The record-union., 1895-08-29

section Of the country receiving reduc-
tion of 10 per cent. on the rates OF Grain
Tariff No. l, when another shipper has
derived benefit Of about - per cent. on
the rates OF the same tariff. y compari-
son of the rates from Dinuba to Port
Costa and Sallda TO Stockton may serve
as ali illustration of this fact. Many of
the stations named in the resolution. as
affected by 20 per cent. reduction, show
no grain shipments either In 1898 or 1884,
notably on the Sacramento and Placer
vile branch. The same Irregularities
exist as 10 the rales and. i'll some in
stances, ii cents per ton per mile is
charged for transportation Of grain.
1.-The horizontal reduction OF 80 per
cent. would not place these stations on an
equal footing.
For these reasons | am opposed to the
adoption OF this order, and l am certain
that II the Commissioner will go into the
detail Of & schedule based on his order he
Will agree that the facts are as l nave pre-
sented them before sthis commission.
am IN favor OF reduction of the freight
rates on all commodities where these rates
are unjust and unreasonable. but as it is
claimed that rates have been established
on commercial basis, and the reduction OF
rates upon one commodity would seri-
ously affect the rates governing the
movement of another, to be consistent,
this commission should give an impartial
hearing to all parties concerned, and
when a reduction is determined upon,
give the shipper OF all commodities al
fected by unjust rates the proper percent
age of said reductions; to determine this
fact l am in favor of changing the order
OF these proceedings, and offer a resolu-
ton to that effect.
THE order OF Commissioner LaRue. if
adopted by this commission, could not
crops this season.
Now word as to newspaper criticism:
l have been censured by a certain news
paper OF this city for the reason tuat
would not commit myself to COmmls-
sioner LaRue's resolution. The public
have been informed that my vote upon
the question will be the test OF the hon
esty Of my future action in the comlnis
sion. l shall perform my official duties
regardless OF criticism. and the annual
report of this commission for 1895 Will
furnish all The necessary information as
TO our proceedings during the past year"
After the reading of the aboye state
ment Commissioners LaRue and Stanton
entered into an argument over the adop-
ton of the resolution, DR.. Stanton taking
the position that a sweeping reduction
OF 10 per cent. was not fair To the COM
pany. He believed that very material
not ready to order reduction which
would operate without regard to whether
the rates between given points were too
high or not. He asked what percentage
the resolution would take Oft the earnings
Of the railroad.
Commissioner La Rue could not tell
him. The President said that it was true,
as DR.. Stanton had said. that the railroad
had made large reductions and the people
appreciated that action, but the rates were
still too high, and should be reduced 10
per cent. further.
DR.. Stanton insisted that if reductions
were to be made a schedule should be
carefully prepared. If MIR. La Rue had
consulted him beforehand. he would
have been glad to go over the whole mat
ter and fix up schedule that could be
passed.
La Rue said he never could find Stan
ton and Stanton retorted that he had
called on him.
Commissioner Clark was disposed to
agree with DR.. Stanton. He did not
think fiat and sweeping reduction
would remedy matters.