The herald., 1896-08-01
Japanese Steamship Men Show
Much ShrewdnesS
THEY WANT COMPETITION
And Look Askance at San Francisco's
One Railroad
The Southern Pacific Company Makes Plea
for Low Assessment-San Diego
Road Elects Officers
Associated Press Special Wire.


SAN FRANCISCO, July 31.-The
members of the committee of the cham
Der of commerce appointed to confer
with the leaders of the proposed new
japanese steamship line learned today
that they had very shrewd business men
with whom to deal
Hugh Craig, William l.. Merry and
other members of the chamber of COM
merce met Soichiro Asano, the presi-
dent; Captain Shujiro Tomoka, Hiro-
yu1i Kobaysski of the steamship COM
pany, and II. Ottawa, director of the
Ojai Paper company, this afternoon.
The visitors frankly admitted the SUI
periority of San Francisco harbor and
wharves to anything they had seen in
| the north, and asserted a once that the
! great objection to San Francisco is the
lack of railroad competition. They
would make no promises whatever as
to what they would do until they have
seen San Diego harbor.
During the conference. which was a
| private one, the president of the COM
pany stated that nothing short of an
| absolutely ironclad agreement with the
| the new line the same rates on through
and local business as the Pacific Mail
and Oceanic steamship companies en-
| joy could induce even consideration of
| San Francisco as the terminal on this
coast of the new line.
Mr. Asano departs for England on
| Tuesday next, but will leave represent
atives here who will acquaint them
selves thoroughly with all the city can
| offer What the japanese will require
in addition to the general proposition of
equal terms with the transpacific lines
| are facilities for the trans shipment of
tea and other Oriental products at the
wharf to the steam cars and deep water
berths
IN TERROR OF TAXES.
SACRAMENTO. July 31.-E. B. Ryan,
attorney for the Southern Pacific COM
pany, appeared before the board of
equalization today and stated that the
Southern Pacific had run behind over
81, 0O0,0 600 in the year 1895 The Southern
Pacific Coast railroad, which is part of
the system, had a deficiency of over
$4,000, and yet last year it had been as
| sessed for over $500 mile. Governor
| Budd, who was present, called atten-
ton to the fact that there was a de-
| crease of $500, 600 in the gross earnings of
this road since its statement of a year
ago, and questioned in such manner as
to cause Attorney Ryan to ask if he (the
governor) intended to imply that the
company had made a false statement.
The governor replied that he thought
! it misleading
| In concluding his argument Ryan said
| that none of the railroads We're making
money and many We're going into the
| hands of receivers. He cautioned the
board against heavy assessments. as it
would result in Gripping roads already
nearly so.
\ GOOD, BIG NAME.
SAN DIEGO, July 31.-At a meeting
Of the stockholders of the San Diego,
| Pacific and Eastern Railway company
known as the railroad mems railroad,
held in this city today, the following
directors were elected George w. Vro-
man of North Platte. Neb.. William p.
Daniels of Denver. F. e. Gilleland of
Omaha. L. S. Thomas of Los Angees,
c. r. Stewart J. r. Stearns, Joseph
| Bachman and j. NJ. Dodge of San Diego,
| after which the board organized with
! George w. Vroman, president; William
p Daniels, vice president; c. r. Stew
art, general manager, and ]. NJ. Dodge,
secretary.
ACCOMPLISHED NOTHING.
NEW YORK, July 81 The board of
! managers of the Joint Traffic associa-
| ton held a meeting today, transacted
routine business and adjourned until
! August Is.
PLEADS NOT GUILTY
SAN FRANCISCO, July 31.-Attorney
Jenkins, against whom disbarment pro-
ceedings have been brought by Byron
Waters. denies that he entered into a
conspiracy with James II. Allison, chief
clerk of the claims department of the
Southern Pacific, TO defraud the rail
road. He says that Allison came to him
and offered to give him information so
that he could secure clients. j was a
business proposition, and he agreed to
divide the fees with Allison. Alisons
position with the Southern Pacific has
been given to Emmett Bagey, formerly
librarian Of the Southern Pacific law
department.
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