The morning call., 1893-01-31
LEEDS GOOD NEWS
A Dispatch From New York
Makes Him Glad.
F. s. JOHNSON'S CONTRACT.
The Traffic Associations Manager
Talks of Politics and Other
Matters of Interest.
F. s. JOHNSON'S CONTRACT.

A complacent smile spread all over the
| countenance of }. S. Leeds. the manager of
the Traffic Association. yesterday afternoon
after he finished reading telegram just re-
ceved.
The dispatch was from New York and
contained news concerning the Panama
railroad contract with the North American
Navigation Company.
THE fact of the matter isl said Leeds,
after he had read the four pages telegraphed
that we are hardly ready to talk on this
subject yet.
There was some objection to the terms
of this contract. 1t did not seem to be re-
cipr0cal enough to some of the members Of
the Traffic Association. When they see the
dispatch / received this minute they will
perhaps change their minds because lot Of
things which seemed to be Objectionable are
explained satisfactorily in this telegram"
Then Mr.. Leeds teephoned to Captain
Merry, the president of the new navigation
company, asking him to come down and
hear the good news.
Awaiting Captain Merry's arrival the
traffic manager talked on current events to
The CALL man.
Mi. Leeds is so awfuliy busy most the
time that anything like quiet chat with
him is hardly ever possible.
Leaning back in his big armchair he
started in to discuss legislative matters
first.
II think we are getting along first rate"
said he. land | have every reason to sup
pose that the Senate committee Will report
favorably on our bill.
The Assembly is doing splendid, and |
must say that having heard so much about
former corrupt California Legislatures |
was agreeably disappointed when | came
into contact with the men representing the
people in Sacramento
Mr.. Leeds then said that the Southern
Pacific people are making many mistakes
in their effort 10 prevent legislation against
them.
They first maintained that San Fran
cisco wants to hog Ii all and that the inter-
Tor cities would not be benefited by our new
distance tariff" he explained, and then he
said. Now they contradict their own argu-
ment by spreading rumors TO the effect that
the new tariff will bring Les Angeles 100
miles nearer to San Francisco than il is
now.
These reports are sent out in order to
create diSSenSiOn among the various sec
tons of the State, while ii Is well known
that our distance tariff makes no discrimina-
tions, and is for the good of all the people
IN California, be they from the north or
residing in the south"
The ridiculous position the three Railroad
Commissioners have placed themselves in
amuses no one more than Manager Leeds,
and he fairly dubbed over with joy when
he was told that LitehfeId had been indulg-
Ing ia abuse of hun.
HE blsmes me for it, does hep he
asked. and then he laughingly added. 'Why,
l never did them any harm, and they always
said the Traffic Association did not amount
to anything. How can Mr.. Litchfeld con-
scientiOusly say that my insignificant efforts
ever injured the Railroad Co mmisslon?"
Captain Merry arrived at this time and
he was shown the New York dispatch,
which pleased him as much 40 it had pre-
yiously Mr.. Leeds.
Then the two who are working for the
good of San Francisco's commerce went
into executive session, and The CALL man
was not invited to hear the proceedings.