The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-26
CINCH ON SHORT HAULS.
Justice of the Demands for
Reductions Is Gener-
ally Conceded.
INTERSTATE LAWS VIOLATED
Some Interesting Testimony Given
Before the Investigating Com
mission in Denver.

DENVER, CoLo., April 25.-rhe evidence
given before the Interstate Commerce
Commission in this city has been so con
vincing that railroad attorneys and Off.
Gals have conceded the Justice of the de.
mand of Denver jobbers and manufacturer:
for reduction of rates. But they contend
that if lower through rates be granted the
rates to intermediate points shall not be
lowered correspondingly. Colorado com
plainants do not object to this exception
since all they demand is to be put on an
equal footing with Chicago and other East
ern points in reach of markets west, north
and south.
The commission began hearing evidence
to-day on the complaint of the Colorado
Fuel and Iron Company. The chief point
made by this concern is that the steel and
iron plants of Birmingham, Ala, can ship
their products to the Pacific Coast more
cheaply than the same class of freight can
be shipped from Pueblo, Colo.
Judge D. c. Beaman, in opening the case
for the iron company, said that really the
only point at issue was whether the AL
mighty had not made mistake in putting
large deposits of iron and coal in Colorado
instead of along the line of the Southern
Pacific Railroad. He read the complaint,
which set forth in detail that the Southern
Pacific as well as other roads published a
rate on steel rails and other articles of iron
and steel of 81 60 per 100 pounds from
Pueblo to San Francisco, while at the
same time they publish a tariff on these
same articles from Chicago. Mississippi
River points and Missouri River points of
respectively go, So and "a cents per 100
pounds; also that the rate from certain
Atlantic seaboard points and New Orleans
is as low and sometimes lower than from
Chicago. 1t is asserted, therefore, that the
rates published from Pueblo to San Fran
cisco are unreasonable and absolutely pro-
hibit any iron or steel business in that
market. English steel rails are delivered
alongside the docks at San Francisco, the
price of the rails, freight, insurance and
duty all included, less than 81 60 per 100
pounds, which is the published rate for
transportation only from Pueblo. This is
claimed to be an unjust discrimination
against Pueblo and undue preference and
advantage to localities farther east, and
therefore in violation of the third section
of the interstate commerce law.
1t is further alleged that in charging
higher rates from Pueblo than are charged
from seaboard points, Chicago, Mississippi
River points and Missouri River points to
San Francisco the fourth section of the
interstate commerce law is completely ig-
nored and therefore violated.
The company further says that the gen.
eral business of the company in supplying
fuel to Colorado industries is to large
extent affected by a wholesale discrimina-
ton whereby such industries are deprived
of chance to sell their goods in the San
Francisco market, and that the rates and
charges made by the railway companies on
all other goods and wares other than those
above specified carried from Pueblo, Den
yer and common points in Colorado to
Sacramento, San Francisco and common
points in California are unreasonable and
unjust.
Paul Morton, second vice-president of
the Colorado company, gave a detailed
account of the manner in which its prod
ucts are Kept out of the California market.