The San Francisco call., 1897-06-10
UNIF ORM SYSTEM
Of ACCOUNTS
The Interstate'S Plan to Be
Adopted for This
State.
Charge of Discriminating Made
Against the Valley Road
Is Dropped.
Attorney. .Gensr;1 Fl zgerald's Efforts
to Get the Books of the Market
Street Road.

The California Railway Commi ssioners.
consisting OF II. NJ. La Rre (chairmanl,
DR.. James l. Stanton and w. r. Clark,
met yesterday and considered a number
of important matters. The Sierra Rail-
road submitted its schedule of freights
aud fares Tor adoption, but as the road is
charging cents mile for passenger fare
it was deemed exorbitant. The matter
went over till the next meeting.
For ONE time past the commission has
been desirous of establishing a uniform
system OF accounts for all railways, end
to this end has caused letters to be writ
ten to the various roads asking for in for
nation. The answers generally were that
the plan of the Interstate Com merce Com
mission was best. 1t was therefore directed
by the commission to adopt the same sys-
tenn as the official method for all the rail-
ways in The State:
The following was also unanimously
adopted:
ResolUed, That for the purpose OF fixing ra tes
of fares and freights the president and secre-
tary of ali steamship transfer companies in
The State be requested to appear before the
commission with the necessary books, papers
and data. and that subpenas issue Tor the
Sacramento TRANSPORTATION Company and the
California Navigation Company for next meet
ing.
On request OF Attorney George B. Spin
ner OF Stockton the case brought against
the San Joaquin Valley Railroad Company
Tor alleged dlscrimIn alton, was dismissed.
Attorney General Fitzgerald sent a let
ter to the commission in reference to the
application for a writ of mandate against
the Market street Railway Company,
which was read. The subpoena was issued
last August for the books, records and pa
pers of the corporation. The latter re-
fused TO give them TO the commission, or
to recognize its authority. The Attorney
General Tecited what had been done by
him, and gave the status OF the matter
thus:
In addition to the various matters alleged
In my petition, showing the importance to the
public of early decision of this matter,
so incorporated the following allegation
THAT this is matter OF great pubic interest
ana ana OF paramount Importance to the people OF
the state. and Il speedy and final determina-
ton by this court of the power and authority
OF the plaintiffs IN the prv.aisss would be OF
great benefit to the peop.e OF this State"
Notwithstanding this, however, the supreme
Court declined to entertain the petition and to
issue the writ on the ground that no sufficient
reason was shown for the making of the appIi-
cation originally to that court.
In view of this fact l am compelled, unless
otherwise instructed by you, TO make applica-
tion 10 the Superior Court, which viii OF
necessity result in that delay which l had
hoped to avoid by making as did the applica-
ton origina ly TO the Supreme Court.
wish TO add that the petition for writ of
mandate was prepared by me several months
ago, but that its presen tation was DELAYED at
the request of Mr.. La Rue, the president OF
your board, who stated that he did not wish
the matter pressed until the adjournment of
our last Legislature, as it might injuriously
affect certain bills then pending before the
Legislature having in view the same objects
sought 10 be obtained by this proceeding.