The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1907-10-07
SMALL SHIPPERS
Or GAN|zE FOR
FIGHT ON s. P.
VIII Meet Today to Form
Plans for Vigorous
Campaign
COUNSEL is RETAINED
Ex-Congressnlan Mcguire Is
to Lead Them in the
Coming Battle
DEVLIN NOT WANTED
Opposition to District Attor-
ney's Handling Case
Is Developing
COUNSEL IS RETAINED
DEVLIN NOT WANTED

Incensed at the disclosures made by
representatives of large shippers and
by traf1ckmen of the Southern Pacific
to Interstate Commerce Commissioner
Franklin X. Lane, committee COM
posed of representatives from many
Independent concerns doing business
in this city will meet this afternoon
to discuss ways and means for secur-
ing redress for the losses they have
suffered. Former Congressman Ma
guire will be asked to attend the con-
ference and also will be requested to
act as attorney for the small or "un-
favored" shipper. Prior to his de-
parture for the east Saturday after
noon Commissioner Lane was consulted
by representatives of many firms in the
city as to possible steps for securing
redress. Owing to his official position
he was unable to advise them regard
gested that their attorneys be consulted
and steps taken at their advice The
matter being one which undoubtedly
will affect the entire state, as we'll as
the city of San Francisco, the commit
tee determined TO proceed cautiously
and as secretly as possible, in order.
to avoid possible Interference from the
railroad.
Recently the Potrero commercial and
manufacturing traffic association at
tempted to secure the cooperation of
many of the larger firms In the city in
the formation of traffic association
which would materially reduce rates on
transcontinental and state shipments
In this attempt the movers were foiled
because the very largest firms. on whom
they were to measure compelled to
rely. refused to join In the project. The
firms already had trafhc managers of
their own it would be useless for them
to enter Into such combination. Re-
cent developments have shown con-
clusively why certain large corporations,
whose names were brought out in the
evidence presented to the interstate
commerce commission. did hot care 70
enter into such an agreement They
were getting bedrock rates, far lower
than they could hope to secure by any
natural process. such as was suggested
by the traffic association
DIssENsIoN ARISES
More than a little friction between
erstwhile friends in the business world
elations made to Lane. AS was stated
in the published reports of the inves-
tigation. most OF the rebates were given
solely for the purpose Of influencing
Interstate shipments, although given
on state business This is a matter
which, the merchants say, should have
been known and met by the state board
Of railroad commissioners. What this
body has done, if it has done anything.
is pot public property nor do the men
most vitality concerned know of a single
act during the past IL years, they say.
W 0hAS4 t4lc oLdac DO8IQ ll8S lf1eQ 10
protect the small shipper from the ra-
pacity OF the railroad and it's friends.
With this idea in view todayss meet.
ing OF the committee wiz be devoted
largely to planning how. IL possible,
the present board may be driven from
functions which are legally laid upon it.
Shippers little and big doing business
in the state have been informed re-
peatedly by the secretary of the board
that the board had not in it's possession
the state rates. that 1t did not know
them and IL information was desired
the shipper must go direct to the road
which was cutting his throat Efforts
will be made to secure special legisla-
tion during the coming session of the
legislature and the governor will be
asked to include statement on the
situation in bis annual message to the
law making body of the state.
For months the men behind the Traf-
| fic association idea have been in COM
munication with shippers from interior
points and a mass of evidence has been
piled up, which. the investigators say,
will startie the state when 1t comes to
light. The records of transactions over
the Southern Pacific prior to the FIRE
were destroyed in that catastrophe. said
the lawyers of the road before the in
terstate commission recently, but there
are other ways and means of obtaining
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