The San Francisco call., 1899-05-14

Commissioners Blackstock and
Laumeister and William F.
n Herrin at the latters home are
now public property. The re-
/ creant Commissioners met with the
head Of the law department of the
Southern Pacific Company to discuss a
report written by Blackstock on the
grain case" now pending in the United
States Circuit Court. There is on file
in the office of the Railroad Commits
sion published report over the sigma
ture of N. Blackstock This report was
not written by Blackstocl1, but by Will
liam F. Herrin. The report which
BlaCkstock wrote was submitted to
Herrin, changed, revised, emasculated
and practically destroyed. 1t was never
filed and never will be, although it's sa-
ient features are presented this morn
ing. The original report contains some
startling secret history in reference to
the Southern Pacific Company. 1t
shows conclusively that the railroad
was eager for the opportunity to COM
promise the grain rate case" to go
before Judge Morrow and ask dismis-
sal. The Southern Pacific Company
wished to submit to the per cent
rate if the Commission would rescind
the general % per cent reduction
The company was willing to do what
ii knew honest men would not do but
which subservient Commissioners have
done. These facts are boldly related
in the secret report which for the first
time finds publication. Soon after the
present Railroad Commissioners were
elected Blackstock was selected to
make a report on the grain rate case
pending in the Circuit Court. Black
stock was given until March 13 to fin
ish his report, but he concluded his
Iabors on March 3. He then sent cop
les of his report to William F. Herrin.
Railroad Commissioners Laumeister
and Edison.
In a few days Commissioners Lau-
meister Backstock and Edison went to
the home of Herrin upon invitation.
Blackstock's s resolution was read and
discussed. Little could be done that
evening, as Commissioner Edison re-
fused to submit to the suggestions Of
fered by Herrin. Edison was invited to
no more wine suppers at the Herrin
home, but the other Commissioners
We're, and night after night considered
Blackstock's report. Herrin made
changes, eliminated certain passages.
introduced many of his own and prac-
tically rewrote the document. This
was done, as a matter of course. with
the unqualified Endorsement of Lau-
meister and Blackstock.
While these meetings were in prog
ress Laumeister and Edison went to see
NJ. NJ. Estee, whose advice they sought
in reference to the grain rate case. 1t
was then that Laumeister declared
that he would not submit to the sug-
gestiOns of Blackstock a month later
the dishonest Commissioner submitted
to the dictation of Herrin, which was
immeasurably more humiliating and
dishonest than were the suggestions of
Blackstock, as a comparison between
the secret report and the published
document shows.
Time after time the Commissioners
went to the Herrin home TO accept the
changes which Herrin made in Black
stocks report. When the work was
finished the report, as Herrin wrote it.
was adopted and out of the Herrin re-
port grew the scandalous appeal of the
Commissioners to the Circuit Court to
dismiss the grain rate cases" This
secret report of Blackstock furnishes
another disgraceful episode in the cam
paign of the Southern Pacific Company
to rob the people of the State through
a venal Railroad Commission.