The San Francisco call., 1903-12-01
HARBOR BOARD
SEEKING FACTS
Woodward Law Will
Form the Basis of the
Investigation.
Five Merchants Are to Tell
What They Know of
It's Workings

Next Thursday morning four whole
sale dealers in perishable products and
at least one retail dealer Will appear
before the Board Of Harbor Commits
sioners and viii testify relative to the
manner in. which the fruit and produce
business is carried on in San Francisco.
The hearing may not be long, but it
will be. replete with interest. especially
! Tor the dealers in perishabIe goods. and
hardly less.s for the farmers on whose
ranches the products originated.
Allegations have been recently made
\ that the wholesale produce dealers. by
means Of an association maintained by
them. have been discriminating against
certain retail dealers and that such act
or acts constitute a violation of the
: Woodward law. which was enacted by
the California Legislature expressly. to
prevent such discrimination in restraint
OF trade.
Secretary Foy Of the Board Of Har-
Dor Commissioners says that no com
plant has been formally flied. The
board has determined TO get what in
formation il can concerning the man
ner IN which business is transacted.
For this purpose there have been sum-
moned 10 appear before the board
Messrs. A Runyon OF AIcDonough &
Runyon, A Gianini Of A. .Scatena e.
Co, John G. Wetmore. Of Wetnore
Bros and ". NJ Wolf of Wolf & Sons
There is. no complaint or allegation
against any OF these dealers, so Mr..
Foy saws. :
Mr. Fey said that he did not know
who the retailer is that is to appear
beforesthe. board. It was elsewhere said
mat the person is A. Fundas. who does
business on Third street. No complaint
has been filed by him.
An Interesting feature OF the hearing
may be~a discussion by attorneys con-
cerning the real meaning Of the Wood
ward law. In the opening paragraph il
deals with discrimination upon the
Wharves or other property of the State
IN the city and county Of San Fran
cisco In the form OF application for
permit that is contained in the law,
the following words are included:
/ tor WEI agree that I Cor wei Will
not during the life OF such pernit he
a party 10 any conspiracy, agreement
or understanding whereby I Cor wei
shall refuse 70 sell any solvent pur-
chaser or 70 buy from any person what
soever; and Cor WEI will sell
imparJially and at the same prices TO
all who desire 70 purchase for cash,
without regard TO their business or in
tended disposition of the products. and
viii exercise no discrimination what
ever between buyers and sellers by rea-
son Of their occupation. affiliation or
affiliation."
forfeiture Of any Of these condi-
tions Is supposed TO be followed by ?
revocation OF the permit By the Board
Of HarbOr Commissioners to sell PEI
ishable products on the wharves Of the
State in this city It viii be noticed
that IN the quoted foregoing language
the conditions appear TO be made ap-
plicable TO prevent discrimination in
selling and buying, whether the trans
actions take place on the wharves Of
the State at any other place This
raises an interesting question as TO the
extent OF the Jurisdiction Of the Board
Of Harbor Commissioners, which may
be treated by the attorneys who are ex-
pected TO appear.