The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-15

prove ruinous. 1t would take some time
for him to look carefully into the resolu-
ton in order that he might be prepared to
make an argument if one was necessary.
Captain J. 81. Roberts of the Sacramento
Transportation Company, which runs boats
on the river, made an out-and-out protest
against the resolution. It's adoption would
drive his company off the river. His COM
pany was in competition with the railroad
company in the transportation of grain,
and had already suffered somewhat from
the reductions already made, and if the
proposed further reduction went into effect
his company would be compelled to go
out of business and sell its boats.
f'If we do not make reductions" said
Mr.. La Rue when Captain Roberts had
finished, 1--WE will ruin the farmers"
81 can't help that" replied Captain
Roberts, ''that is their lookout. We have
put our money into a big plant and we
ought to be allowed to live"
$50 ought the farmers" rejoined the
chairman. "They are the men who pro-
duce the grain and give you business. If
we grind them down they will not be able
TO produce any more grain for you to
haul. "
"Let them keep their grain and cook il"
retorted Captain Roberts. LET them
make coffee out of it. "
L
well for the members of the commission
to post themselves up in the matter, and
for that purpose he offered to take them
on an excursion up the river on one of his
boats so that they could see conditions as
he said they existed.
"Now," said Commissioner La Rue, "the
railroad people will tell you that they are
the ones we are after. But l will say that
we do not want to injure any business, but
my impression is that the rates are too
high"
81 would like to know" said Commits
sioner Stanton, who had remained silent
UP to this time, upon what basis this 10
per cent reduction is made. If that is a
proper reduction it should be made, but it
may be that greater reduction would be
possible and 1t may be that that reduction
in the face of other reductions made dur
ing the pa t year would be excessive.
am prepared to vote for proper reduction,
but would like to be thoroughly satisfied
that the reduction is proper.
GAS 1 said BEFORE" replied Commits
sioner La Rue, 81 am pretty well ac-
quainted with the topography of the coun-
try and have been shipper of grain ever
since the first grain was grown in Cali
fornia by white people. Now the railroad
company, when It first made its rates, was
supposed to make them equable in. all
parts of the State. The rates fixed by the
company have been high and of its own
volition it has reduced these rates from time
to time. But in looking very carefully
over the reductions made in the schedule
of December % last / am satisfied that in
the large grain growing sections, take the
Fresno country and down that way, the
rates are at present too high"
Mr.. La Rue then read from the schedule
of December 90 to show that what he had
stated was true and then he read a num-
Der of rates quoted in the United States
agricultural reports to show that Eastern
roads hauled grain much further for less
money than did the Southern Pacific.
81 believe" he continued, referring to
the schedule of December %, "that these
charges are higher than in any other
place; that they are more than is war
ranted, and that they ought TO be reduced
on that account-not to say anything from
the standpoint of the financial condition of
the country. l am of the opinion that,
taking the climatic conditions, the topog-
raphy of the country and the easy trans
portation of the products of the soil to
tidewater and shipping points, the grain
can be transported for 10 per cent less than
present rates.
"Do you think it is possible to make a
further reduction?" asked Commissioner
Stanton.
at might be possible was the reply,
land it might not. / believe that is a
reasonable reduction and that they (the
Southern Paciicl can afford to carry it for
this amount less"
Commissioner Clarke. who had been
silent up to this time, stated that he would
favor reductions if they were just, but was
hardly prepared to act hastily. He there
fore moved for a postponement for further
considerations Mr.. Stanton was of the
opinion that the matter should be taken
up as early as possible.
aMr. Chairman" he said, ~ would like
to ask you one question in making this