The San Francisco call., 1908-12-17
RAILROADMEN AND
SHIPPERS CONFER
Protest Is Made Against the
Threatened Increase in
Freight Rates
Officials of Southern Pacific
and Santa Fe Will Refer
Matter to Corporations

lfAC PiOtoSL VI tuO
the projected increase in freight rates
was placed before the officials Oh tne
Southern Pacific and the Santa fe yes
terday, and the matter will be reierreo
to those in authority in the two cor
porat tions. The conference was heid IN
the Office of H. A. Jones, freight tranne
manager of the Southern Pacific. Jones
and G.. w. Luce. the general lreisn'
agent, represented the Southern fdclno' .
Edward Chambers, assistant lreisn,
traffic manager, and G. w. BarnWeil
of Los Angeles were present on behalf
of the Santa Ee.
The conference continued for the
greater part of the morning and Will DC
resumed today. Representations on pc
half of the shippers We're mace ny
delegates from each industry aHecteu
by the increase in tariffs
The arguments advanced were prac
ticalIy identical with those made IN the
written protest filed more than Week
ago. The railroad officials stated tnat
they would approach the subject WIN
open minds and would give fuli con
sideratfon to the arguments preseh'eu'
AMUSED BY STATEMENT
The local shippers were somewhat
ern Pacific men that they had STOOD out
against the raise in rates, but had peeh
forced to it by the eastern roads. Inc
traffic officials also explained that tney
could not change the proposed scheuuie
without the consent of the eastern ROADS.
At this point the local shippers ventured
the suggestion that they could discuss
the subject more inteligently IL tney
knew of the arrangement existing pc
he
eastern lines. and limited that 1t might
develop that the Southern Pacihc was
not making satisfactory division with
the connecting lines.
c. II. Bentley made the protest on
behalf of the canned fruit interests
He pointed out that under the proposed
schedule the local industry would SUI
fer from the inroads of eastern COM
petitors. He reviewed the situation as
he had previously done in the mass
| meeting of the business interests. In
conclusion Bentley referred to the
financial side of the railroad question
and argued that the cost of operation
had been greatly reduced. He made
the point that present conditions called
for an emergency rate rather than an
| additional impost.
DRIED FRUIT MEN
The case of the dried fruit men was
presented by II. P. Dimond, who showed
that the industry would be severely
crippled by any increase in freight
rates. Dimond was followed by a num-
ber OF men representing the tanning
interests, who told the railroadmen
that the new rate schedule would prac-
tically kill the industry on the Pacific
coast. Those wh6 spoke for the tan
ming interests We're Herbert Kullman,
Albert Frank and H. Windt
Edward Bunker addressed the rail-
roadmen on behalf of the bean inter-
ests. He argued that a large section
of tho west and middle west would be
eliminated from the California market
under the new rates.
William Rutherford of the California
cotton company protested against the
westbound rates on the raw material
and manufactured cotton products. He
argued that the coast should be given
a substantial differential to encourage
the manufacture of cotton articles.
]. S. Littlefield of w. p. Fuller & Co
will appear today to protest against
the increase in the westbound, tariff on
| linseed oil.
The chamber of commerce sent a tel
egram yesterday to Senator Elkins
chairman of the committee on inter
state commerce, requesting favorable
consideration of the amendment of the
Hepburn act providing for a hearing
before the interstate commerce com
mission before any advance may be
made in freight rates.