The San Francisco call., 1901-12-03

LTdISp
said switch or spur track, espectively, as afoe-
said for each car of petroleum so transported
and is commanded and prohibited from exact
amount for shipments of petroleum over said
Kern River switch or spur track
Short Is Satisfied.
Frank H. Short was we'll satisfied over
the decision. In an interview yesterday
he said:
The reduction made. while a radical one.
is acceptable to the oil interest. The reduc-
tion in the switching charge is OF great direct
benefit, and is not complicated by any tech
It is unnecessary to say that am highly
gratifed under tie circumstances 1t is not
the confidence of the people in the efficiency
of the courts and public tribunals. The people
are disposed to draw too hasty and unWar-
ranted conclusions. The rehearing, for in
stance, while apparently adverse to the oil men,
has resulted in positive good.
involved will acouiesce in the decision 1t
certainly cannot be seriously claimed that the
order operates unjustly to them; They have
transported oil in large quantities from Los
Angeles to San Francisco over the Tehachapi
mountains for less than 81 cents per barrel.
transport it from Los Angeles to Bakersfield
than from Bakersfield to San Francisco. 1t
oil from Bakersfield to San Francisco at the
equivalent of twenty-six (26) cents per barrel.
To say. therefore, that an enforced rate Of
thrty-seven (37) cents and little over per
barrel is unjust or deprives them Of profits
is not debatab1e.
1t is to be hoped that litigation will not fol-
low, because 1t can only result In bitterness
and loss to all interested
The Railroad Commission has been in exist
ence more than twenty-one years; 1t is GER
tainly entitled at some stage OF its existence
to exert some rights and exercise some con-
troll. The railroads ought to understand their
own business, and my judgment in such mat
ters may be worth nothing or nearly so, but
results, business and profits, not litigation,
ought to be sought and obtained
We are prosperous-that is everybody but the
oil men,, and they ought to be. We ought not
to fight bicleer and contend We ought to be
willing to give and receive, and benefit and
advance all industries and interests. The de-
velopment of oil has proven of greater benefit
to the railroads than any other one event in
the States history They ought, l think, and
in which it has been prosecuted; only to obtain
without injustice to anybody the best results
for all. We greatly need a sense of just con-
troll in California; any pretense OF actual hard
ship or loss under existing conditions could
only be technical, and as a general claim is
preposterous on it's face. and would be vigor-
submit our disputes to the regular tribunals,
and then have an end of 1t. have not sought
or attempted anything beyond what seemed
plainly right Obviously could not have OBJ
tained more than what was right If l had
tried.
The Commissioners patiently and intelligently
examined into the matter and rendered what
the majority thought just decision
l hope II will be acquiesced in and that the
benefits will be shared by all industries The
railroads are each earning and saving more
than million dollars a year as direct re-
suit of the oil development and will continue
to do so under the order.
The disposition of the railroad compa-
MES is not to submit to the commission S
mated that If the ruling went against the
Southern Pacific an Injunction would be
asked from the courts. The Santa Fe
Company is likewise disposed.