The San Francisco call., 1899-10-18


discussion next week at the meeting to
be held IN this city to effect permanent
organization. In the meantime ii is in
teresting 20 know that there is a candi-
date in Oregon to fill the vacancy in the
commission. This is Ex-Governor Lord
who is doomed by Senator Simon.
Charles Holbrook. OF Holbrook, Merrill
u Stetson, presided at the meeting at
which the Pacific Coast Traffic Associa-
ton was called into existence in this city
Mr.. Holbrook said yesterday concerning
the needs of the coast in the matter Of
commissioner:
1T is almost a necessity that the Pacific
Coast should have a representative on
the Interstate Commerce Commission He
should nave an intimate knowledge of
the business of the coast in order to be
able TO represent us intelligently. We are
ponucally entitled to one member of the
commission The appointment is not
local. 1t Is TO represent the whole coast.
a man of large business experience is
needed and one who knows all about our
relations with the tranSpOrta ton lines in
a commercial way. He should not be Sc
lected as a successful politician. A LAWYER
or politician will not be able to represent
commercial interests involved in decisions
of the commission. The Commissioners
formulate rules. They should understand
me general principles underlying traffic
ana the relations of sea and rail, and of
one section with another 1 would not
IKE to see man named for the position
who Is under obligations to anV railroad
| prefer a man who is independent He
transportation and commercial affairs 1t
would be better to have the choice go to
oregon or Washington than have him the
representative OF any one railroad
William Haas of Haas Bros, president
OF the Associated Wholesale Grocers of
California, said: ITO represent the Pacific
coast a Commissioner should be familiar
with the advantages of our geographical
position Now that our Oriental trade is
increasing, well-equipped Commissioner
representing the coast can do much to
promote trade. He should be fully awake
TO the requirements of traffic of this
coast. He should be thoroughly familiar
with transportation questions. No man
without that knowledge could meet the
other members of the commission on
equal terms. A novice in traffic matters
would have 1t all to learn There are
many men in San Francisco who have
been connected with business houses who
nave the requisite knowledge. 1 think
that ii. u. Loveland, chairman of the
executive committee of the Traffic Asso-
citation, would be a good man for the
pace up,top man. Emphatically I
wou!q say that lawyer or politician is
not the proper sort of man for the place"
Ernest Folger of J. a. FoIger & Co
SAID: IF We have Pacific Coast repre-.
sentative in the Interstate Commerce
commission he should be a business man.
no man would be the proper choice wko
Is not familiar with business conditions
ana the making of rates. l would not
favor the appointment of a lawyer or pol
luclan by any means, nor the appoint
ment Of the representative of any rail
road. lie should be non-partisan traffic
man, thoroughly acquainted with the
needs Of the coast
= Frank, S. Johnson of the Johnson
Locke Commercial Company said: az
D. Loveland is the man. He is brilliant,
bralny and. above all things, practical
he mas complete knowledge of the ex-
lsting conditions on the coast. The coast
needs for Its representative a practical
ana intelligent merchant, who must at
the same time be familiar with the law
l Will bet that If canvass should be
a 20
land would have a large vote as the
cholce OF San Francisco, and Chapman
would not be able to get a corporaIs
guard Of merchants to support him"
Philip Teller Of Norton. Teller & Roden
said: "A Pacific Coast representative
member of the, Interstate Commerce
Commission should be a combination of
traffic man and business man. That IS
the requisite
Sidney Smith of tn. California Fruit
Gamers Association said: THE Pacific
Coast member of the commission ouebt
not TO be lawyer nor politician. What
we need to represent us is q man IA
Isaac Upham expressed this view: 1T
will require a business man. No novice
in transportation and tariffs will be
able to represent the needs of the coast.
We do not want lawyer That Is my
impression.
". R. Wheeler: "The first thing to do
is to get the President committed to CIV
ing the Pacific Coast place upon the
needed to fill the place properly must
be acquainted with the principles under
lying transportation. That would be the
best kind of a Commissioner"
- Charles NJ Yates: I'VE need an indi-
vidual of the type of ]: S. Leeds. The
matter is purely one Of business, ,,,S con n
a business man. He should also have
thorough knowledge of traffic matters
Lippmann Sachs of the firm of Sachs
Bros 81 Cove deserve representation
on the Interstate Commerce Commission.
SAP Francisco is the third in Importance
ofSthe shipping points Of the United
States. We must not have lawyer or
a politician to represent US. The first
would go too much into the technicalitieS
of the situation and not display enough
practical judgment to be of any benefit
strings on him to act fairly between the
jobbers and the transportation compan
les. He should be man who is in posi-
tion to assist in promoting commerce and
who will not be likely, by reason Of his
affiliations. to be biased in favor of the
companies. This Is not,
local matter eXactly-it IS a question
that effects the whole country. Our pros
perity depends upon the promotion of
trade-of the commerce between States,
in other words. 1t would be better for
us 10 have no representation whatever
on the commission than to have the
wrong man appointed. A lawyer will not
tical effect Of the measures that may
come before the commission. And a poll
tician would be out of place, because com
merce is a matter so entirely foreign to
his profession and has no bearing what
ever upon the politics Of any section or
State. The man who is appointed must
be thoroughly familiar with our condi-
tons and the situation Of our trade He
positively. must not be affiliated with any
transcontinental railroad, either directly
or by reputatio and at all times must
be in position to act intelligently and
fairly. l do not care to speak directly
against General Chapman. but from what
1 have said in a general way you can
readily see from my point of view that
he would not fill the bill"
Alfred Meyerstein of the Meverstein
Company-"Bet have no representative
whatever on the Interstate Commission
than to have the wrong man. All of the
wholesalers with whom I have discussed
the matter agree that a man of affairs
a man with a knowledge of trade mat
ters-should represent us. Above all. he
should not be Identified with any trans
continental railroad 1 do not think that
a politician or a lawyer should be an |
pointed Either, believe, would be detri- |
mental to our commercial interests