The San Francisco call., 1908-12-30
FREIGHT RATE WAR
KEPT FROM COURTS
Shippers Decide Against Eniunc-
ton Proceedings After Long
Discussion at Meeting
Case Will Be Pressed Before In
terstate Commerce Commits
sion for Decision

III lTtiRHl rates through the medium OIL
the interstate commerce commission.
1t was only after four hour session
that the plan of appealing to the court
for an injunction was Abandoned. 1t is
understood that the shippers were di-
vided on the subject at the outset and
there was some disappointment at the
outcome, but the opinion prevailed that
/ Injunction proceedings were imprac-
ticable. This opinion. it was stated.
! was Endorsed by the attorneys retained
by the shippers.
Two important meetings were held
yesterday by the shipping interests. A
further step forward will be taken to-
day when the mass meetings will be
held in 45 cities of the state. No meet
sing will be held in San Francisco, but
the out of town gatherings will indorse
the stand taken by the shippers at the
mass meeting here December 5.
WHEELER EXPECTED IN MARCH
One of the meetings yesterday was
that of the governing committee of the
traffic bureau of the Merchants ex-
change. A. l.. Scott presided. Those
present were: Joseph Durney, c. H.
Bentley. A. L. Scott T. C. Friedlander.
A. G. Towne, /. S. Littlefield S. Suss-
man. C. r. Havens, j. o. Harron and
Attorney Seth Mann. At the conclusion
| OF the session the announcement was
made that William r. Wheeler, the new
traffic manager, would come to San
Francisco on the first of March.
| In subsequent statement it was
pointed out that an injunction would
act to the advantage of only such ship
pers as We're named in the complaint
| and would leave the railroads at lib
erty to raise the rates for such ship
pers as were not parties to the action.
! Although no statement bearing on the
| Reno case was authorized, it was re-
ported that the matter was discussed.
In this case the Merchants exchan ge
bureau has interviewed to keep the Ne
vada metropolis from securing terminal
rates.
TRAFFIC ASSOCIATION AGREES
The decision of the Merchants ex-
change bureau was confirmed at a
meeting of the special shippers execu-
tive committee of 10 in the rooms OF the
California traffic association last even
| ing. Those in attendance were C. III.
| Bentley, Louis Samuels, Herbert Kull-
man and G. J. Bradley.
! 1t was explained by c. III. Bentley
| and G. J. Bradley that decision by
| the commission against the railroads
would enable the shippers to bring suits
to collect such sums. as they may have
| paid in excess of the rates now in force.
| California traffic association would
make it its business to carry its pro-
| test to the interstate commerce board.
The shippers executive committee
sent the following telegram to the dis
trict chairmen in the 40 cities where
the merchants and growers will meet:
"Silence of railroad companies means
necessity for stubborn fight. Proceed
| ings will be instituted before interstate
commerce commission. Have we your
support?'
SHIPPERS CALL MEETING
The following shippers and organiza-
! tions have arranged for the mass meet
ings to be held in the cities named:
Mccormick. Saeltzer & Co.. Redding.
John c. White and B. f. Walton, Marysvifle.
Chamber of commerce, Stockton.
g. w. Cartwright aud chamber or com
Celery growers association. Santa Ana.
Chamber OF commerce, Napa.
Chamber Of commerce, San Jose.
| c. p Stevens, Benicia.
| Chamber of commerce. Santa Barbars.
Dr. Adam Wilson and Fred Nelson, Fowler.
Chamber of commerce, Santa Cruz.
G. H. Burehard, Eureka.
Chamber of commerce, Red Blum.
! Merchants association, vacavile.
+. w. Wilson, Winters.
| James Irvine, John McFadden, DR.. a. S..
Gordon, Tustin, Orange county
Board of trade Visala.
James Blackstock and board of trade, Ven
! tura.
Board of trade, San Leandro.
S. /. Hopkins. Sacramento.
Chamber Of commerce. San Bernardlno.
r. r. Sutherland, Cotton.
G. G. league, Santa Paula.
n. Z. Dixon, Elsinore.
Allen Frazer, Hemet-.,
r. B. Devine, Riverside.
John JarneiI Highlands
H. p. D. Kingsbury, Redlands.
Charles Loud. Pomona.
Etiwanda growers association, Etiwands.
/ !. W. J. Kincad, Cucamonga.
| d. Walter Evans, Deyore.
William Buxton. Rialto.
G. W. Waters. Pomona.
Pasadena canning company. Pasadena.
J Taylor canning company, Santa Ana
Orange County preserving company, Anahcim.
Bert Montgomery. Rivera.
w T. Benchly, Fullerton.
II. ]. Spencer, Orange.
Ira S. Trey. San Diego.
Thomas Baentyne. FL Cajon
W. Hoist & Co., 0xnard.
Ripley Calls Rates Low
SANTA BARBARA, Dec. 29-Presi-
| dent E. p Ripley of the Santa Fe, who
| is spending the winter here, today
! gave a signed statement to the Asso-
ciated Press relative to the proposed
/ increase in freight rates to the Pacific
coast. President Ripley says that the
statement that the total increase will
| amount annually to $l0,000,000 is
| rank nonsense" It will not amount
to a quarter of that amount, in his
| opinion.
The present rates between the Pa
| cific coast and the east, he said, were
F! the lowest railroad rates in the world.
! He added that while railroad rates
| remained stationary, practically every
! thing that the railroad has to buy has
greatly advanced.