The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-13
STATIONS EIGHT PER CENT CUT ADOPTED,

| n WAS
! lost by the negative votes of Stanton and
himself, Clark alone voting for it. 1t was
then announced that Stanton's amend
ment was again before the board. The
author of the amendment then explained
its significance, saying:
My idea is to give each commodity the pro-
portion of reduction it is entitled to. By an
average reduction mean that some rates may
be affected 10 per cent and others 20 per cent,
or even more. The horizontal reduction made
on grain is per cent. This per cent would
be reasonable, and 10 per cent would not be at
this stage. Later each commodity will be given
such additional reduction as it may be found
entitled to. If grain is found to be entitled to
lower rate l am willing to give it.
La Rue-I was in hopes that my colleague
would withdraw his amendment and act on
the original resolution. After hearing ali the
testimony am more firmly OF the belief that
The interest OF the State depends very largely
upon agriculture. The outlook for the
country is very bad at present There is not
| more than one-halt a crop in sight, and the
crops for the two previous years were not
profitable. This red uction would therefore be
all the more valuable to the producers. 1
would appeal TO my colleague from either
part of the State to give this his best atten-
ton. feel just as much interest in the ship
ments to and from San Francisco as
any one. After grain rates are settled other
rates can be fixed. In this connection would
call attention to the fact that the railroad has
its rights also, and should be considered in this
matter. The rates named in my resolution are
fair Just and reasonable. One. fourth of all the
freight carried is grafn and one-sxth of all the
freight revenue is derived from grain. Its i'm
portance is the reason OF my insisting on its
rates being reduced before other matters are
considered. Unless the farmer can get his
produce to market he will cease TO grow it. /
therefore move to strike out the word "eightn
in Commissioner Stanton's amendment where
it refers to the reduction on grain rates and
substitute the word fourteen"
stanton-I agree perfectly with you that the
grain-grower is entitled to a reduction, and
that other producers are also, but if reductions
are made in this way it will come to pass
that prevents any reduction being made in
some articles. IA per cent reduction would
any further reductions necessary to properly
adjust determinations. The s per cent reduc-
ton would give immediate relief without this
objectionable result. That is why l am in
favor of the per cent reduction now.
Chairman La Rue here put his amend
ment to Stanton's amendment and it was
lost by vote of two noes to one aye, La
Rue alone voting for his amendment.
Stanton then further explained and sup
ported his amendment as follows:
My resolution means a reduction on every
freight rate In California, and to make any re-
duction above 8 per cent now would perhaps
prevent proper reduction on some other COM
modities.
La Rue-Grain is big factor and should get
the full benefit OF any reduction made by this
commission
Stanton-I propose to make an additional re-
duction on grain later and this with the pres
ent 8 per cent may equal the Is per cent which
Is proposed in your resolution, and will be the
better way of accomplishing the result you de-
sire.
La Rue then offered another amendment
changing the 8 per cent to IA, and added
that he would make further amendments
to see if he could not induce one or the
other OF his colleagues to move up peg or
so. Then, in rapid succession, without
even waiting for the formality of second.
he put motions calling for a change to L.,
II, H. 10 and per cent, and all were lost
on the same vote that decided the l4-per
cent amendment.
Stanton's substitute resolution was then
declared to be again before. the board
That announcement brought Mr.. Clark to
his feet.
Clark-Mr. Chairman, have started that
could not vote for your Upper cent horizontal
reduction, and therefore introduced my reso-
luton providing for reduction OF 10 per cent.
Iwant 10 see the rates lowered. l think they
should be lowered.
The railroad has reduced rates pretty generally,
except on few branch lines, and they are as
fair in relation to one another as we could
make them, andI therefore favor general re-
duction all along the line.
Clark want to vote on the grain rate sep
arately and now move that the grain rate
cred and voted upon separately.
Stanton-My substitute means a reduction of
70 per cent on all rates in existence on the
Southern Pacific. II we stay here day after
day considering this matter we would reach
only the same result. 1 have Appropriated
the reductions for grain with the other CON-
modities and believe it is impossible to make
division of the question.
Clark-It seems to me that DR.. Stanton's reso-
luton is just as indefinite as mine. The aver
age reduction on rates seems to me to mean
q I will
however, vote for that portion of the resolution
reducing the rates on grain, but not for the
other portions.
Stanton-But it is impossible to make
division OF this resolution.
Clark move an amendment, that the grain
rate reduction be voted on first; that divi-
sion be made OF the whole question l want to
know what am voting on. 1t seems to me
that when this commission began it's work
was in favor of taking up other commodities
than grain, but I was ruled out, and l now
want to vote on the grain rate alone.
La Rue-The motion now is to vote ON the
grain resolution alone.
Then followed discussion as to propri-
ETY., under parliamentary usage, of divid-
ing the resolution, and Chairman La Rue
ruled that it was divisible. He did not
put the question on Mr.. Clark's amend
ment to divide, but ordered the vote on
the grain portion of the resolution, and
that portion of Stantons resolution was
adopted on the affirmative vote of the
whole board. Mr.. La Rue remarked that
if he couldn't get whole loaf he would
take half loaf. He then offered an amend
ment substituting the words Sat the earliest
convenience" in place of the words ''at
once, in the sixth section of the resolu-
ton. He did not want to be forced to vote
right away. He wanted more time to think
and consider on the proposition for gen.
eral reduction OF 25 per cent on the other
commodities. Mr.. Clark sought some in
formation from DIR. Stanton as to the
meaning and the result of such reduc-
ton.
Clark-Your idea is to put the discriminative
rates on a just basis and then reduce, If neces-
sary, the revenue of the company 25 per cent.
For instance, ii the revenue is now ,000-
600 is it your idea to reduce that so as to make
a reduction of $4 ,000, 900 on the revenue
Stanton-Yes. My idea is that when | find
out what the entire sum is that should be re-
duced, to then apply the reduction in such
way and on such commodities as might be
found best. The recent reduction by the COM
pany has reduced the revenue about 5000, 900,
and this proposed 8 per cent reduction on
grain will reduce 1t further about $145 600
Clark think this whole resolution is out of
place. We ought to prepare tariff and then
bring it in here and vote on it. do not want
to vote on general % per cent reduction and
cannot vote for that part of this resolution
La Rue-The proper way to do this would be
to take up the different commodities, but that
xr, a a