Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-15
BY Associated Press.


FRESNO, Dec. 14.-What was prop
ably the beginning of the war OF the
shippers of California on the Soutn-
ern Pacific railroad for the bettermeh'
OF transportation conditions ana tne
stampin~- out of alleged rebates anu
determinations burst forth this after
noon in Einstein hall at the convention
of the counties committee OF the Gail
fornia promotion commission. ,
The first shot was fired by lslooI
Jacobs of San Francisco, president oi
the Good Government league, VINO
during the lively skirmish when 1oi
lowed, promised that startling eXposi-
tions of the railroads methods Woul'
be given to the people OF the sta'e
within the next few weeks.
After the reading of several papers
on the marketing of California FRO
ducts" Jacobs arose and read an ameno-
ment to the resolution OF the resuias
committee, in which was demanded
"the stopping of special privileges ano
illegal amendments to the laws OF the
state in regard to common carriers,
and a demand that the state officials
follow the policy of President Roose-
welt and the work of the interstate
commission in regulating railroads.
Fight Over Resolution
That short amendment was offered
because the resolution committee had
refused to offer a much longer resolu-
tion along the same lines, which ia
cobs had presented to them in the
morning, in their report to the con-
vention.
At the morning session Jacobs had
practically been hooted down by GER
tain number of delegates when he read
his original resolution. AS result the
resolution committee embodied an emas-
culated form of the resolution, as one OF
them admitted on the floor, with the
sting taken out"
1t was a harmless group of words
heartily indorsing the president of the
United States and the interstate com.
rnerce commission in working towaro
stopping rebate discrimination" and end
ing with an abruptness which was ap'
parently painful to Jacobs. because his
amendment was to be tackled to the sen
tence in such way that it stood out
with a strength that put the preceding
clause into a useless introduction.
There was strenuous objection to the
amendment, on the ground that the COM
mittee on resolutions preferred to have
everything prepared in brief form, ano
thought Jacobs amendment too long, sc
had left it out.
Jacobs jumped to his feet.
DO YOU mean to tell these delegates
that you are afraid to have this state
enforce the laws? For twelve years out
railroad commission has been sound
asleep, except when they woke up to
draw their salaries. 1t is time we woke
up ourselves and took some action to
preserve our industries and our rights.
Afraid to Enforce Laws
Are there some people in the state
getting special privileges, so that they
are afraid to ask that the laws be en-
forced? Are you going to put yourselves
on record as wanting equal laws for ALL
or are you going to take stand for
emasculated laws and deliver yourselves
of a lot of platitudes?
Let us do something. During the COM
ing year the dominant subject before the
people of this state will be the railroads.
We want square deal from the rail-
roads and this amendment only asks that
the state Of California do for us what
the national government is doing for the
whole country and that is-simply en-
force the laws"
Secretary Rufus P. Jennings asked that
the amendment be read again, and then
DR.. +. A. Perce of Los Angeles explained
why the resolution committee had not
adopted the amendment.
''It was all threshed out" he said, "but
hasty action on such things is not good.
None of Mr.. Jacobs statements is un-
true, but as business men this is the
proposition: When his statement is in the
resolution why do we need repetition
of words to make it stronger, when the
only strength they could add would be
condemnatory statements on certain
lines. We should not call forth a storm
of protest from those who are serving
us.
"Personally I am not interested. ]
pay my own railroad fare and am under
no obligations to the common carriers, yet
at the same time it is not necessary to
decry the interests of the common car
riers to get those things we should have
and will have"
Resolution Adopted
Before the plea of Or. Perce had set
tied over the delegates, M. f. Tarpey had
the floor, and before he had had his say
those opposed to attacking common car
riers'' saw the strategy of Jacobs unfold
itself, for Mr.. Tarpey launched the full
resolution, which after a stormy scene
was adopted
The resolution is as follows:
''Whereas, 1t Is recognized that trans
portation companies are the leading fac.
tors in the development of new trade fol
the marketing and distribution of oul
products; and.
whereas. IL Is necessary In order thai
our products should gain as wide dis.
tribution as possible that transportation
companies should strictly comply with
the laws and afford every necessary facii
ity without discrimination or favor to any
individual Or corporation. and,
Whereas, The developments recently
as indicated by the testimony introduced
before the Interstate Commissioner, Hon
Franklin X. Lane, at San Francisco, dem.
onstrates the most amazing and fragrant
disregard for the law ~ individuals, cor.
poratiors and transportation companies
and,
'"Whereas, California is the only Pacific
coast state that is not enforcing the laws
and regulations governing transportation
companies; and,
t.Mhereas 1 Iecisla ton is ahao.ntel nee