The morning call., 1893-10-27
WITHOUT MALICE.
Causes of the TransCOn-
tinental War.
MANAGER LEEDS POSITION.
Harmony Prevails i'm the Streetcar
Combine, Says Manager Stein.
Ticket Agents on Trial.

A recent issue of Chicago paper con-
tanned long article on the transcon-
tinental rate situation, and also conveyed
the inference that the action of Traffic
Manager Leeds Of the Traffic Association
in this controversy with the Southern
Pacific Company was prompted by malice
toward the lines which composed the
Western Traffic Association, by reason OF
his official decapitation as traffic manager
of the Gould lines under the rules of that
association for violation of the agreement
IN cutting the sugar tariffs. In letter
published in the st. Louis Globe-Dem ocrat
Mr.. Leeds says
The action which / took, and which cost me
my official position, was taken for the purpose
OF securing the correction OF certain things
which at that time thought, and still believe.
were an injustice TO the ST. Louis roads. l did
it without instructions from or consent of any
OF my suDeriUrs, and with my eyes open, know.
Ing the penalty IL | was not sustained. l have
always believed that l was the victim of Cir
cumst tances rather than of malice toward me,
and hence bear no malice toward the roads
which comprised that association. much less
toward those who have been the SevereSt SUI
ferers by reason Of this California situation. l
tnlnk they would have assisted ME at that time
II real good opportunity had presented Itself.
did not organize the Iraff1c Association or
California, but was employed by the organiza-
tioD, which had just been formed. j suppose
the offer came TO ME because | was out OF en-
ployment and was supposed to have fairly
good understanding of The subject to be treated.
accepted because l was out OF employment,
and had been for some months and needed iT.
/ have carried on an absolutely digniied con-
test fearlessly and according 10 my judgment.
In the best interest OF those l represent, and
Will say think we have the merit Of common
justice on our side of the contest.
1t Is true that we organized the ocean lines
and put Them IN operation for the purpose OF
introducing 4 measure of competition IN trans
portatlon TO and from the Pacific Coast. where
1t had been neutralZed by subsidy and other
wise for period of fifteen years or more. But
we made no war on the transcoDtinental lines.
The trouble comes from the effort made by
them 10 eXterminate us aud re-estabSh the
old conditions. There is no truth in the state
ment that such contracts have been made as
excl ude us from competition across the lsthmus.
We, however haze contract which does ex-
clude the Pacific Mail from that traffic for both
The eastern coast OF the United States and
Europe for this State. and all points north OF
Acapulco. The Pacihc Mail has abandoned
the line between New York and Colon and char
tered Its ships 10 the Panama Railroad Com
pany. They still operate line on this side
between San francisco aud Panama for the
trade between Central America and the eastern
coast of the United States and Europe (Which
is now the subiecr Of an injunction suit be-
tween them and the Panama Railroad Com
paDy), and with which we compete for the local
trade this coast.
We have already attended the last sad rites
or the Transcontinental Association and the
Pacific Mail as through line. If we had been
able TO infct a loss of $40 600 900 by an out
lay of much less than 100000 our existence is
fully justified IL we collapse tomorrow. 1t
could not be said we had not made a gallant
fight In good cause, aud see no good argu-
ment against repetition OF the same expert
ment often as contest OF the same cnar
acter may be made possible. The State OF Cali.
forna has very large sum OF money saved In
transportation rates which naturally goes TO
our credlt.
Acting Manager Stein of the Market
street Railway Company yesterday denied
that any reduction in the salaries OF the
receivers in the employ of the company
was under consideration. as stated in a
morning paper. The unmoved resign alton
OF ex-SuperlnteDdent Lynch of the Ferries
aud Cliff House line. who was pictured as
being exceedingly wrothy about the ap-
pointment of Mr.. Stein, was also denied.
The fact is" said Secretary Willcutt, "Mr.
Lynch, like all other officials of the various
lines. ceased TO hold Office when the con-
soldation took place, hence he has no
position from which to resign. When the
gentleman and number of others holding
office, asking them to continue in the
exercise of the duties of their positions for
the present. with which request they all
complied. Furthermore. Mr.. Lynch was
not closeted with Messrs. Crocker and
on Tuesday, and used no such language
as that attributed TO him during the short
time he was In the office. His mission was
to discuss proposed extension in the lines
and was marked by no ll-feeling whatever
upon his part"
Manager Stein also said that the state
ment as tO.a proposed curtailment of the
transfer system was made out of the same
cloth as the preceding matters mentioned.
Ii any change was made ii would be in the
nature of an enlargement of the privileges
in that respect.
The Local Passenger Association held
special meeting yesterday to try two al
legged offenders against the agreement.
The Rio GraDde was accused OF transac-
tlons tending to increase the business of
ticket broker, and the Wabash was charged
with sending Gus toner directly to one of
these unrecogniZed agents, all of which is
punishable by fine according to the terms
of the agreement. The case against the
Wabash was dismissed and that against
the Rio Grande was continued until the
regular meeting on Wednesday. The
dearth of business nowadays gives the
representatives along Montgomery and
Market streets ample time to devote to
these little matters which have, we be-
lieye, since the birth Of the association
resulted in one conviction. for which the
assessed fine has not yet been paid. Trans
gression of the written law brings no dire
penalty home to the delinquent ticket agent
these days.
Freightcars are very scarce on the South
ern Pacific at present, the big shipments
East being responsible for that condition
of affairs. The company, as a result. has
ordered that no more freight, except such
as is perishable and that in refrigerator
cars. shall be sent east OF Ogden without
tran sferringit it to tho cars Of other lines.
The excursion 10 Monterey and Santa
Cruz, which has been leaving this city dur
ing the summer months every Sunday
morning. returning in the evening. has
been discontinued.