushed by Traffic Manager Leeds now re-
noses with committees Of the respective
houses. and if it is finally passed the people
NJ the state VIII be called upon to vote on
ina coustf.ut; na, amendment at a special
election 30 De held within ninety DAYS from
the approval Of the Bill. The pending bill
reads rs follows;
An scr 20 submit 10 the people Of the State OF
California an amendment 10 lie constitution
OF tie state Of california, repeating ana 241 {.
vo- ing sections - and p a article Nj OF
said constitution. and adding 10 attlcie " OF
said constitution q new sec ion, 10 be known
and nun be ed ~ section 30.
There0l.Ie IF Tie S ale OF California represented
10 he Senate and Assembly, do enact as iol'
lows:
Sec. /. TIE Legislature Of the State Of Call
fornla. at iS ihntIeth session commencing on
Tie ID day al January, 4. d. 1888, t~0-ihiTds OF
an Tie nemUeIs eltCied 10 each house OF said
Legislature voting iu favor thereof. does leTeGy
ur6pose that sections p and % OF article MI
n he constitution 81 The state Vt California ne
and lie same are Is eaied ana revoked, and that
said constitution be amended 10y Tue SoGt'loA
thereto and 10 article IN lheFeuI OF ne" Sc
Hon 10 be known and numbered as secil0n So
said proposed new section 10 be III words ana
figures s follows:
Sec as. II shall be the duty Of the Legis-
lafure ar lie FIRST Tegu ar session thereof after
the ado ton OF Jlls amendment 10 Tie eonsiltl-
ton, 10 pIescrb- Tie rates CT fares for Ddssen-
gers and provide ciaSsilcaltou q PloleIlN,
snd fix and det rmlue the ales OF freight 10 De
charged Tor tie transportation thereof on al
railroads. lu The State Of California; or 10 enact
a general rule or rules 10: the a>cerialrment aud
drtefmlna ion OF such rates OF freight based
ard Celeudeut on the bulk, weight and physical
eharaCiegis les OF Tie properly transported aud
the distance i Is carried by SAID TalltOaGsi anu
until such legislation shall be enacted and 20
into effect. and whenever no such enactment
shall be 10 operation, lie charges Nv ttanspoi a.
lion by sucL railroad shall be for lie tiauspOrta-
tIOn Of passengers nor more Than cents per
mile. and lie charges for freIgA, and melchan-
disc shan uOt be more than those specified in Tie
distance taTh mentioned ana set Iorih, The same
being he eby designated a The California dis
& nee tariff Tie Classification referred 10 u
said California distance iarlU Is mat adopted
and issued by Tie Western Classification Com
nitiee tof which J. T. Ripley was chaiiman6 aud
which TOOK effect January !, 1898.
rules forming a part thereof, Is as follows, lC
vii:
California Distance Tarif-ApplIcable to Ioca
traffic between al stations 10 The STA Of Call
foinia, subject O the Western aSsifcaiion and
the rules governing The same, which took effec
January J. 1898.
J. hi. taIid shall apply 10 individual rail
roads lu his Stale, ana they snail lie considered
independently In computing distances, except
that system Of railroads consisting Of leased
operated OF INDEPENDENT roads operated under a
common arrangement. although working undel
different charters. shall be considered as OFT
road, and he distance shall be computed eve
tie shortest operated line, composed OF Two Of
more % such roads.
2 When lie rates herein named. and the West
EN- classihca ion, heretofore referred 20, conflict
the rates banned ia bis tariff shall govern.
g. Minimum ChsTges-SIugle shipments OF OD5
or moe classes VIII be charged for Al the aetna
weight al Jalin rates, subject 10 a minimum
charge OF % cents for The entire c0uslgum ut FOL
distances OF 500 miles OF ISIS aud 90 cents FOL
greater distances
Rules governing shipments Of livestock In car
loads, minimum weights-Horses aud mules.
eafile hogs and sheep su8ll be waybled at the
minimum weights named low. subiect 10 cor
rection AZ destination 10 actual weight, bu, IN no
case less than lie following miHimums;