The San Francisco call., 1898-06-10
He Now Imagines That the Corporations Own the
 Water Front.
The Harbor Commissioners Will Shortly Dispel the Hal-
 Inclination.

While it may seem strange to declare that certain officials of the Southern Pacific Company of Kentucky, who are also identified with the mis-manage- ment of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, believe that the entire water front is the property of those two cor porations instead of belonging to the State of California, such is the fact. These officials have been so long used to bullying citizens that they now be- leve that the people have no rights they are bound to respect. They have taken upon themselves the power to dictate just who shall and who shall not be permitted to enjoy the small privilege of passing through the care fully guarded gates that lead to the Pacific Mail dock. Considering the fact that the wharves are State property and that the docking privileges ac- corded the Pacific Mail Steamship Company are granted only by suffer ance of the Board of State Harbor Com missioners and subject to revocation at any time, it is certainly strange that R. P. Schwerin, who finds time to act as manager of the purchases and sup plies department of the Southern Pa cific Company and also act as mis- manager of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, should stoop to mean and petty practices that might be forgiven if committed by a school boy. Naturally one would suppose that an official oc- cupying the responsible position held by SchWerin would be above indulglng in spite work that would not be worthy of notice by The Call were it not that many have felt the effects of his Czar- like rule. If anything displeases him he is ever ready to prove how vindtct- i've he can be, but as a general rule the majority of people rather enjoy his dis pleasure than his smiles.
 The time has arrived when Schwerin should be made to understand that the people have some rights that are to be respected and that the corporations he represents do not own the entire State of California. This lesson will be taught him. Unless he drops the scepter of ruler he will be compelled to do so, for the courts will speedily show him how small a mite he is in the world not withstanding the exalted opinion he holds of himself and the corporations that employ hin.
 The Call enjoys the pleasure of hav- ing incurred the displeasure of Relent- less Prosecuting Schwerin. It came about in the usual way. Telling the truth was the sin committed by The 0GlI anu lOI SO uOlIS lIlC WI dlh OL lllC mighty utility man of the twin cor porations was provoked.
 A few weeks ago, when President Mckinley issued call to arms for men to fight for "Old Glory" and avenge the cowardly murder of the brave men on the Maine, hundreds of our best citi- Zens gave I'D their daily avocations to shoulder the musket. The nation was short of proper troopships and many vessels were chartered by the Govern ment. Among them was the City of Picking. owned by the Pacific Mail Steamship CoIlpany. Alterations were necessary to afford accommodations for the volunteer soldiers on the steamer and it was believed that everything possible would be done to make them comfortable on their trip to Manila Bay. where they are to join Dewey and his heroes. A reporter of The Call passed the sacred portals of the Pa cific Mail dock one day while the alter atiOns were being made and wrote simple story of what he saw. The City of Peking was being fitted out for the men who were giving up their homes and many of them their lives to fight for the old flag and Cuban liberty in such a way that any one with feelings of Christian sympathy would declare that cattle could not live between the decks. The City of Picking was a veri- table death trap and The Call gave that news to the public. The result was that much of the work done by the Pacific Mail Company had to be torn out; the hunks rearranged and better ventilation secured for the soldiers. That of course cost money and any thing that looks toward an outgo in stead of an income for the Pacific Mail Company and the Southern Pacific Company is drowned upon by Schwerin. So it was that The Call and Its repre- sentatives have since that time been very distasteful to MT. Schwerin.
 For letting the world know the truth