The San Francisco call., 1898-08-03
WELLS-FARGo FoLDERoL.
I oTWITHsTANDING> exposure' the Wells

| N LII OlWilHSIANDlNCI> exposure tne Wells'
 iN Fargo Express Company persists in its ettor1 to be dishonest. That it should be awkward I: surprising for this corporation has until recently borne enviabe reputation for being square had been subjected temptation, and its repute re- naned unsulled; temptation came in the form ot a chance to cheat the Government out of wa tax, and 1t fell, the chatter of its downfall being considerable Now its protestations of good intent are recognized as the merest folderol.
 This corporation has claimed the right to force its patrons to pay the levied upon by the Govern nent. Patrons have submitted, knowing themselves to be the victims of imposition, and yet unwilling to make contest matter that seemed small un- less the aggregate was considered But the company also willing to cheat the Government as well as customers. It made proposition to The Call to take from it wagon-oad of bundles, and by the hocus- pocus of tying string about the lot or throwing tarpaulin them designating the shipment as one bundle That The Call refused be accessory to this form of crime 1t is hardly necessary to state On the contrary, demanded that each bundle be regarded separate, represented by bill of ladng, and that the bill of lading recevea stamp at the expense ot the corporation is the word and intent of the law. This demand has been complied with, circumstance showing the company to know that it is wrong r. To illustrate the small of the conduct of the Wells-Fargo people attention may be called to the fdCt that when us cars 1ODDcQ of is set to work to catch the robbers This the corporation regards right, and It has never been denied Nor is there any delay until the robbers have been landed in the penitentiary. Now, in an underhanded fashion, Wels Fargo is itself en- gagged in robbery, and the president of it asks that nothing be done about it until the of other robbers have been decided. number of such cases have been passed upon, and in every instance the corporation has been worsted. Instead of yielding gracefully Wells Fargo asks for still delay, appeals have been taken to the United States Su- preme Court Everybody knows that decision can not be expected for three years, that in the mean time the will be over, and the character of the decision matter of the utmost indifference, dur
 ing the interval the patrons of the company will have borne all the expense. ..
 There is no legitimate ground for postponing action. If the corporation has influence sufficient to prevent District Attorney Foote from halng 1t into court there are other methods At least the facts can be laid before the Federal Grand Jury and every offending official indicted This will be done unless Mr. Foote shall bestr himself, something he displays no visible inclination to do
 Tn private capacity citizens can find measure of protection in sending by mail all packages weigh ing less than four pounds The method is both safe and economical. In some manner the corporation must be brought to realize that it Is not greater than the law nor above the people whose patronage it licits and whose pennies it illegally exacts.