The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-05-07
UNCLE IS A WINNER
STANDS OFF THE STATE RAIL-
WAY COMMISSION
FREIGHT RATES TO ADVANCE
Twenty Per Cent Advance to Go Into
Effect on Monday-Bakersdeld
Celebration-Notes

in his contest with the railway commits
sion In San Francisco this week so far as
the investigation into the cost of his rail-
ways has gone. The old gentleman has no
lawyers or advisers to consult with and he
has some Of the most acute men IN the
state as his tormentors. but he cuts.
thrusts and parties all the verbal attacks
with the zest and skill of an old duellist
who is out with tyro. He explained that
he would be very glad to tell the cost Of the
roads, and that If he could find the original
contract with the Western Development
company he would do so. but the paper
had been undoubtedly destroyed. He ex-
planned this peculiar fact by the statement
that If the company kept its papers after
a certain time he would have to constantly
find new quarters for the officers. He
never spent dollar for storage and never
for anything not necessary.
Southern Pacific Charter Attacked
In the days of the Debs' strike District
Attorney Denis of the United States dis
trict court here, with Special Attorney
j. Fl. Call. brought a suit against the
Southern Pacific on the ground that its
combinations with other lines forming the
system was against the law. They sup
posed at the time that they were acting
with the endorsement of the then attorney
general, but they soon discovered that this
was mistake. for they were instructed to
have the case dismissed, and did so, at the
cost of much annoyance.
This same line of action, however, was
taken up in San Francisco on Wednesday
by an attorney named Monteith, who filed
a complaint with the state railway commits
sioners against the owners of the Southern
Pacific company, averring that the charter
of the company should fave been forfeited
by reason of the alleged fact that the
leases by which 1t held possession of is
subsidiary lines are Illegal and contrary
10 the constitution.
1t is averred that the roads have failed
to operate branches, have exceeded their
corporate powers in making losses and
have unlawfully consolidated. All of the
companies are charged with being engaged
in business for which they were not in
corporated and with having used their in
comes from subsidies. donations, issuance
and sale of stocks and bonds and collec-
ton of freights and fares for corrupt and
political purposes.
The complaint asks that the officers of
board with their books and accounts, to
enable the commissioners to make an In
vestigation into It's affairs as to manage
ment, operation and control. The board
decided to refer the whole matter to the
attorney general of the state for invest-
cation and advice as to procedure.
immigration Shut Out
The point is made that the cut rates made
for the purpose of getting the klondike
traffic from the east by the Canadian Pa
cific, and met by the Great Northern and
Northern Pacific, have had the effect of
diverting immigration from the far east
to the northwest to the cost of California
The rates from Boston and New York to
Victoria, Seattle, Portland and Tacoma
are so per cent lower than to cities in CAL
ifornia, both north and south.
A more serious aspect of the case is the
fact that the leading transatlantic steam
ship companies have just contracted with
the railway companies mentioned as par
ticipating in the cut rates agreeing to sell
direct tickets from European points to
Oregon and Washington towns at the re-
duced rates, thus acting directly against
the interests of Southern California.
To show the seriousness of this 1t is only
necessary to quote the rates. Thus, It is
possible for an immigrant in Europe to
purchase ticket that will make the cost
of his trip from New York to any town In
Washington $26.5o, and to any town in
Oregon $31.50; or he can travel from Boston
to any town IN Washington for $3.50 and to
any town In Oregon for $1,000.
To come to San Francisco or any city
in this state north Of Lathrop he will have
to pay $60.25 from New York or from Bos-
ton he will be taxed $685..
From New York to any point south of
Lathrop he will be charged S61.4O and
from Boston $60.40. All this amounts 20
having California shut out from all immi-
grafton from Europe and the east, because
the Santa Fee and the Southern Pacific will
not meet the cut made by the Canadian
line.
Up Go Freight Rates
On Monday morning next decided in
crease in freight rates. both east and west
bound will go into effect. These repre-
sent the result Of the meeting of the Trans
continental freight bureau at San Jose and
Monterey few weeks ago, and have been
prepared by r. II. Counties, the. agent of
that organization. They have been pub
lished in tariff sheets and the agents of the
two overland companies here are supplied
with them.
The general average of increase in rates
Is % per cent over those heretofore in
force, the varying Is extensive in many
cases. For example, the rate on alb
sorbent cotton and lint have been put up
from $1.50 to $2.40 per hundred pounds in