The San Francisco call., 1898-08-27
Oppose the Slashing
 of Freight Rates.
BY THE CANADIAN PACIFIC
SAY IT IS INIMICAL TO OUR
 COMMERCIAL INTERESTS.
An Earnest Appeal for Relief Made to Sir William Van Horne,
 President of the Road.

The wholesale merchants of this city have decided to take hand in the freight
 rate cutting controversy which is now
 agitating the various transcontinenta lines.
 The commercial bodies of San Francis
 CO without wishing to take sides in the
 controversy, but simply to protect their
 own interests, held meeting in this city
 the early part of this week and adopted
 a series of resolutions which have been
 forwarded to Sir William c. Van Horne president of the Canadian Pacific Railway
 Co.,, at Montreal, respectfully calling his
 attention to how he Is jeopardiZing the
 values of the stocks of goods on the Pa
 cific Coast and suggesting to him the ad-
 visibility of adopting a system of rate
 making that will relieve the situation of
 the present precarious condition and
 maintain transcontinental freight rates
 on a firmer basis.
 There were represented at the meeting the following associations:
 Wholesale Grocers' Association of Cali fornia; Wholesale Dry Goods Traffic As sociation: Wholesale Drug Trade of Cali fornia; Wholesale Paper Trade of the Pa cifc Coast; Pacific Coast Hardware and Metal Association.
 Resolutions were adopted as follows:
 Sir William c. Van Horne. President Cana dian Pacific Railway Company, Montreal, Canada-Dear Sir: At meeting of the duly authorized delegates from the principal Job ping interests and associations of this city, held the 18th of this month. the following resolution was unanimously passed:
 Whereas The present system of rate-mak- ing on transcontinental shipments to San Fran cisco enforced by the Canadian Pacific Rail- way is in our opinion prejudicial to the bus- ness interests of San Francisco and the Pacific Coast generally inasmuch as said system occa- rates thereby placing the value of our stocks of goods in jeopardy; and, whereas: the other railways occupying a position, so far as San Francisco traffic Is concerned, analogous to that of the Canadian Pacific Railway, are main taining the rates adopted by the Amerlcah Transcontinental Railways, as shown in trans continental freight bureau west-bound tariff No. 1-C. be 1t
 Resolved That a committee consisting of one from each and every tobbing interest re- presented at this meeting be selected by the chairman to give expression to these our views to inc Canadian Pacific Railway Company, through its president. Sir William '. van Horne, and to request that said company adopt a system of rate-making to San Francisco that will relieve the situation of the present precar- ious conditions and maintain transcontlnental such an arrangement will rebound to the best interests not only of the mercantile community of the Pacific Coast, but to the Canadian Fa- cfc Railway we'll.
 All of which is respectfully spbPitted. with the request that you kindly acknowledge re- ceipt of this communication.
 A prominent business man who has talk en a great interest has this to say on the subject and he voices the sentiments or other nleTcQaHtS.
 "The question of transcontinental freight rates has been one that the mer- chants of the Pacific Coast have been very carefully ever since the tariff was adopted June M- The attitude of the Canadian Pacific Ra1l- way Company has made the importation of large stocks of merchandise to the Pa ciflc Coast an extra hazardous one, as the American roads could little longer brook the rate cutting of the Canadian Pacific Railway Co.,, and it was only a question of time when a rate war would be de clared that would be very disastrous, not only to the railroad companies themselVes, but to the Pacific Coast patrons who have large stocks of goods on hand which would be Appreciated greatly in value by a reduction in freight rates.
 "The Pacific Coast merchants have con sdered the attitude of the Canadian Pa cifc Railway Go. as unfair, not only to American railroad interests, but to the community of the Paclnc value of the entire stocks of goods on hand in the stores and warehouses on this coast.
 That the public may understand the this matter by way of explanation l would say that the Canadian Pacific Rail- way Go. have insisted on always making a 10 per cent lower rate than the Ameri- ential," and that the American roads have conceded that to them. These are not the facts. The American roads have not "conceded" anything. The Canadian Pacific Railway Co has arbitrarily in-
 'In other words, foreign-built road. by their Home Government, that will make good any losses that might tempting to force American railroads to carry American manufactured goods for American merchants at a higher rate than this foreign road Is charging.