The San Francisco call., 1909-02-23
RAILROAD BOARD
RAPED BY SOLONS
Senate Committees Inquiry
Shows Commission in Light
of ''FIuge Joke"
Machines Strenuous Efforts to
Check Investigation Are
FOiled
Especial Dispatch TO The Call

CALL HEADQUARTERS. CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE. BUILDING. SACRA-
MENTo. Feb. 22.-By the admissions of
A. c. Irwin, state railroad commits
sioner, it was practically proved tonight
before the senate committee on cor
porations that the commission. prior to
the time Colonel II. c. Loveland became
a member of the body was huge
joke" so far as any benefits accruing to
the people of California because of its
existence were concerned. Loveland
himself frankly said that he would not
come before the legislature and ask for
sufficient money at the present time to
properly carry on the work of the COM
mission because 'of the reputation
which the commission has over the
state"
The discussion of the affairs of the
commission arose over consideration by
the committee of the Campbell resoiu-
tion to investigate the acts of the COM
mission for the last two years, or
rather their neglect of their duties.
MACHINE ON GUARD
Loveland was present and expressed
a Willingness to answer all questions
which the committee might care to
ask in regard to his connection with
the commission since January, 1908.
The machine was on hand to protect
its pet commission, and endeavored to
kin the entire investigation by a clever
scheme. Leavitt proposed TO let Love-
land take the floor and make a state
ment regarding the charges before the
committee should act on the resolution,
the object being to bring out the fact
that Loveland has done everything pos
sible since he has been in Office to ac-
complish the purposes of the commits
sion, and then quash the investigation
without going into the records of Irwin
and Summerland The scheme failed
because Summerland hurried to his feet
and made sorry showing.
Colonel Loveland was invited to
make an explanation. and in a rather
extensive review of what he had done
since he was elected to the commission
showed to the satisfaction of the COM
mittee and also Senator Campbell that
he had injected some life into the body
and secured some benefits for the peo-
pie of the state under the present de-
fective laws governing the commission.
He would not take any responsibility
for anything that was done or was not
done prior TO 1908. He explained that
the commission had been hampered by
lack of funds in the carrying on of
Investigations.
WILL NEED BIG SUM
DO you not think that if new law
on railroad regulation is passed this
session you will need $4,000 to carry
out its provisions?" Senator Campbell
asked.
Il think we viii need a large amount,
but / am not going to come before the
legislature and ask for $4,000 for this
commission with the reputation it has
had over the state. 1 would be laughed
at" replied Loyeland.
After Loveland finished his remarks
Irwin who had been anxious TO be in
vestigated, was given plenty of time to
take the floor, but remained silent until
practically forced into the matter by a
suggestion from Senator Miller that he
should explain what happened prior to
1908.
Before Loveland went on the com
mission did you establish any rates ?''
Senator Campbell asked
We'll, yes; we did" Irwin replied.
Did you establish rates for all the
railroads of the state?"
NO, we did not, because some roads
did not send US their rates. But on all
of those which sent their rates IN we
passed a resolution making them the
legal charges" said Irwin.
LAX IN DUTY
Then there were some railroads for
which you never did establish rates, as
you were directed to do by the constitu-
tion2"
Those roads did not send us their
tariffs"
How long have you been member
/ of the commission?
six years" was the reply.
/ Under a fire of questions by Camp
bell and Caminetti. Irwin was forced to
admit that the commission had done
practically nothing toward the regula-
tion of railroads.
Early in the session. Senator Miller.
looked upon as one of the most con-
servative men in the legislature, took
occasion TO make few remarks in
justification of the proposed investiga-
tion.
1T is a matter of common knowl-
/ edge" said the senator, that during
| the last 80 years the railroad commits
sion has not performed it's duties, and
has been of little benefit to the people
In fact, so far as the people are con-
/ cerned the commission has been a
huge joke, and the hardest work it has
done has been to draw its salary
Il ~