The record-union., 1894-11-22
THE DEBATE ON TRANSPORTATION.
Fruit-Growers Devote Yesterday to
the Subject.
Messrs. Smurr and Curtis Show What
the Southern Pacific Company
Intended This Season.

convention was called to order Mr.. X ell
logg offered a resolution on transporta-
ton, the subject for the morning, which
was referred to the Committee on Resolu-
lions.
The Chair appointed the following COM
mittees:
Transportation-H. Weinstock, Sacra-
mento; II. p. Stabier, Suffer; T. II. Buck,
Solano; George ID. kellogg, Placer; j. L.
Anderson, Santa Clara; n. w. Motheral.
Kings; D. T. Fowler. Fresno.
Legislation-B. +. Walton, Suffer;
David Reese, Sacramento; a. L. Hatch.
Solano; Alfred Holman, San Francisco;
w. b. Gester, Placer.
Resolutions-R. G. Kells, Suffer; II. p.
Muscott, San Bernardino; Il. D. Stephens,
Sacramento; ID. L. Fowler, Fresno; L. l..
PIatt, Sacramento.
Mr.. Berwick of San Mateo spoke on
the subject Of transportation. He claimed
the railroad, which he designated as the
octopus, absorbed the returns of the fruit
grower and left him nothing, and was
gradually gathering all the wealth Of the
country into its Golfers. He advocated
the transportation of all produce through
the Posloilice, and the naturalization OF
the railroads. He told the old story Of
transportation OF potatoes from Los An
geles to Arizona, arguing that the rail-
road got it ALL"
Competition, he argued, can never give
satisfactory results. When three roads
are built TO compete for the traffic OF this
coast, the expenses Of operating them
Will be three times as great, and the ship
pers must ultimately bear the expenses.
He declared competition to be a failure.
If pooling be failure, consolidation
must be the result. III other countries
four years ago NJ. Rozier of Belgium de-
clared that the Government only should
be allow ed to monopOlize the railroads.
These monopolies, he said, are hourly
growing greater, and the question IS
daily asked whether the railroads shall
own the people or the people own the
railroads. They tax the people more
than King George ever dared TO dream OF
taxing them. The politicians know what
the people want, but they fool the peo-
pie into minisIerlng 10 their wants. At
the last conventions they penned the
voters by pledge to vote tor the party
candidates, whom they had never seen.
The President here interrupted the
speaker and asked him To refrain from
politics as much as possible and contine
himself to the subject. Berwick said he
did not know that he was trespassing on
the rules OF the convention and had only
couple more pages TO read, so he was
allowed to finish.
IN conclusion. he said that Congress
debated the silver question for three
months, and could not lind the time for
one day to discuss such an important
measure as the Nicaragua Canal. Ii we
want to overcome monopoly, he said, and
enjoy the liberties our fathers won, we
must emulate their virtues and stand
united for freedom.
OREGON FRUIT RATES.
Abram Block of Santa Clara said that
in the resolution offered by MIR. kellogg
there was ali lnumatlOu that fruit had
been carried more cheapIy from Oregon
to the Last than from here East. Ii This
be So he should like TO have the matter
Strengthened out right here, and that the
speakers would avoid all political allu-
sions and offensive remarks. Ii fruit has
been carried from Oregon for $3.50 per car,
he would like to know it.
Mr.. Kellogg SAID that it was currently
reported that Sl50 per car was charged on
green fruit from Portland To Miuneapol
and he also understood that the refrig-
orator charges were only SO
3. Leonard said that two years ago he
was Interested III iruit-shipping on Snake
River. The Union Pacific owned its own
cars and made no charge for refrigeration
except the cost Of the ice, and he under
stood that the Northern Pacific did the
same. The freight rates, however, were
the same as here-One and a quarter cents
per car.
FRESNO FRUIT RATES.
D. T. Fowler of Fresno said that car
loads OF fruit from there had taken as
much as four days to get here, which in
jured it. They were now using mules to
compete with the railroad. When green
1rult was coming into market the rate per
car was raised 81. The company said it
could not reduce the rate without injus-
tice to other points, and consequently the
Ia a NIL
from that place. He did not say that the
railroads had not done much good to the
State, but the people had aided 10 build
them aud demanded something in return.
The expense OF sending fruit to market
was 81 per cent. Of its value, and the peo-
pie who raised it got nothing for their la
Dor.
He quoted a mass of figures to show
that the railroads were mouopolizing the
wealth of the country. He made state
nents with regard TO countries where the
Government operates the railroads, To
show that freights and fares were lower
than here, and said that one of the great
railroad men of this country had said
passengers could be carried at Il profit
from New York to San Francisco for SO.
1t was the duty OF the people, he said, TO
rise up and help themselves. The reason
of the high rates Is the large capitalize
ton Of the railroads. What the people
should insist on was low rates and
quick or time. Much fruit has been rl-
med by delay in transit. 1t is a difficult
question To handle. He did not know
how to remedy it, but it behooyed every
citizen To study il carefully.
If other countries can solve this queS-
ton we ought to be able to. When we
face the question we cannot fail to see, he
said, that the expense of managing the
railroads must be reduced.
NEWSPAPER AUTHORITY.
t. w. Madelcy of Placer read from a
newspapaper III answer TO Mr.. Block's
inquiry as 10 authority for the statement
that fruit was carried from Oregon Tor
$50, The article stated that fruit from
there was carried through on fast time
and at that price.
He quoted some instances where grow
ers had TO pay more in freight than the
fruit brought, and thought the conven-
tion should be able TO do something to-
ward getting shipments at Sl50 per car.
IN BAD FIX.
Mr.. Bick ford of Newcastle said he
wouid like TO make some remarks TO the
committee before it met, but dId not want
tGan renorted. lie did not want the
world TO know how the growers of his
county were mortgaged ana nearly bank
rnuted. He did not want the county to
pe Injured by having the real facts
known.
DETAILED STATEMENTS NEEDED.
r. ID. Stephens said it was doubtful if
he would have had anything to say had
il not been for the remarks OF the gen.
lleman from Newcastle. lie decidedly
disagreed with him. Let each grower
make out a detailed statement OF his
shipments and the prices received Tor
1 n II II