The San Francisco call., 1908-12-01
COOPERATION TALK
OF TRAFFIC BODIES
Freight Rate Situation May
Bring Harmony to Rival
Organizations
Merchants Exchange Writes
Traffic Association About
United Action

The basis was laid yesterday Tor an
understanding which may bring the
two local traffic organizations into har-
mony. James Rolph Jr., president OF
the Merchants exchange, in a letter
to G., j. Bradley. of the California tral-
fc association, extended an offer OF co
operation. which may. bring about
united action The cause of harmony
was given further impetus by the> ex-
pressed desires of Attorneys Seth Mann
and o. K. Cushing to confer on the
legal aspects of the freight rate sltud-
tion. Mann represents the trafnc pu-
reau of the Merchants exchange ana
Cushing has been. engaged by the can
fornia traffic association.
With the collection of data praetlr
cally completed, the campaign to op-
pose the threatened increase in rates
has reached the point where positive
action must soon be taken No definite
conclusion has yet been announced,
although the possibility of injunction
proceedings has been carefully dis
cusSed.
With the opening of. the month of
December the railroads have given
official notice of their intention to
establish the new tariff schedule. un-
less thwarted by legal DEGREES, TINS
schedule will go into effect with the
beginning of January.
DELICATE LEGAL POINTS
Mann pointed out yesterday that the
matter required the closest consldera-
tfon as very delicate legal questions
We're involved. The case includes solhe
of the most important elements Oh the
entire railroad situation Mann spent
some time yesterday studying the ore
l,,r he, In, which the circuit
court of the United States granted an
Injunction which blocked a projected
rate increase. In, the Tiff case the
supreme court of :the United states
recognized. the legality of INJUNCTION
proceedings as a measure 10 prevent
the adoption OF higher tariffs Such
proceedings, it is understood, must be
brought before the rates are put into
effect.
AT the same time it appears that an
injunction proceeding does not entirely
clear the situation. The shippers are
required to file bonds and are left IN
the difficult position of quoting prices
TO their customers without knowing
positively what freight rates they may
eventually be compelled to pay.
Mann expects to have his data COM
plete today and will confer with the
members of the bureau as to future
proceedings. AS a matter of form. the
local freight agents will be memorial
lied and then. it is. expected, that an
appeal for relief will be made to the
court and the interstate commerce COM
mission.
Cushing has not yet outlined a. plan
of action and it is possible that he and
Mann will confer and unite. Both at
torneys have made special study of
railroad law.
DRIED FRUIT INTERESTS
The. dried fruit interests will present
their case to the attorneys through
Henry p .Dimond of the dried fruit.
association. Dimond has made an ex-
tended Investigation. He figures that
the Increased rates will cost the dried
fruit interests $3.50, 600 a year, a large
part of which will fall on the grower.
Its. a. tag day for the. railroads, :.
was the. epigrammatic manner in which
Dimond summed UP the move of the
corporations The dried fruit men have
shipped on an average of 5000 cars
year
Some of the active men in the. bu-
reau are giving a very large proportion
of their time to the campaign to pre-
vent an increase IN the. rate schedule.
Joseph Durney is in daily conference
with the representatives of the affected
interests ana mas been rendering efE-
cient assistance to Mann.
So many acceptarees have been re-
ceived of the invitations sent out for
the injecting on. December that it
may be safely stated that interests
representing q value of more than
$1o0,000,000 Will be in attendance.
George Uhl, president of the Califor-
MIA traffic association. will call the
meeting to order and chairman will
| then be chosen. Special letters have
been addressed. to the business mels
about the. bay calling attention to the
effect which the new rte schedule will
have On each particular industry.
Fruitmen from nearly every part
or the state will be present at the
meeting and general discussion will
be- In order Before adjournment a
defnite plan of action will be prepared