The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-11
STANTON'S EXPLANATION.
He Defines His Attitude Toward
the Railroad Company and
the People.
sQUABBLE OVER PATRONAGE.
The San Francisco Commissioner
Says the Interests Of the Cor
poration Must Be Protected.

| The signs are not propitious for reduc-
ton OF rates at the hands of the present
Board OF Railroad Commissioners. Already
they are quarreling among themselves over
question OF patronage, and this fact
alone precludes the possibility OF any con-
certed action on behalf of the oppressed
shipper. In the first place, they are not
convinced that rates are too high at the
present time. To become convinced of
this will, on their own statements, require
months of study and more clerical assist
ance than the law provides for.
| For seven months work they have to
show the partial investigation of ten COM
plants. In not single instance have they
given the complaining shipper any relief.
| During this time they have not taken the
trouble to ascertain whether or not their
pledges of Is per cent reduction could be
kept, with justice to the corporation. The
question is one that requires some study,
and the Commissioners have little time to
devote to tariffs. La Rue has been busy
with Grand Jury matters in Sacramento
| and DR.. Stanton with rather extensive
medical practice.
The Sacramento Commissioner has been
saying unkind things about Stanton. The
former intimated recently that Stanton
and Clark would always stand together on
any proposition that might come before
the board to the general detriment of
relief measures.
Commissioner Stanton, in an interview
yesterday, declared that this feeling dated
from the organization of the board and
arose over question of patronage. Incl
dentally, DR.. Stanton talked of railroad
matters in general, specifically defining his
attitude toward the railroad, the people,
the press and Mr.. La Rue. While he
chatted a dozen patients waited outside
the door, for DR.. Stanton is very busy
man.
II will tell you how it all happened.
When we organized La Rue had eight
candidates for secretary of the board. 1
wanted to name the secretary myself l
had known Mr.. Newman for good many
years and felt that he was the man for the
place.
"Clark and I made a combination and
offered La Rue the Craftsmanship, to-
gether with the appointment of a bailiff
and stenographer, on condition that he
would approve of Newman for secretary.
He objected to this, seeming to want
everything in the way of patronage.
Clark was approached frequently by
La Rue's friends, asking for his indorse-
ment of one of the Sacramento Commits
sioner's candidates, but he stood firm and
we elected Newman.
''Since that time he has been sore and
on several occasions evinced his displeas-
NV @Ia+
foundation than is contained in the above
facts. A few days ago he was asked how
the Commissioners would vote upon a GER
tain proposition, whereupon he replied:
oh, Stanton and Clark always vote to-
gether.' This is not true. The combina-
ton only applied to organization.
Now as to the reduction of rates. True
we went into Office (La Rue and myself
pledged to reduction of Is per cent But
this is most complicated question. 1t
requires great deal of study. 1t would
not be right to order reduction off-hand
without an investigation. This would be
unjust to the company.
How do we know that rates are too
high?
1.-The people generally and the news
papers declare that rates are oppressive,
but you must remember that the people
and the newspapers are inclined to cinch
the railroad. | honestly believe that this
unjust prejudice is dying out though. I
base this conclusion upon the fact that we
have received only ten complaints since
taking office. Either the howl is subsid-
ing, or the people have given up the hope
of getting any relief at the hands of the
r
missions have often been derelict in their
duty to the people, but l am inclined to
believe that the railroad company and the
people are getting to be better frie nds. To
this may be ascribed the falling off in COM
plants.
II cannot speak for the others, but, as
for myself 1 shall keep my pledge to the
people-that is to say, if l can do so con-
sistently after full and fair investigation.
The millions invested in railroad property
must not be given over to arbitrary and
unjust manipulation, the result of hasty
action and the clamor of newspapers. We
have duty to perform to the Southern Pa
citic as we'll as to the people of California.
We are handicapped by the lack of clerical
assistance. 1t will take US long time to
understand this question with our present
force. We have not been used fairly by
the newspapers. People take it for granted
that Railroad Commissioners must in all
cases be in the service of the Southern
Pacific Company. I am under no obliga-
tions to the company. ard am not even
acquainted with the leading officials of this
corporation. Some of the people who are
saying that the Southern Pacific owns the
present commission may be called upon
to prove their damaging statements before
they know it.
"About La Rues proposed reduction on
cereal products can only say that shall
investigate the subject and act accord
ingly."
In response to question as to whether
in his opinion rates in California are in
excess of what they ought to be DR.. STAN
ton said: II cannot say that I believe
rates are too high at the present time 1
do not know the facts of the situation.
Neither would l assert that they are right.
When I have investigated I will know
more about the subject = at least, l
hope to-"