The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-02-19
books in order to shield us from personal

the country"
Morgan-Yes, and you got very rich out
OF your benevolence, did you not?
Hunting gton-Well, I may not be as
benevolent as some but I meant well and
thought was doing big thing to build
up the Western country. [ have often
parted with my money very easily
Morgan Gnterrupting)- can spare
US that eulogy on your own generosity.
We do not care to hear it. OF course we
know it was not money you were after,
but you worked for glory.
Huntington - No, sir. I have never
worked very much for glory. [Laughter.l
Soon afterward Senator Morgan forced
Huntington to admit that Stubbs, as joint
agent for the Southern Pacific and Central
Pacific. could divert traffic from the Cen
trai to the Southern route, unless shippers
otherwise directed.
Morgan-Then Mr.. Stubbs could have
sent most all of the freight over your
Southern route to the impoverishment of
the Central road if he had wished?
Huntington-WelI, no, you see, that is,
| suppose
Morgan Gnterrupting must not
try and get away from the facts and don't
base your statement on mere suppositions.
We want facts. Now, you admit you were
heavily interested in the Southern Pacific
and only had about 1000 or 5000 shares of
the Central Pacific stock.
Il think about that much,' replied
Huntington.
Morgan - You think so. Don't you
know? You seem to know very little
about your own business.
Huntington-It is difficult to remember
so far back.
Morgan-Well, you think you had that
much and admit you had heavier interests
in the Southern Pacific. You have been
vice-president and president of the South
ern Pacific and Centrall Pacific companies?
Huntington-Yes.
Morgan-Has it not been your policy to
send as much freight as possible over the
Southern Pacific?
Huntington-We have shipped much
heavy stuff over the Southern route but
forty-nine out of fifty cars have gone over
the Central route. l have been ambitious
to encourage fruit-groWing and to give
them as good rates as possible, so much SO
that New Jersey and Delaware fruit
growers have complained that cheap in
PRODUCTION of California fruit into these
States damages the business. Rates over
neither OF our roads have been high, only
twelve mills per ton per mile for freight
and less than two cents per mile for pas
sengers.
Morgan-The Southern Pacific is very
much longer line than the Central Pa
fc?
Huntington-Yes, sir; almost twice as
far from San Francisco to New Orleans
than from San Francisco to Ogden.
Morgan-1our interest was then to Sc
cure the long haul ii you could2 Would
you have dismissed Mr.. Stubbs if he had
not sent considerably more traffic via the
Southern than by the Central route?
Huntington-No, think not.
Morgan-But you would have lost money
by his SO doing, and you certainly would
not keep an employe who caused you such
financial loss. The two roads were COM
petitors, were they not?
Hunting gton-Yes, to a certain extent.
Morgan-How much did the Southern
Pacific formerly pay for its lease of the
Central road.
Huntington-We paid $1,36O,O00 per
year, but when we ascertained that the
Central road could not ear enough to
pay US back that amount the agreement
was made that the Southern Pacific should
not pay more than the Central earned per
year.
Morgan-Did not the Central Pacific
earnings decrease because your agents
diverted traffic to your own road, the
Southern Pacific?
Huntington-No. The results shrank as
a result of competition of the overland
roads.
Morgan-But how do you account for
the fact that Southern Pacific rates did not
shrink also?
Huntington-I do not know.
Morgan-Was it not to your interest to e.,
divert traffic to the southern route?
Huntingdon always wanted to be
fair
Morgan Gnterrupting)-I am not asking
about your great generosity. That is very
well known (sarcastically).
Morgan inquired about Huntington's
Atlantic steamships, and whether these
lines were not established in the interest
Of the Southern Pacific.
Huntington-Yes, sir.
Morgan-Now, what have you ever done
oget business for the Central Pacific route ?
You say you have been its chief executive
officer.
Huntington-Well we had our agents in
New York
Morgan-I am not asking about your
agents. l am inquiring about your own
individual efforts.
Huntington-Oh, 1 never solicit any
freight or passenger business myself.
Laughter.
Morgan-Oh, don't be so narrow, Mr..
Huntington. You understand well enough
what 1 mean. Then you haven't made
any personal efforts to build up the Gen.
tral road?
Huntington-Oh, yes; I have improved
the roadbed, rolling stock, laid new rails,
and
Morgan (interrupting)-I am not speak
ing OF the physical road, and you know
it. | shall assume that your attempts at
evasion are sufficient answers to my ques-
tons.
Hnntington-The executive department
of a railroad has nothing to do with select
ing traffic.
Morgan-Now, will you answer my ques-