The San Francisco call., 1908-11-22

tache or your job" said the imperious
railroad official to his clerk, who was
raising a downy crop on his upper lip.
What's my mustache got to do with
my job?" asked the lad.
Look here, young man." replied his
boss, years ago I decided that no man
could work for me who was raising his
first mustache. 1t occupies too much
Of his time and his attention. He is
thinking too much of Its beauty to at
tend to his duties, and while he should
be employing his fingers hitting the
typewriter he is using than in caress-
ing his bristles."
Il don't mind your finding fault with
my work" answered the budding rail-
road genius submissively, but dom t
think it right on the part of one rail-
roadman to cast aspersions on the mus
tache of another railroadman. When my
mustache attains your age it may get
that soft, silky, aristocratic droop. For
heavens sake, give it a chance" he
pleaded.
what you say is all true" said the
official mollified by the subueness of
the fattery, as he delicately caressed
his upper lip; but remember 1 make
an exception in this. instance. Don't go
having any more"
For years the rate on pipe fitting
from New York and all points west of
Californian terminals has been 81, and
this commodity has been enjoying what
is called "the postage stamp rate"
There is, however, to be a change in
this. for the new tariff that goes into
effect on January 1 gives Chicago 10
cents less than from points east there
Of This has brought forth a storm of
protests from all concerns doing bust
ness east of Chicago. and the charge is
made that this rate is put into effect
to please the National Tube company
which manufactures all of its pipe
fittings at Kewanee, Ill, and also to
favor Crane & Co., which have their
mandatory in Chicago.
1t is asserted that there are fully as
many fittings sent to the Pacific coast
by manufacturers outside of these two
places that will have to meet the diff
ferential or go out of Pacific coast
business 1t is said this will be brought
to the attention of the interstate COM
merce commission by 10 or 10 manu-
facturers who hope that the blanket
rate will be restored 1t does not seem
likely that the firms protesting against
the tariff will win their case, as it is
pretty generally known that most rail-
roadmen are opposed to a blanket rate,
and il is further asserted that as ]. c.
Stubbs was never in favor of this class
of rate it may be accepted as a fore
gone conclusion that the rate will
stand as printed in the new tariff.
Little consolation is held out to ship
pers that there will be any reduction in
the tariff that will go in effect on the
first of the year. The railroad COM
panies take the position that the tariff
was thought out carefully, that they
are justified in, the raise in rates. but
say that the allegations made by ship
pers that the rates are injurious to
! trade will be thrashed out, probably al
the next transcontinental meeting in
Chicago.
A well known trafficman in discuss
ing this said:
while there seems to be considerable
protest on the part Of Californian ship
ners TO the east as well as the heavy
receivers of freight from east to west,
on account of the advance In rates that
will take place in January, yet it is
evident that conservative businessmen
fully realize that the advances in rates
viii take effect as indicated. They are
also convinced that the determination OF
the railroads will not be changed and
that there is no possibility of any re-
duction in the rates. as set forth, and
are making their plans accordingly
'eWhile it is conceded that the rail-
road, companies are justified to con-
siderable extent in advancing rates
due to a greater cost of material. labor
and general operation, and that they
might with greater propriety have
raised the rates year or more ago
vet there may be certain comnJodities
| to which the railroad companies will
give consideration at the next trans
continental meeting in Chicago. 1t is
TO the interest of the railroad COM
panies not to interfere with the move
ment of traffic by rail, as they want
business all the time. and are Jealous
of any effort that may have adverse
results.
The steamship lines are now
crowded with freight, both east and
west bound and in view of this it may
be that in self-defense they too, may
be compelled to advance their rates
because il is apparent that owing to
the advance on the first of the year q
tremendous effort will be made, by both
east and west bound shippers, to for
ward as much of their business as is
possible before that time, so there is a
Likelihood that there will be an unusual
movement by rail and water in the
latter part of the year
1