The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-18
A SERIO-COMIC VALENTINE.

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hoped there will be speedy decision, for the
question at issue is to whether the corporation has
right to rob its patrons Mr. Costley brought suit
because the company refused to receive from him for
transmission certain package unless he should first
pay for the revenue stamp. AS Congress in levying
the tax intended this expense to be borne by the
company as the company afford to pay it, and
matter of plain decency ought TO pay it without
murmur, public sympathy is naturally with the plain
tiff. There should be delay in the decision, de-
lay is almost good as victory to the corporation
This paper has no disposition to war on the Wells
Fargo Express Company any OF its officials. 1t
demands only that the law be complied with and is
surprised and panied that good Mr. Valentine should
be engaged in evasion. 1t is the duty OF a newspaper
to protect people against extorton and to expose
fraud If in pursuance of this it disturb Valentine
in the attitude OF prayer, may regret, but it cannot
be swerved All it asks is that the Wells Fargo peo
pie discharge their obligations shippers and to the
Government. This there is no disposition to do
DEPRESSION into matters of fact are here appropriate
1t is matter OF history that in the first deal OF the
present express organization with the Southern Pa
cihc the Big Four of the railroad got ST 500 900 in
stock as bonus, and almost from the start received
per cent dividends the gift. When the contract
now in force made the Southern Pacific got
another $I5oo,ooo swelling the capital stock OF the
express concern to 100000, on which there has
never been paid less than per cent annually, and
which last year there paid dividend OF 10 per
cent nearly all of it derived from California business
And all but half million of this stock fictitious
Poor, suffering corporation. No wonder its presi-
dent sheds of blood the possibility of its hav
ing to share the burden the war placed upon the
country
President Pecksniff Valentine states that the war
tax would be an enormous for the company to
pay Yet it has had no conjunction about collecting
during the past three months this enormous sum from
shippers, who have no prospect of ever getting it
back, No progress has been made in the test cases
brought in the East No progress was desired by the
combined express companies The Attorney General
declared that the express companies would have
to pay the tax. Since that time McCook "a
distinguished Eastern lawyer" has got to the ear of
the Attorney General, and in consequence United
States District Attorneys have been notified that
there could be action brought except for violation
of the law meaning except when neither party would
pay the tax. All the Government cared to have the
tax paid This letter showed that the Attorney
General was party to enough petty larceny to make
a grand total, and it paralyzed his subordinates
throughout the country.
The Wells Fargo charges are greater than those
OF any similar corporation existence and it is the
only of the lot which has the nerve to charge
extra for the delivery OF packages outside restricted
district in the cities it reaches Now its presiding
Pecksnif threatens in it be forced to pay its war
tax to raise the already exorbtant Happily this
may be regarded bluff The company is great
but it is not supreme. 1t comes within the purvew
OF the Railroad Commissioners as being a common
carrier. The Governor has power to enforce laws
providing for its regulation, and finally the Legsla
ture call it from its lofty position make it pay
license and deport itself less after the manner of the
swine which projects its feet into the trough after its
nose.
Valentine has the circular habit, and has been
deluging subordnates with disquiston on the sub
jcct, notable for its ignoring facts and equity He
quotes from himself in which shows he is
not only convinced, but that through his convictions
runs a strong and pleasing vein of piety If he
wishes to purloin from patrons he wishes to do it
with the sanction OF his conscience After
showing of the companys position in the controversy
which position consists of refusal to obey the statute
it closes as follows
If there still be lingering dissatisfaction dspel
it by the best possible service and polite good ma
ture To the words that Shakespeare puts in
Wolseys mouth: Corrupt on wins not more than
honesty Still in thy right hand carry gentle peace
to silence envious tongues Be just and fear not"
Well, John, there is lingering dissatisfaction and
it will continue to inger until you have been forced
to act squarely with the people who contribute to
faten dividends stock created by printing press
and stroke of the pen. Shakespeare was all right
but if he had your in mind at least he was not
taking your view OF it He was speaking from our
side