The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-12
STANTON'S RESOLUTION,
His Proposition for a ReduC-
ton of Rates Said to Con-
tain a Joker.
MR.. La RUE's ATTITUDE.
He VIII Oppose DR.. Stanton's Sub
stitute as Contradiction in
Terms.

The Board of Railroad Commissioners
will meet this morning to discuss the Stan
ton substitute resolution introduced at the
last meeting of the Commissioners. The
Commissioners are being closely watched
by very large proportion OF the people OF
California, for their action relative to re-
duction in rates either pro or con is some
thing that affects every interest, directly
or indirectly, in the State.
Grain, as the most important commod-
ity shipped over the lines of the Southern
Pacific Company and also as the commod
lty carrying under the present schedules
the most onerous rate, comes first to the
attention of the Commissioners. Mr.. La
Rue, after careful consideration of the
question, in which the other two Commits
sloners upon their own published state
ments had no participation, proposed re-
duction of Is per cent in the established
rate on grain. Action on this proposition
was deferred in order to give Clarke and
Stanton time to study the situation and
decide upon the feasibility of making the
La Rue proposition an order Of the board.
In the meantime DR.. Stanton came for
ward with substitute, in which he asks
the Commissioners to resolve that:
The present rate for the transportation of
freights in California by the Southern Pacific
Company and its leased lined be subjected to
such an average reduction as, including all re-
auctions made thereon since December l, 1894,
shall equal an average reduction OF % per cent
upon such rates as were in existence on said
December /, 1894.
After specifying the manner of appor-
tionment in effecting the proposed reduc-
ton the resolutions continue as follows:
Resolced, That the rates at present existing
n 70 inY nf or N in in
the Southern Pacific Company and its leased
lines, as established by grain tariff No. 2, and
all subsequent amendments thereto, be and
the same hereby are reduced to per cent, and
the secretary of this board is hereby directed
to prepare a schedule OF rates in accordance
herewith, etc.
The intention of the resolution was not
clear to good many people and since its
introduction by DR.. Stanton has caused
much discussion. One part of the substi-
tute declares for an average reduction of
25 per cent ION the present rate of charges
for the transportation OF freights in Cali
fornia" and in another part certain COM
modify is specified upon which the reduc-
ton is to be 'S per cent" In general
terms DR.. Stanton declares for an average
reduction of rs per cent, but the actual
reduction appears really reduction on La
Rue's proposed cut from Is to per cent.
1t is urged that it is not easy to see how
reducing proposed reduction from Is to 8
per cent on a certain commodity effects an
average reduction of 25 per cent on rates of
transportation.
The term average reduction" is said to
be entirely misleading as used in the reso-
luton. 1t is even claimed that an average
reduction could be made without effecting |
in any way the actual returns from trans |
portation of the Southern Pacific, and for |
specific example the following is given: |
The rate on commodity of which the
railroad company hauls but nominal
quantity might be reduced SO per cent,
while the rate on a commodity of which |
the company handles a vast quantity |
might be reduced l per cent. Here, it is |
contended, would be an apparent average |
reduction of so per cent on the two COM
modities, but in reality it would be no re-
duction at all, for the revenue of the COM
pany would not be affected in the least, |
nor would the manipulation afford any re-
lief to shippers.
Dr. Stanton states that the La Rue re-
duction is not sweeping enough and yet |
he offers as a substitute resolution made |
up of general declaration of intention
relative to rates in general and PROPOSE |
ton to lower the percentage of reduction |
on specific commodity.
Mr.. La Rue admits that the Stanton |
substitute is defective and misleading. for |
the reasons stated above, but what his &C |
ton will be in the event of his own propo- |
sition being tabled he declines to say. One !
thing is certain, and that is that La Rue !
will strenuously oppose Stanton's substi- |
tute. What Clark will do remains to be
seen.
DIR. Stanton declined to be interviewed |
YESTERDAY on the subject