Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-05
CRIMINALS IN CONTROL


Associated Press dispatch in al
- the papers Of the state of Califor'
MIA taking the Associated Press service
contained the following news concern
ing a hearing which had been had octo-
ber and before Interstate Commerce
Commissioner Lane in the city of San
Francisco:
Mr.. Marble Omitted States attorney
in charge Of the examination OF wit
nesses) called attention to today's tes-
timony of ]. C. Stubbs, assistant freight
agent of the Southern Pacific, showing
discrimination and rebates In favor OF
the large shipper.
When il comes to favoring the
large shipper and discriminating
against the smaller shipper. con
ditions are worse in California
than anywhere else in the United
States said Mr.. Marble. I do
not see how it is possible for the
smaller concerns to exist at all un-
der the circumstances.
"The first favorites in the matter OF
rebates with the Southern Pacific com-
pany were invariably Standard Oil con-
Germs. The greatest rebates were all
ways given to the largest interstate
shippers. If a business man was not
an interstate shipper there was no re-
bate granted him on state shipments.
There are 514 names on the special rate
list which was seized in the offices of the
Southern Pacific company by Attorney
John II. Marble, and an inspection OF
the list. plainly reveals the discrimina-
ton practiced. A. Sloane, assistant Sec
retary of the Associated Oil company,
had prepared claims for rebates from
the Southern Pacific on the authority
of Secretary SERVER. the testimony de-
veloped. Wakefield Baker. pres
ident of Baker & Hamilton company
admitted that his firm had received
81 2. .096. AZ in concessions from the South
ern Pacific since tle fire"
This report, bear in mind, was sent
out by an Associated Press correspon-
dent who is supposed to be. and un-
doubtedly is, entirely impartial. Ap-
pearing as it did in all the papers OF
the state having Associated Press SER
vice, it was presumably widely read by
the intelligent citizens of the state, and
must have come to the attention or the
noenbers of the state board of railroad
commissioners.
In this connection 1t may be we'll to
again refer to the law contained III
sections II and %, article II, of the con-
stitution of the state of California
which creates the state board of rail-
road commissioners and defines their
duties. Section 21 provides mo dis
elimination in charges or facilities fol
transportation shall be made by any
railroad or other transportation COM
pany between places OF persons, or in
the facilities for the transportation OF
the same classes of freight or passen-
gers within this state, or coming from
or going to any other state. :"
Section % provides:
"Tne state shall be divided into
three districts as nearly equal If
population as practicable, in each
of which one railroad commits
sioner shall be elected by tn,
qualified electors thereof at thu
regular gubernatorial elections
whose salary shall be fixed BY
law and whose term of office shall
be four years, commencing on the
first Monday after the first day
of January next succeeding theil
election. Said commission
ers shall have the power, and i
shall be their duty, to establish
rates of charges for the transpor'
tation of passengers aid treigh
bv railroad or other Transports
ton companies and publish th'
same from time to time, viii
such changes as they may make
to examine the books, records anc
papers of all railroad and othe1
transportation companies, and to
this purpose they shall hav'
power to issue subpoenas and al
other necessary process; to hea
and determine complaints agains
railroad and other transportatio.
companies, to send for person
and papers, administer caths. taxi
testimony and punish for col,
tempt of their orders and pro
cesses, in the same manner ane
to the same extent as courts o
record, and enforce theii decisions
and correct abuses through thu
medium of the courts. Said com
miss1oners shall prescribe a uni
form system Of accounts to be
kept by all such corporations ano
companies. Any railroad cor.
poration or transportation com
pany which shall fail OF refuse tc
co,form to Such rates as shall be