The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-05-15
NEWS OF THE RAILWAYS
STRONG PROBABILITY OF A WAR
IN OVERLAND RATES
CANADIAN PACIFIC STANDS PAT
The Southern Pacific Must Fight or
Back Down-President Hunt
ington and Legislators

Chances are very strong that there will
be lively war In overland rates this
week, and that rates will be cut as low as
so per cent Of what they now are and pos
sibly more. The Southern Pacific, through
its general ticket agent, Mr.. Goodman, has
placed itself In the position of having
bluffed and been called by the Canadian
Pacific, which has caused all Of the trou-
BILE. Mr.. Goodman some days ago, In an in
terview, stated that unless the meeting of
the Transcontinental Freight bureau, now
being held in Milwaukee, did something to
the Canadian Pacific and brought about a
better condition of things regarding the
cut in rates instituted by that road, that
there would at once be war instituted.
1t Is understood that the whole matter
was to be submitted to arbitration at the
Milwaukee meeting, but the Canadian road
did not even condescend to have a repre-
sentative present at the meeting, and as
there is no means of bringing any pres
sure to bear on that road, the only thing
to do is for the American lines to get in the
scrlmmage with their tomahawks and give
the travelling public some fun.
According to a San Francisco paper, the
sole reason for the Southern Pacific's re-
ducing rates will be to compel the Cana
dian Pacific to withdraw the application
of it's war rates from the immediate bust
ness out of San Francisco. The passen-
ger rate war between the northern lines
grew out of the dispute over business from
eastern points to the Klondike, and the
Southern Pacific takes the ground that its
Canadian competitor had not good reasons
for applying it's cut rates to business out
of Go "a ri AZ,
has been securing much more business out
of that city than it is entitled to and the
Southern Pacific does not propose to put up
with its loss of traffic any more.
Now that the Canadian Pacific has re-
fused to consider any proposition or to dis
cuss the matter, 1t is probable the second
class rates from San Francisco to Chi
cago will at once be cut from $3.50 to
$3.50. and to New York a rate of $42.50
will be made. If this is done by the South
ern Pacific, the out-rate will also be adopt
ed by the Santa F'e in self-protection from
this city to all Of the eastern cities on Its
line.
Huntington's Explanations
Some very interesting matter was
brought out on Friday at the examination
Of c. p Huntington Of the Southern Pa
cihc railway by the state board of railway
commissioners. Attorney Hayne wanted to
find out something about the money spent
by the company to influence legislation,
and the result was as follows, according
to the Chronicles report:
about this money to influence legisla-
tion," said Attorney Hayne. "Of course
do not refer to anything so gross az
paying for votes"
There never was vote bought with my
knowledge" interrupted Mr.. Huntington.
"Of course not" Hayne FASTENED to in.
| terpolate.
I'VE didn't buy votes" said Mr. Hunt.
! ington, "but it takes money and time Ia
explain things. We paid General Fran
cho. in Washington a salary of $4,000 a
year, and he was authorized to employ at
torneys and others to help him.
"And that was all paid without vouch-
ers?" queried Hayne.
Certainly. I had known him for years
and had implicit faith in him. II you
think he didn't earn that money you didn't
know General Franchot.'
"And so it was in explanations that you
spent all that money!"
"Certainly. 1t was spent so that men in