The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-20
THE FARMERS ROUSED.

The wheat-growers will appeal to the
Railroad Commission for q reduction of
freight charges on wheat to Port Costa. 1t
will be interesting to observe what effect
the appeal will have besides making the
commission more disagreeably conspicu-
Gus than it is. Commissioner La Rue has
already introduced a resolution for a 20
per cent reduction of wheat charges in the
San Joaquin Valley. Whether the pro-
posed action of the Fresno growers is for
the purpose of urging the other Commits
sioners to support the resolution or to de-
mand a still lower rate has not yet been
given out.
Certainly Fresno needs relief. The
Fresno Republican publishes some inter-
esting facts in connection with the sub
ject. 1t shows that from Oceano, sea-
port in the southern part of the State, to
Port Costa the distance is 267 miles and
from Fresno ITO miles, and yet the freight
tariff on wheat from Oceano is 50 90 and
from Fresno So. The road from Fresno is
level and down grade ana from Oceano it
is over mountains and heavy grades.
Leaving differences in the character of the
roads out of account, the rate charged
from Oceano, if applied to Fresno, would
give the latter place rate of 81 So ton.
This is a greater reduction than that pro-
posed by Commissioner La Rue, whose
schedule would give Fresno rate of 81 40.
And yet the rate of 81 30 seems to be the
one which the constitution of the State re-
quires, for that instrument prohibits dis
elimination. J. c. Martin, one of the
Southern Pacific Company's attorneys, has
intimated that if the issue of discrimina-
ton is raised the railroad company will
fight it on the ground that the constitu-
tional provision was not intended to apply
to competitive points.
The lower rate from Oceano is explained
on the score of ocean competition. In
order to compete with the vessels plying
between San Francisco and southern ports
the Southern Pacific gives lower rate
than is made where competition does not
exist. 1t would seem to be very urgent
duty of the people to accept the challenge
which the railroad company has issued
with regard to the meaning of the consti-
tutional provision prohibiting discrimina-
ton. As that prohibitory clause makes
no such express exception as that sug-
gested by Mr.. Martin, and as it is noto-
rious fact within the memory of all who
recall the proceedings of the Constitutional
convention that no such exception was in
tended to be made and that it was ex-
pressly and purposely omitted, and that
the constitution was intended from begin
ming to end as an anti-monopoly instru-
ment, every citizen ought to be eager to
meet the issue and see it quickly fought
out in the courts.
If the constitution may be taken for
what it says and for what everybody sup
poses it was intended Fresno should have
a rate of 81 80 ton, based on the Oceano
rate, and any charge in excess Of that is
illegal. This means to say that the wheat
growers OF Fresno have the legal right to
demand that their product be shipped and
then to pay 81 IS ton for the service, and
that the railroad company can neither re-
fuse to carry the grain nor decline to
accept 81 IS in full payment. These mat
tiers are called to the attention of the
Fresno growers and all others between
Oceano and Port Costa, for they are all in
the same position. And it might be ad-
visable for the Railroad Commission also
to give it heed.
AS the Oceano rate was produced by
competition the San Joaquin farmers of all
kinds can well imagine what would be the
result of the construction OF the San
Joaquin Valley Railroad and how its
presence as competitor might affect their
interests