The San Francisco call., 1908-10-07
BETTER RAILROAD
SERVICE DEMANDED
Delegates From Middle West
Prepare to Protest Against
Car Shortages and Rates
Resolution Condemning Pacific
Mail COmpany's Panama
Line to Be Presented

A sharp controversy with the rail-
road question the point of issue will
be precipitated today at the Trans
Mississippi congress if the delegates
from the middle west adhere to the
tentative program formulated yester-
day afternoon. The matter will come
up when J. c. Stubbs, traffic director of
the Hartman lines, addresses the con-
gress as the representative of e. II.
.Harriman1 Several of the delegates
have come prepared to protest against
inadequate transportation service and
what they regard as excessive rates.
It is their plan to follow Stubbs ad-
dress with demand for an immediate
Improvement in the service and certain
modification of the tariff schedule.
The keynote expressive of this sentf-
ment was struck yesterday by J. B.
Case, president of the congress- when
he stated in his opening remarks that
the most important question before the
convention was that of transportation
facilities for the constantly growing
production of the country He added
that the railroads had failed to meet
/ the situation and that a remedy must
be found. He proposed as way out OF
the difficulty the Improvement of the
waterways of the country.
ROADS CHARGED WITH NEGLECT
A great many delegates raised the
point yesterday that the vast railroad
interests had not only neglected to
make proper provisions for the great
crops of the last two years, but had
not yet taken any definite step to meet
the condition in the future.
I'VE will listen to Stubbs,' said one
| of the belligerents yesterday, land
when he gets through telling us what
/ tho railroads for 11c w yEfl
have something to say about car short
ages. ruinous rates and the failure OF
the companies. to keep pace with the
growth of the country. Why, out in
Kansas, where l come from, crops have
spoiled on the ground for lack of facili-
ties to get them to market. Where the
rivers can be improved the work must
| be carried on, but there are vast
regions where there are no rivers and
where we are dependent absolutely
upon the railroads. Now, if these COM
panies don't of their own accord pro-
vide us with the necessary cars, guess
under state and federal regulation we
can find way to make them"
PACIFIC MAIL UNDER FIRE
Stubbs may also be called upon tc
answer some questions in behalf OF
Harriman's Pacific Mail steamship com
pany. A resolution has been prepared
| by the California traffic. association
! which condemns in strong terms the
insufficient service afforded by the Pa
cific Mail company between San Fran
cisco and the isthmus Of Panama. Thi.
resolution was quietly circulated yes
terday and gained a large number Of
supporters. At the same time a back
fire was begun in an effort to kill 1
| in committee The resolution call!
upon the Pacific Mail either to improv,
/ its service or asks as an alternativ,
/ that the United States government
operate line to the isthmus, as rec
ommended by Special Commissioner j
L. Bristow.
A great many supporters for the
resolution were gained through TIL,
speech of John Barrett, director of tht
bureau of American republics. Barret
ridiculed the steamship service between
this coast and the Central and Soutl
American countries and urged tha
steps be taken to secure a line of fas
mail and passenger boats.
In referring TO the. proposed govern
ment lines Barrett said Something
like that will have to be done or tn,
trade will be ruined"