The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-11-15

ST LOUIS, Nov. 1.-THE Interstate
Commission resumed its session this
morning Fifer, the new Commissioners.
sat with the commission, making fan
board. Ex-CommissiOner Calhoun con-
Quoted the examination of witnesses LOT
the complainant.
4 telegram from the Merchants and
Manufacturers Association of Stockton,
signed by President Henderson and pro-
testing against the relief asked for by the
merchants of St. Louis, was presented TO
the commission and filed in the case.
Traffic Manager Van Landingham
showed his want of knowledge OF the sit
uarion by claiming that there was no
water competition as TO most of the alu-
lies covered by the complaint, as the emp
per ships had disappeared He seemed
greatly surprised when told that eleven
clipper ships from Eastern ports were
due in San Francisco during October, and
that the manifest Of one Of these ships
covered nearly all the articles which he
Claimed were no longer carried by water.
J. also came out during his cross-eXam-
nation that this proceeding before the
commission was taken by order OF the
board of six managers of the St Louis
Traffic Bureau. five of whom were jobbers
l this city. He was asked TO name the
manufacturers of st. Louis who had con-
utrI 10 the complaint, ana could men
dion only one small concern.
Van -IauGlngham finally admitted tnat
il was q fight Of the iObbers TO get more
business on the Pacific Coast; mat the
manufacturers We're not taking mana IN
IT,. as they sold largely 10 the Pacific
Coast merchants. and naturally would not
Ike 10 do anything TO offend them
The next witness called for the COM
r.aiuduL was one Allen, the traffic man
ager IF the Meyer Bros. Drug Company,
one Of the largest wholesale houses IN
drugs and chemicals in the whole w est
u seems that each of the biggest western
-olaiug houses has man known as
IRA fl. manager. whose sole business Is 10
ls,E after shipments, ind over what
lines merchandise may be shipped TO the
best advantage and obtain any rate of
which the railroads Will give. The COM
paint of this witness was that his house
could not sell to retailers on the racine
Coast d.. such favorable terms as the
iuboers there, because 1t could not snip
small lots - advantage. lie admitted
that the jObberS of the Middle West
usually got a freight allowance from the
manufacturers on goods shipped TO St
Louis and similar places. which In many
Instances gave them lower rate 70 Pa
eiac terminals for large quantities than
those shipping from New York and other
He was followed by F. W Hurry, sec
rotary of the hardware house of FarWell.
OsmGu Erik * Co. Of St. Paul, who
said that his company was stu doing a
large business with retailers in oregon
and Washington. but wanted the rule as
- mixed lots modified so they could not
.rlv ship on more favorable terms in less
than carload lots, but pack various aru-
.ies. such as rosin. shoe backing. toilet
Yauer. Irvine. TaZOrS. pocket knives and
ths like I'm one box at lower rates. so they
could go more directly to the retailers and
get as much profit as the Pacific Coast
f-hber. who gets his goods in larger guam
titles and Is satisfied with the present
programmes. He said distinctly that the
present rates We're fair to the shippers so
far - their earnings were concerned, but
wanted a change i'm the rates to facilitate
the Middle West iobbeT In getting his
merchandise TO the Pacific Coast in small
lots.
The star witness of the day was 3. B.
Dutt0n freight manager for the firm Of
Kelly. Maus & Co. dealers in heavy
hardware. at Chicago he frequently
said that this was fight between the
Chicago and Pacific Coast jobhers for the
Western trade: that the Pacific Coast
man now had the advantage as he bought
his merchandise in carloads and so got
better rates. He made a good deal OF fun
10y saying that IN some cases there was