The morning call., 1893-09-16
FERRIES AT WAR.
The License Collector Is
Dragged In.
AGENTS FOR THE RAILWAY
The Supervisors to Be Asked to
Compel Them to Take Out
Licenses.

The war between the Southern Pacific
Railroad Company and the Dayie Ferry
Company over Oakland business waXed
very warm yesterday, and before another
twenty-four hours passes over will, in all
probability, result in either the removal or
increase of the number of solicitors on
lines now waylaying passengers endeavor-
ing to reach the boats.
About a week ago the Davie company
was surprised to find one morning a num-
Der of agents on the dock. their hands full
of Southern Pacific 5-cent tickets, which
they were dispOsing of to passengers as
they came along. The forces of the Davie
company on the wharf were Immediately
doubled and the warfare began.
All went well with the two factions on
the wharf for time. On Thursday, how
ever, the Davie company, realizing that il
was unable to compete with its rival. as
its boat lay beyond that of the Southern
Pacific. silently withdrew its ticket-ped-
dlers. and though its head solicitor, G. w.
Brooks. made complaint to License Col
lector Z. w. Lees that the Sonthere Pacific
people were employing agents TO solicit
travel without license. Yesterday Mr..
Lees paid visit to the wharf and was
shown by Mr.. Brooks what was going on.
Mr. Lees at once went to General PaSSen-
ger Agent Whites office and held a consul
tation with him. He was informed by Mr..
White that the men who were selling tick
cts were not in the company's employ, and
never had been. The tickets that were
being disposed of were commutation tick
cts sold 10 any and all persons who ap-
piled for them in books of 100 at the rate of
50 80 a book.
1--WE have our money for the books -
said Mr.. White, land we do not even
know the names of the men who are SELL
ing Them"
With this information License Collector
Lees departed, informing Mr.. Brooks that
as the men we're selling tickets, in connec-
ton with soliciting passengers, there was
no ordinance under which they could be
charged with misdemeanor.
Mr.. Brooks was very warm when seen
yesterday, and openly asserted his inten-
ton, and the Intention of the Davie Com
pany, of doing away with the obnoxious
solicitors.
They are all employed by the Southern
Pacific Company in the same capacity that
/ am with the Dayie Company. My COM
pany pays license of SO a quarter Tor
me, and they must do the same thing or
quit the business When Collector Lees
was down here to-day he saw what
was going on and placed one boy
under arrest. but after his consultation
with Mr.. White be let him go and told me
he could not do anything with him. To-
morrow, under the name OF the Davie
Ferry Company, we will file a complain /
before the License Committee of the
Supervisors against the Southern Pacific,
and if that won't do any good we will
take the matter to the Chief of Police and
file complaint against the men for disturb
ing the peace"
License Collector F. W. Lees was found
in his Office shortly after leaving the dock
He said as yet he had received no com.
plant in the name of the Davie Company.
II did receive one from Brooks and in-
vestigated il. The men on the dock are
selling tickets, which leaves them exempt
from the law. Brooks wanted me to arrest
them, but | refused to do so, as l am not
going to put my head in a halter. If they
were soliciting travel [ could require
them to take out license. but as the mat
ter now stands they are not violating the
law"
Meanwhile, until the dispute is settled,
passengers to the ferry must run the gaunI-
let, and take their chances, women and
children alike with men, Of having their
clothes torn off or limbs broken by being
dragged TO one or The other OF the boats by
these enthusiasts. whose only thought is
TO dispose OF their tickets.