The herald., 1896-11-21
THE RAILROAD COMMISSION
Cause of the Delay in the Bien.
nial Report
REPORTS SLOW COMING in
They Think the Duties of the Board
Should Be Enlarged
Grain Rates Were Reduced by Compe-
tition When it Was Beyond the
States Power to Do So.

An informal meeting was nelu yester-
| day by the railroad commissioners IN
order to complete their biennial report
says the San Francisco Chronicle OF
| Wednesday. They excuse their G-lay
by ascribing it to the neglect OF seVerai
| transportation companies to send IN re-
| turns until the latter part or OCTOBER.
1T appears" says the report, TO TINS
| commission that deliberate effort was
made by some of the companies to OBJ
struct the action of the board by ques-
tioning our authority to require annual
| reports 1t is contended that as there
| is no provision of law by which carriers
are obliged to report to the railroad
commission, it is optional with them 10
| furnish the desired data. 10 opVlate
| further difficulty and needless litiga-
| ton we respectfully suggest the pas
sage of an act similar to that in force
| in the state of Kansas, which imposes
penalty for refusal to make suitable
| reports"
Stress is laid upon the delay of the
United States circuit court to render
decision in the case of the southern
Pacific Company VS.. the Railroad Com
mission, which was submitted on May
Goth last Under the temporary re-
straining order" say the commissioners
"our hands are tied, and we are power
less to act in any manner relatlhs 10
the connection of determinations or
the fixing of rates of freight and fares
where the Southern Pacific is party.
AS under the temporary restraining or
der the jurisdiction of the commission
is attacked the commissioners nave re-
Trained from attempting to regulate or
change the ratio of either freghts or
fares of any other railroads until the
long delayed decision is obtained.
1t is specifically recommended that
power should be given to the commits
sion and it be made its duty to compel
all transportation companies to report
annually to the commission, or more
frequently if necessary.
The board also thinks it should have
the right to regulate the speed of trains
at crossings and compel the erection OF
bells at such points, as well as have au-
thority to designate the location of de-
pot stations. switches, side tracks, turn
outs and spurs for the benefit and con-
venience of shippers. The board should
also. it contends, investigate accidents
and be empowered to require the post
ing of schedules of freights and fares
in depots In this connection. the report
states that within the past year the
number of railway accidents reported
to the commission was 499, of which
number 367 were injured without death
resulting and 1872 persons were Killed:
The report of the board of railroad
commission of Kansas is quoted at
length in support of the contention that
additional powers should be conferred
Under the caption of reduction of
rates" the commission points out that
early in the present year 1t made re
duction of only s per cent. instead of 10
as proposed. upon all grain rates then in
force over the roads of the southern
Pacific company. This action was re-
sisted by that corporation, but since the
commencement of the resultant legisla-
ton the San Francisco and San Joaquin
Valley railway has been constructed
and placed in successful operation from
Stockton to Fresno distance of 125
miles, carrying both freight and pas
sengers. Comparison is made between
the schedule of grain rates made by this
company and those adopted by the
commission, demonstrating that the
new road in many instances adopted
the official rate. being reduction of
about 8 per cent from the rates charged
by the Southern Pacific between Stock
ton, Fresno and intermediate points
prior to the completion of the Valley
road In addition the latter abolished
the switching charge of Is cents a tor
at Stockton, as formerly charged by the
Southern Pacific. Subsequently the
Valley Road supplemented these reduc-
tions by making rate of so cents ton
on grain transported by water from
Stockton to Port Costa and San Fran
cisco. These reductions We're met by
the Southern Pacific. amounting to
more than 15 per cent below the rates on
January /, 1895 "The Southern Pa
cific company" remarks the report, "is
still being run presumably at profit.
we have not yet heard that it is unable
to pay it's current expenses, fixed
charges, etc, and that from this slight
reduction and competition that it is
likely to become insolvent and pass
into the hands of a receiver. The re-
duction proposed in grain rates, if ac-
cepted by the company and enforced.
would save the grain shippers of the
state an amount equal to the expense
of maintaining the railroad commission
since it's organization"
Under the enabling act of the legisla-
ture the jurisdiction of the commits
| sion over street railroads was expressly
| excluded. The right of the legislature
| to curtail powers conferred by the Con-
| stitution on the commission is ques-
| toned, and the point as to what are
street railroads is raised. Are they con-
fined, it is asked, to those operating
within the corporate limits of a city or
| town and carrying passengers only, or
| do they include all railroads operating
upon the streets of a city or town and