The record-union., 1895-09-14
Another Session Yesterday to Con
slider Reduction in Rates.
SECOND PORTION OF STANTON'S
RESOLUTION ADOPTED
The Steamship Belgic, Which Went
Ashore on the Coast of Japan,
Floated-The Vessel Is Believed to
Have Sustained Little or No Injury
Costly Blaze in Fresno Town.

SAN FRANCISCO. Sept. 13.-Ths Rail-
road Commissioners held another meet
ing to-day to consider that part OF the
resolution offered by Dr. Stanton provid-
ing that the commission should at once
proceed to go rearrange the existing rates
on all commodities as to provid for a
general average reduction of % per cent.
from the former figures. credit being
given the railroad company for such cuts
as It's managers had voluntarily made
since the beginning of the year 1894.
When the board reconvened this after
noon at L o'clock Chairman La Rue an
nounced that he had received a supple
mental petition from George W. Ficks of
Sacramento, who the other day presented
petition from the artisans of Sacramento
praying that freight rates be not reduced.
The additional petition was received and
filed.
The question of adopting the remaining
clause OF DR.. Stanton's resolution was
then called up, and Chairman LaRue an
nounced that he had changed his mind
since yesterday and that he was now
willing TO vote for the Stanton resolution
In full. In explanation of this change he
read written statement OF some length,
setting forth in effect that he had
come to the conclusion. after inves-
tlgatIon, that the proposed % per cent.
cut could be made without injustice to
the railroad. 1t had been said, he stated
that ii the resolution were passed it
would not hold good in the courts. With
that, he added, the Commissioners had
nothing to do. Their duty was simply
TO DO their part toward setting in motion
h Qn hi 4
work for the good OF the people.
The concluding paragraphs of Chair
man LaRue's statement read as follows:
satisfied as | am now that such re-
ductlons are legal and just, l shall. not
outstanding my present vote, always
hold myself in readiness to change or
restore any rates which change of cir
cuinstances or further evidence may con-
vince me are unjust to the railroad COM
pany. l fully realize the fact that we owe
not only duty TO the people, but to the
company itself, and stand prepared to
perform mine TO either party whenever
the occasion should justify it.
Il therefore announce that upon Dr.
Stanton's resolution Tor a reduction OF -
per cent. shall vote aye. and L trust that
we may shortly De able to prepare a
schedule and TO put these new rates In
force"
Commissioner Clark also made state
ment, in which he again declared his
opposition TO the resolution. He said ne
had been nominated and elected by q
party that had not pledged him to do any
thing that was unjust. His party was
broader than that. 1t was party Of pro-
lection, and it had not asked him to make
70 per cent reduction, right or wrong.
In the DISCUSSIONS in the board the uues-
tion that seemed to exercise the other
commissioners seemed rather to be what
the Democratic platform demanded.
rather than what was right o. wrong.
When the board should come to consider
the schedule he would vote for such re-
ductlons as he thought were right. He
was emphatlcally opposed to making q
cut OF 70 per cent on all comm odities
without there having been any hearing
accorded the company or companies
whose revenues ii Is thus proposed to re-
duce.
Then Chairman LaRue proposed that
his original resolution, as amended by
the adoption OF DR.. Stanton's resolution.
be voted on, but Commissioner Clark
protested. He cOntended that the Stan
ton resolution, or rather resolutions, q
division having been made, stood for
themselves anu had no connection what
ever with Chairman LaRue's own orig
lnal proposition, of which they had taken
the place. There was therefore no reason
for any further voting. II can't split my
vote" ne said. II have voted for the s
per cent. grain rate reduction and l have
voted against the other proposition. Now
II you lump the whole thing together
again you make it impossible for me TO
vote at all. and | shall refuse to do so.n
commissioner stanton sided with Mr.,
Clark, and Chairman LaRue then con-
sented to accept this Wow of the case and
did not insist on another vote being
taken.
The commission then adjourned, to
meet again on Tuesday next at l o'clock,
at which time the work OF preparing a
new freight schedule will be begun.