The San Francisco call., 1907-01-26
TELL Of ME- ETHODS
Of HARTMAN

PORTLAND Jan. 25-To their as
sertions that competition between the
Union Pacific and Southern Pacific is
thing of by-gone days, witnesses today
before Franklin K. Lane. sitting as the
Interstate Commerce Commission in
this city, declared that the allied Har-
riman lines charge that the rate on
railroad ties over other grades of rough
lumber has been increased by almost
81 a ton to San Francisco Bay and
Stockton. the points where the Western
Pacific Railroad receives its Oregon
ties; that the passenger accommoda-
tions on the Oregon Railway and Navi-
cation and Southern Pacific lines are
poor; that the steamship service be-
tween Portland and San Francisco is
inferior today to what II was twenty
years ago. and is so poor as greatly 10
handicap shippers. and that discrimina-
tory rates are given to an Eastern
shipper. which enables them to under
sell local firm IN it's own territory.
Also the charge was made that in
addition to poor service, the "Harri-
man water line TO San Francisco has
raised its rates. so that with the un
certainty of securing sailing dates,
local shippers are compelled to use the
rail route.
Fletcher Linn, president Of the Ore
gon Furniture Manufacturing Com
Pdngs IcSIlIl6Q LQaI d ICCclAL CAAoAlSC 1T
water rates to San Francisco caused all
heavy traffic to go by rail.
By changing the basis of the tariff
from weight to measurement, the rate
by water was made four times az great
as formerly. He said that the steam
ship rate affected his plant because
cars could not be secured and every
thing had TO be shipped in less than
carload lots. Mr.. Linn admitted that
he could not get cars even before the
steamship rates were advanced. He
said that he had not had cars for four
months and that his rate for less than
carload lots was much higher than for
carload lots
H Wittenberg, general manager OF
the Pacific Coast Biscuit Company, tes-
tilted that the Central Oregon country
was suffering because of lack OF rail-
road development and facilities. Peo-
pie in Central Oregon, he. said, haul
products 200 miles, making 1t fmpos-
sible 10 get their stuff out In quantity.
/ Mr. Wittenberg delivered scathing
/ denunciation of Hartman methods be-
fore leaving the stand, but took occa-
/ sion to relieve the local officials OF
blame in connection. He said Oregon
oid not get as good treatment from
+ Hartman as San Francisco.
Otto Breyman of the Breyman
Leather Company testified as to the
I falllng on in active competition be-
tween the rail and water lines running
from Portland to San Francisco. and
he said that while the firm shipped by
water before. 1t now carried on its
business by rail because no water SER
vice could be had
r. II. Miller, general freight and
passenger agent of the Hartman lines
in the Northwest, maintained that de-
spite the alliance between Oregon
roads there Is still real competition
between the Oregon Railroad and Nav
igation Company and the Southern
Pacific.
None of the witnesses that have pre-
ceded Miller experienced the grilling
at the hands of Severance that Miller
did. He was asked If, for the Oregon
Railroad and Navigation Company,
it was his duty TO secure all
the business he could for that road.
Miller answered in the affirmative.
Asked the same ouestlon as to his