The San Francisco call., 1899-01-03
APPO|NTEES
OF RAILROAD
COMMISSION
Will Probably Be
Named To-Day.
ANNUAL REPORT SUBMITTED
HUNTINGTON CRITICIZED AS A
WITNESS.
Valley Road Will Solve the Fare and
Freights Question-Memoria1
Adopted on Stanton's
Death.
ANNUAL REPORT SUBMITTED
HUNTINGTON CRITICIZED AS A
WITNESS.

Contrary to the announcement, the new
Board of Railroad Commissioners, con-
sisting of n. Blackstock, E. B. Edison and
C. S. Laumeister, did not organize yes
terday, the reason assigned being that 1t
was a holiday. 1t was thought best to
defer this work until to-day, for which
purpose the new board will come together
at 10 a. m.
There are three patronage positions in
the gift of the three members, and ac-
cording to reliable reports, the appointees
have already been selected. w. S. Sesnon,
ex-County Clerk of San Francisco, is slat-
ed for the secretaryship, Mr.. Foley,
relative of Commissioner Laumeister, is
to be the baliff of the board, and James
D. Brown will in all probability be the
stenographer, though he has rival in
Stephen Potter, the stenographer or the
old board.
1t is also the announced purpose of the
new board to move from the present
quarters of the commission in the Chron-
icle building, owing to lack Of room.
The members of the old board, COM
prising H. NJ. La Rue. W. NJ Hinton and
w. r. Clark, have filed their final report
with the Governor. 1t is voluminous
document and fills nearly 120 typewritten
pages. In the course of reviewing the
boards work for the year just past, the
report says in regard to it's efforts to re-
duce grain rates s per cent in the State:
We regret to have to state the case of the
Southern Pacific Company against1the Board
Of Railroad Commissioners restraining 1t from
carrying into effect the schedule adopted re-
ducing grain rates s per cent is still pending
in the Circuit Court of the United States.
Testimony is being taken before Master
in Chancery Heacock. 1t is claimed by
some Of the members Of the old board
that the past year should show, by rea-
son Of increased earnings, such profits for
the railroad as will make it legally pos
sible to make the sought for reduction.
Tribute is paid in the report to the high
qualities of G. P. Huntington as an art
full dodger of disagreeable questions. He
was before the commission in connection
with its investigation of the Southern Pa
cific Company. The opinion expressed is
that of Commissioners La Rue and Hin
ton, Commissioner Clark having de-
INJURED to having it incorporated In the
report of the board. These are the
words of the commission:
Mr. Coils P. Huntington appeared before the
commission May @ 1898. and was examined
swers were characterized by that persistent
evasion which has always been the leading
commissions and Congressional committees.
Mr.. Huntington proved to be avery remarkable
struction of railroads, their physical condition.
when built, and by whom. he was very famil-
OF construction, the value of stocks, the pres
ent value Of roads. upon which we desired in
knowledge of but little Importance to US
High appreciation of the economic value
to the State of the Valley road is shown
in the report as follows:
The San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley
Railroad has extended it's lines through the
San Joaquin Valley to Bakersfield, and at the
present time has its engineers surveying from
Stockton TO Oakland which, when completed
will be of great benefit to the shippers and
growers on the line Of said road, and will, in
great measure. regulate the question Of fix
ing fares and freight rates.
After reviewing the proceedings which
resulted in failure to investigate the af-
fairs of the Southern Pacific Company on
the complaint of John r. Robinson, and
to regulate fares on street railways, the
report concludes with a memorial on the
death of DR.. James l. Stanton as follows: