The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1907-01-10
UNITED RAILROADS
LAWYER FALLS
INTO TRAP
His Remarks Construed by
Rival to Men Company
Paid for Its Franchise
ARBITRATION CASE
GOES TO JUDGES

Exasperated by the frequent inter
ruptions with which Counselor A A
Moore broke In upon his closing argu-
ment in the arbitration proceedings
yesterday afternoon, Albert Johnson
laid q trap for the interrupter which
caught him in an unintentional admis-
sion that the United Railroads paid
for their trolley franchise. Moore's adj
mission was really intended as a de-
NAL, but his unthinking way of put
ting 1T made IT appear otherwise.
by the fire of April Is the United
Railroads reaped a great benefit.
Johnson said. and then, turning to
Moore. added, You deny that, L sup
poser"
Yes, deny that" promptly respond
ed the counsel for the railroads.
And by reason thereof it received
from the city for nothing privileges
worth hundreds of thousands of dol
lars-you deny, that, Mr.. Moore?'
II certainly do" fncautiously re-
sponded the astute lawyer.
"All right. I thought you paid for
it. and when the people OF San Fran
cisco come to investigate it, a just
prosecution will mete out justice to
the people who were guilty OF that
outrage"
The readiness with which Moore
tumbled into the trap caused laugh
AlOAA lit Cdftn VIII WCIS III hAlCAl0-
ance in which even the arbitrator
were forced to join.
II deny that we paid for any privi-
lege." shouted Moore.
But you just admitted It," responded
Johnson.
II never admitted anything of the
kind. Now let your cackle go round
again. Laugh IL out" retorted the dis
comfited defender OF the United Rail-
roads.
1t was o'clock when the last ses-
sion OF the board of arbitration was
adjourned and the arguments in the
case concluded. Moore had finished in
the forenoon and Johnson concluded in
the afternoon. The former had insist
ed that 1T was not right that the board
should listen to the demands of the
men for an eight-hour day, even if il
were minded to give an increase in
wages, as the matter of the hours had
been settled by the last arbitration and
there was no reason for breaking the
contract between the men and the COM
pany IN that respect. Johnson respond
ed that the company had waived the
contract when 1t signed the agreement
for arbitration and that the granting
OF the eight-hour day would not cost
/ the company one cent, as the wages
were paid by the hour whatever they
might be. 1t was also pointed out
that the eight-hour day would not in
terfere with the service which was rem
dered the public.
Moore had said that there was a la
Dor wall around San Francisco. John
son responded that 1t was a wall OF
monopoly which the company had erect
ed. He showed that the increased pay
which the men asked would not ad-
vance the operating expenses of the
company more than 10 per cent, while
/ its income had been increased by Is
per cent and it's operating expenses cut
down by $4,000.
johnson kept his temper under the
annoyance of Interruptions and at one
time turned to the Chief Justice with
the remark:
Am ] not doing admirably, Chief?'
you seem to have exchanged roles. -
answered Justice Beatty, who had be-
fore criticised Johnson for his bursts OF
enthusiasm.
The arbitrators will convene at the
chambers of the Chief Justice on Fri
day TO begin their discussion of the
evidence, and it is expected that it will
be several days before the award is an
nounced.