The record-union., 1896-11-22
RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS.
Their Report Has Been Received by the
Governor.
Result of Their, investigations, and
the Work That Has Been
Done by Them.

Inc biennial report OF the RdliTodu
| Commissioners has been received by
the Governor, and by him transmitted
to the Board of Examiners. The follow
| ing is a brief synopsis of few of the
points handled.
The first meeting of the commission
as at present constituted was held IN
January, 1895, and since that date BIZ
monthly meetings have been the order.
The members of the board have per
sonally inspected various railways OF
the State in order TO familiarize them
selves with the topography Of the coun-
try, as well as the manner of conduct
and the facilities afforded to their
patrons.
There are at present thirty eight
railroad corporations engaged in the
transportation of freight and passen-
gers within the State, exclusive OF
street railways and water transporta-
ton companies, and the work of the
commission has been difficult in the ex-
treme, requiring the exercise of the ut
most care, consideration and judgment
In compliance with the directions of
the last Legislature an investigation
into the question of burdens imposed
upon fruit growers by transportation
companies was made, and the board
believes that the excessive burdens so
imposed upon Eastern shipments are
to a great extent occaSioned by the
private ownership Of the refrigerator
ears used for these shipments. This
system is conceived to be pernicious,
and no good reason exists why railroad
companies engaged in the transporta-
tion of fruit, vegetables and viticul-
| tural products of the State should not
own and provide suitable cars for such
| traffic as well as for other commodities
handled by them. Steps should be
| taken by the proper authorities look
| ing to the relief of the great oppres-
sion under which these industries now
suffer. The commission, however, has
no control in the matter, it coming
properly under the department con-
trolled by the Interstate Commerce
Commission of the United States. That
commission has examined into the
matter and recommended that Congress
enact suitable regulations to guard
against such unjust treatment.
In explanation Of the recent reduc-
| tion of rates, the report says:
cific Company was and has been at all
| times that a reduction of rates would
he confiscatory of their property. and
that the rates as now established and
charged were just and reasonable ard
as low as they could be made so that
the COMPANY would be enabled to pay
operating EXPENSES, fixed charges, in
terest, etc.
The commission did not adopt the
resolution making a reduction OF 10
and 20 per cent. as proposed, but did,
after long and careful examination
and consideration Of the question, make
by unanimous vote, a reduction OF {
per cent upon all grain rates as then
in force and being charged upon all
shipments OF grain from the interior
to tide water over the roads or the
Southern Pacific Company
The company claimed that this reduc-
ton would be confiscatory Of their prop
erty: was unreasonable and unjust, and
commenced an action restraining the
board from enforcing compliance with
said order reducing rates
Since the commencement of said ac-
ton the Valley Railroad has been con-
structed and is now in successful oper-
alton from Stockton to Fresno. 1t is
parallel the whole distance by railroads
owned and operated by the Southern
Pacific Company, and after completion
a schedule of grain rates was given
which, compared with the schedule
adopted by the commission, demon
strates that the new road in many
instances adopted the official rate, be-
ing a reduction of about s per cent
from the rates charged by the Southern
Pacific Company between Stockton,
Fresno and intermediate points prior to
the completion of the new road
In addition to the foregoing reduction
the new road has abolished the switch
ing charge of Is cents per ton at Stock
ton.
Upon the publication of the reduced
rates of the Valley road the Southern
Pacific met the cut and in many In
stances the reduction was greater than
that made by the Board of Commits
siorers. The reductions made average
more than - per cent. lower than the
rates of January j. 1899.
Since the last report of the commits
sion there has been constructed in the
State 433 miles of line, making total
mileage of 5,o61 2 now in operation.
Since the organization of the commits
sion many complaints of excessive
charges against transportation compa-
MES by shippers have been made in the
form of letters or verbally, and in many
instances have been satisfa torily ad-
justed through the agency of the board
without the formality of hearing.