The San Francisco call., 1895-08-03
SHAMEFUL DERELICTI0N.

There can be no doubt that the two DEM
ocratic members CT the Board of Railroad
Commissioners were elected because OF the
very strong pledge which they took before
the Democratic State Convention about ten
months ago. This pledge was as follows:
WHEREAS, The State of California pays
SO per cent of the gross earnings OF the
Southern Pacific system, said gross earn
lngs aggregating $4S,ooo,000 annually;
therefore be it
HResoiped, That the cnarecs for the trans
portation of freights in California by the
Southern Pacific Company of Kentucky
and its leased lines in California should
be subjected TO an average reduction of not
less than % per cent, and we pledge our
nominees for Railroad Commissioners to
make this reduction SO demanded by the
people.
1--WE pledge our candidates for the Rail-
road Commission TO reduce the number of
freight classihcations one-half, and that
during their term of office they shall
pursue their official labor unhampered
by any other business or avocation; and
we further pledge them to initiate other
needed reforms in the freight schedules
and classifcations without formal COM
plaint being fled
Nothing could be more specific or bind
ing, and yet the commission does not ap-
pear to be prepared to make showing of
what 1t has done in the direction of carry
ing out this pledge. The agents of the
Southern Pacific, when questioned by THE
CALLS representative as to certain reduc-
t1ons which it was reported they had made,
had good deal to say about reductions of
overland charges, but that happens to have
no bearing whatever on the tariffs within
this State, which the Railroad Commits
sloners are charged with regulating and
pledged to reduce. That some such reduc-
ton is needed for the wholesome progress
of this State, and that the two Democratic
members of the board were elected on the
strength of these pledges and with the
belief that they would carry them out,
may be inferred from the following re-
marks made to THE GALL by representa-
tive of the firm of Holbrook, Merrill g. Co.:
mo general reduction in rates has been
made nor is likely to be made, and the
present unsatisfactory conditions will in
all probability exist until we have compe-
tition. In the new road lies our only hope
of release from the clutches of greedy
monopoly. The Railroad Commission
amounts to nothing. From its inception
it has been a farce. Though its duties
have been clearly defined by the constitu-
ton, it still insists upon sitting as a judicial
body. The Commissioners are always
waiting for complaints. Why don't they
go ahead and exercise the prerogative
granted them by the highest law OF the
State? 1t is clearly their duty to regulate
rates and fares over all lines in the State.
In my opinion local rates need looking
into more than anything else at the pres
ent time. Take valley rates, for example.
On freight of the first class the rate to Los
Angeles is 60 cents, while to Fresno, a
third of the distance. IS cents is charged.
The company is hauling second-class freight
to Fresno for 63 cents, while on the same
class to Los Angeles only 4S& cents is
charged. On third-class Los Angeles gets
42K cents and Fresno 50 cents, while on
frst-class the haul to Los Angeles costs 81
cents and to Fresno 81 cents. The same
difference exists in all towns of the San
Joaquin Valley notwithstanding the dis
tinct prohibitions of the State consti-
t11tion ,,