The San Francisco call., 1897-10-22
MAY EFFECT
A COMPROMISE
Navigation Company Max
ing Overtures to the
Merchants.
Admits There May Be Some
Inconsistent Rates in
It's Tariff.
Will Make Changes if the Portland
and San Francisco Jobbers
Get Together.

The executive committee which has in
charge the scheme to put line OF steam
ers on 10 be controlled by the merchants
of the city is hard at work perfecting
plans for the carrying out of The scheme
Owners of ships have been seen and the
cost of chartering vessels has been ex-
amined into, and the members of the
committee think the outlook very favor
able.
The merchants in all lines are becom-
ing interested in the movement, and by
pulling together they expect to make the
result of the undertaking successful. Sub
scriptions are coming in as we'll as could
be hoped. No general canvass has been
made among the merchants as yet. but
a. soon as the soliciting com NIT tee is ap-
pointed this line of the work will be taken
up in earnest.
The agitation has had the effect of max
ing the local agents of the Oregon Rail-
way and Navigat ton show a disposition TO
confer with the executive committee and
there is q chance that conference will
be brought about and tn. rates of the
company lowered so as to be satisfactory
to the merchants.
In reply 10 a letter from Mr.. Goodall of
the navigation company 20 the traffic
alton here, the following telegram was re-
ceived:
PORTLAND. Or, Oct. 20. 1897.
GooddlL, Perkins d Co., San Francisco, Cal i:
What, if any, action on our part would you
suggest in view of the situation me toned in
your letter OF the 18th? San Francisco mer-
chants certainly misapprehend the situation.
Maximum amount OF business between San
Francisco and Portland and tributary terri
tory will follow pleasant and reciprocal rela-
tions between joboers OF the two cities, while
the continued efforts of San Francisco mer-
chants to make the retail business of this
country directly tributary viii cause bitter
feeling aud ultimate loss of business, on ac-
count of the disposition of our jobbers 10
avoid purchasing in the San Francisco market
We believe full discussion on the subject
with the individual San Francisco houses con.
cerned would influence this conclus ion. There
may be some inconsistent rates in our tariff.
III SO, we expect to change them on proper
showing. b. CAMPBELL.
Mr.. Goodall said yesterday afternoon:
"The freight rat are controlled by Mr.
Campbell entirely and he made the pres
ent rate at the request of the Portland
merchants, who wished the high rate in
order that they might supply the sur
rounding territory instead of having the
San Fran cisco merchants step in and
monopolize the trade of the country
towns. The desires of the merchants Of
San Francisco were not considered and
should have been looked into. Ii the
Portland merchants and those of this city
would come 10 an agreement we could
make an attempt to regulate the rates to
suit them. provided they did not ask US
to carry freight for nothing. For the last
three years the rates have been SO low
that the steamship company hasn't made
a dollar"
One of the prime movers among the
merchants, A. Rulofson, was seen in re-
gard to the matter, and said: 'tThe i'm
preston seems to have taken root that