The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-03
LOWER RATES FOR ALL
Schedules of 1894 to Be the
Basis for Making Re-
auctions.
HUNTINGDON MAY BE CITED.
Special Rates May Be Used as
a Standard for the 25 Per
Cent Reduction.

According to the staten ent made by
Railroad Commissioner Stanton last night
every grain-shipper in the State is destined
to enjoy lower rate on his shipments
than he did in December 1894, or at any
other time.
at is true, said Commissioner Stanton,
THAT the horizontal reduction of per
cent on all State grain rates was based on
existing rates, which in many cases were
made higher by the railroads amendment
to the grain schedule of May 15 1895.
But ever since the adoption of the
schedule making the horizontal cut of
per cent we have been at work adjusting
what we consider to be Determinations,
and among the discriminative rates are
those which were increased in May by the
railroad company.
"For some reason none of the rates to
Benicia were changed by the May sched-
ule OF the railroad people, and we shall
probably use this as basis for arriving at
what we consider fair and equitable rates
for both shipper and carrier. OF course,
there may be some points where the rates
are already sc low that to further reduce
them would be unfair to the railroad COM
pany, but these are exceedingly few.
Had my original proposition of first
adjusting determinations and then max
ing horizontal cut been acted upon there
would not have arisen any misunderstand-
ing as to the real intentions of the commits
sion, but in order TO give immediate relief
to the farmers waived my objections and
agreed to the s per cent cut before the dis
examinations were treated. The final re-
suit will be the same, however, and the
reductions will be in reality based on those
in existence in December, 1884,
Now that Mr.. Huntington is in the
City is it the intention of the commission
to have him give further testimony az to
the affairs of the company of which he is
presldent?" was asked.
"lf | thought ne could give us anything
in addition to what his employees have fur
tainly be in favor of having him before the
commission. But the matter has not been
considered by the commission"
"On what will the adjustment of dis
ordinations be based mostly?''
eve shall take into due consideration
water competition, topography and volume
OF business, and where points similarly sit
uated and enjoying the same transporta-
ton advantages are charged dispropor-
tlonate rates, according to the distance of
the haul, we shall regulate the rates by
lowering the higher rates"
"How about the % per cent reduction on
all commodities shipped between points
within the State?"
LAS soon as we have finished with the
grain amendments we shall commence
upon the general schedule in order to effect
the promised % per cent reduction. We
shall certainly publish q schedule of re-
duced rates on the % per cent proposition
by the first of the year, whether we COM
plete the entire task or not. We may even
put into force some of the % per cent
schedule before thetirst of the.year. That
is, we may publish the rates fixed for
certain branch of railroad and follow them
up with amendments till our task is
completed.
Meanwhile, too, we shall take up COM
plants where charges are made of rates
being grossly excessive and adjust them at
once If we lind the complaint well founded.
Another important matter We shall con-
slider in fixing the rates on the % per cent
reduction basis are special rates. In many
cases where a producer or certain locality
has much larger crop of any particular
thing, as grapes for instance, the railroad
company. as a particular favor, gives a
special rate. Now there is peculiar thing
about these special rates. When the rail
road company makes a voluntary reduc-
ton, owing to competition, 1t is not per-
mitted to restore the old rates, but special
rate has never been considered as being
permanent.
HWha we propose to do, and we have
already had considerable discussion over
the matter, is TO take these special rates
as basis for our reductions. If the rail
road can afford to make these rates at par
ticular times to particular people or local.
ties, they can afford to have them applied
permanently and to all shippers alike
what will be done in the cases of al
legged violation of the State constitutional
clause, which prohibits higher rate being
charged for a shorter haul than for a
longer?"
'"That is a problem difficult of solution
according to Attorney General Fitzgerald's
Interpretation of that clause. We have the
right to fix the maximum rates for the
railroad, but there is nothing to prevent
it making reductions in them to certain
points where it has to meet water
competition, and these may, as is
now the case with points below
San Luis Obispo, be less for the
more distant points than for the nearer.
In my opinion, the railroad company
should be given some latitude in the mat
ter, and | believe that if the situation were
fully and properly placed before the At
torney-General he might construe the
troublesome clause differently and in what
/ consider more equitable manner. At
any rate l shall have it again brought to
his attention"
At the meeting which will be held this
afternoon it is expected that amendments
will be adopted to the newly issued gram
tariff, adjusting existing determinations.
-1---
Creditors to Ask Que stions.
RQrroru Mirh nd ofbarc ooppootad 1,;+b I,;,o