The San Francisco call., 1909-01-05
United States. Senator From
Kansas VIII Join Hands in
War, but Is Not Sanguine
Declares Flint and Perkins Are
Blocking Enactment of Relief
Acts by Congress
Has Recommended to President
Special Line OF Steamers
TO the Isthmus

The shippers OF California have en-
listed the aid Of Joseph l. Bristow.
United States senator elect from Kan
sas. in their struggle against the
Increased freight rates. Bristow made
a special trip TO California few years
ago 10 Investigate transportation con-
ditions for President Roosevelt. His
report recommended that a government
line OF steamers be placed on the run
between san Francisco and the isthmus
Of Panama Up 70 the present time no
action has been taken on the report
When the southern Pacific and Santa
le announced the increase in freight
tariffs a number OF local shippers
wrote 10 Bristow asking for advice
ana assistance lsidOr Jacobs has re-
ceived & reply from Bristow written at
Sslina. kan, December 2s The let
ter pledges his support, but Bristow
ADDS that he does not look for the
legislation he proposed during the
present session. He states further
that Senators Perkins and Flint of Cal
1tornia are opposing his suggestions.
BRIsTOW's REPLY
Bristow's letter in part follows:
] am receiving quite a number of
communications in regard TO this
proposed advance in freight rates.
When I get 10 Washington. which
viii be in the latter part of Feb
ruary, i hope 10 be able 10 be of
service 20 the people in the conxid-
% eratiOn Of the important questions
involved In this subject. / don't
think anything Will be done during
this session OF congress along the
.- line Of the recommendation of my
report. The trouble fS that both
senators from California are oppos-
ing the recommendations L made
The senator elect intends to 20 even
further 10 ai6 the California shippers
lie has written TO friends here that
he proposes TO call a conference at
" ashington Of men interested in the
SUBJECT 10 discuss remedial legislation
At this meeting such matters as the
pnyslca4 valuation OF railroads the sus-
pension OF new rates pending a hear
lnS before the commission, and other
topics. pertinent TO the transportation
situation viii be discussed.
.. The san Francisco chamber OF com
.merce has already urged congress TO
enact the Fulton bill which provides
That changes in existing rates NAV be
held up By the commission until an
inquiry has been held into the reason
abseness Of the proposed tariffs. II is
pointed out that had this act been
passed by the last congress the rail
road companies could not have put the
advanced schedule into effect.
The chamber Of commerce took up
the subject last spring and commu-
nicated al length with Interstate Com
n1erce Commissioner Franklin x. Lane
on the subject. 1t appears, however.
that the chamber did not have the full
support OF the commercial bodies on
tnls point in fact, the Pacific coast
5obbers' and manufacturers association
and the trade and commerce committee
OF the Merchants exchange We're active
IN their EFFORTS to defeat the measure.
The Fulton bill is stiI before con-
gress, but adYices from there state that
II VIII probably not receive considera-
uon al this session.
LETTER OF EXCHANGE
In opposing the Fulton bin. which
would have made the recent raise in
freight rates impossible. both the Pa
enc coast JObbers' and manufacturers
association and the committee of the
Merchants exchange sdressed letters
10 the chamber OF commerce asking
= 10 oppose the measure The letter
from the exchange, written last March.
follows:
Board OF trustees. chamber Of
mmerce-Gentlenlen At a meet
ing OF the Joint committee Of trade
and commerce held this day It was
adopted as the sense Of the meet
Ing that your honorable body
snould immediately telegraph to
the senators from California pro-
testing against senate bill No. 423.
II is felt that this bill will al once
seriously hamper the merchants
and manufacturers Of the Pacific
coast In their dealings with the
rallfoads concerning changes in
rates. and that the bill, II il be-
came a law. would turn the whole
matter Of making rates over to the
interstate commerce commission.
Yours very truly,
T.. O. FRIEDLANDER. Secretary
II is understood, however. that the
chamDer OF commerce has adhered 10
its original position.
The local shippers and those in other
sections throughout the state embodied
IN their resolutions adopted Al the
recent mass meetings a clause asking
congress 10 enact the Fulton bill This
measure is deemed by the shippers es-
sential 10 prevent sudden and unwar-
ranted advances IN rate schedules. II
Is generally believed that the railroads
fearing that this bin VIII pass nave
rushed their rate Increases TO nuIlify
its effect
While the shippers are looking TO
congress and the state legislature for
aid they are also going forward with
their plans FOR an independent steam
ship line. The shipping firm Of Bates
q Cheseborough has agreed to inau-
eurate q service with two or three
steamers II the shippers viii post the
sum OF 100000 for three years as q
guarantee against loss. Three ship
pers have already subscribed $4,000
each. and IL Is stated that the necessary
sum can be obtained without trouble
AS soon as the money shall have
been posted a representative OF the
shipping firm viii charter the vessels
and arrange for connections with the
Panama railroad. The subject has al
ready been presented to the Panama
canal commission and rates have been
quoted. II is stated an ample service
can be provided which will carry
freight at prices lower than those
by the American Hawaiian
line.
Il was announced yesterday that
Franklin i. Lane would reach San
Francisco January is. He viii at THAI
time arrange TO hear the protest OF
the California commercial association |
2 gsinst the increase in rates by Wells. 4
Fargo e. Co.. and viii also hear the
protest Of the Pacific coast jobbers' and
manufacturers association against the
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