The San Francisco call., 1908-12-28
SHIPPERS TO SEEK
LEGISLATIVE AID
"Rate Day. Will Give Rail-
roads Idea of Determined
Opposition
Should Companies Insist on In
creases Injunction May
Be the Result

Legislative Investigation of the rail-
roads of the state Will be, one of the
most important subjects to be discussed
at the meetings to be held throughout
the state rate day." December 80.
The suggestions that have been for
mulated by the executive committee
and which will be forwarded to every
portion of the state contain as fea-,
ture resolution that will call upon
the state legislature to appoint a com
mlttee to investigate the conduct of
transportation within the state and to
enact such laws as may be necessary to
make the railroad commission efficient
1t will not attempt to fix the blame
for the present conditions nor to CEN
sure any one, but it is believed that the
province of the commission is too re-
strlctive and that it might we'll be
abolished unless given some authority
1t is conceded that in some states the
commissions may have acted hastily
unwisely and unjustly. but it is believed
that there is legitimate function for
the state railroad commission and that
the problems confronting 1t involve al
most the very existence of some indus
tries and indeed Of some communities
OREGON'S LAW FAvORS SHIPPER
Oregon has a reciprocal demurrage
law, under which a shipper can collect
damages for delay on the part of the
transportation company when supply
ing cars or service. The adjoining
states, particularly California, have
suffered from these conditions because
the carriers have supplied equipment to
Oregon shippers from California rather
than pay the penalty, although Califor-
MIA shippers were at the same time in
equal or greater need of service.
With the congestion of traffic that
has arisen in the fall months of recent
years when normal market prevailed
there have been plenty of cars and suf-
ficient motive power. In the face of
these trying conditions shippers have
been amazed to see trains of empty
cars moving to other states, although
California shippers, in urgent need of
cars to fill contracts for specific deliv-
cry, it is alleged by shippers, were de-
MED both cars and service.
1t is claimed that the state railroad
commission should have power to deal
effectively with such conditions when
they are presented.
SECURING MORE DATA
With it's other plan the executive
committee is securing further data
bearing upon the cost of transporta-
tion. 1t is believed that since the pres
ent tariffs went into effect a great
economy has come through the enor-
nous relative increase of westbound
freight. When many of the present
tariffs were first published, say the
shippers, the carriers had to figure on
bringing in empty cars in great num-
bers, while now the movement on west
bound freight is nearly equal and there
is no longer such heavy expense in
hauling back empty cars.
TALK of INJUNCTION
The most effective step yet to be
taken by the shippers of California in
their fight against the proposed in
freight rates will be taken this week
unless the railroads show an inclina-
tion to listen to and consider their pro-
tests.
1t is openly reported that the ship
pers will apply to the federal courts for
an Injunction. The freight and traffic
managers of the railroads have listened
to protests from the representatives of
the various industries that will be af-
fected, but have given no definite an
swer-
According to Attorneys Seth Mann
and o. K. Cushing, who represent the
traffic bureau of the merchants ex-
change and the California traffic asso-
citation respectively, no Injunction will
be asked for, IL at all, until after the
big meetings throughout the state De-
cember 80, rate day."
PARTICULARS ARE SOUGHT
Letters and kilograms keep pouring
into the office of the local executive
committee asking for particulars about