The San Francisco call., 1909-03-24
SENATE NOT TO GO
INTO RATE RAISE
Recommends That Railroad
Commission Take Up
Matter
Caminetti Indicts, and Wolfe
Admits Lines Are Greedy,
but That's ALI

CALL HEADQUARTERS, CHAM
BER OF COMMERCE. BUILDING. SAC
RAMENTo. March 2S.-There viii be
no senatorial investigation of the in
crease in freight and express rates.
Shippers and consumers who are hard
hit by the new schedules must look to
the railroad commission for relief. The
senate decided this today by turning
down sBurnett's resolution for the ap-
polntment of a holdoyer investigating
committee and by adopting a resolu-
ton gently offering a little good ad-
vice to the railroad commission
The good advice is contained in the
following resolution submitted by
Wolfe, and unanimously adopted as the
best the senate could get:
Resolved by the senate of the state
or California, that we deplore the raise
in railroad rates by the railroads,
whose terminals are in this state, and
also the change in rates by Wells,
Fargo q Co., and we recommend to the
railroad commission of this state the
fullest investigation of the subject of
railroad and Wells-Fargo rates in or
der to conserve the interests of the
people of the state of California be-
fore the interstate commerce commits
sion, the tribunal empowered by the
laws of the land to consider and regu-
late matters of this kind
Before this resolution was adopted
Caminetti exploded a bomb under
Wells. Fargo & Co, and Burnett told
what he thought about the railroad
commission. Burnett's resolution called
for an appropriation of $4,000 to de.
fray the expenses Of the committee,
consisting of Burnett, chairman; Black,
Sanford Wn1fa nd Pills Irh ba q l.
ready held several sessions in Sacra-
mento.
Wright thought the investigation
would be superfiuous after the pas
sage of the railroad rate bill; and
Wolfe said it would be wasted money.
The amount was inadequate in the first
place; he thought, and while he adj
mitted that the railroads We're selfish,
hoggish, greedy and avaricious, he adj
vised the turning over of the investiga-
tion to the railroad compassion. That
aroused Burnett.
What assurance have we that the
railroad commission will do better in
the future than in the past?" he de-
manded. THE only sign of activity 1t
has given since 1887 was last year
when Loveland was appointed COM
missioner.
Il voted for the Wright railroad bill
believing there would be no attempt to
defeat the Campbell constitutional
amendment to give us a real railroad
commission When that was beaten
was bitterly disappointed. 1 felt that
I had been fooled. Do you think that
you're going to fool shippers and pro-
ducers? They'll laugh out loud at
you"
Caminettf,xA ingsome uncompliment-
ary things -aboSLi, Ne railroads and then
turned his attsE2 u & to wells-Fargo
Wells Fargo was a coward in time
of war. 1t is a thief now. When the
stamp tax was imposed ii failed in its
duty to the government. Now it is
robbing the public
If there is a highbinder concern in
the state that will bear investigation"
declared Holohan. 1T is Wells-Fargo.
Some of its charges are outrageous and
damnable."
Here is the vote by which 1t was
decided to let the railroad commission
do the investigating:
For Burnetts resolution-Bell, Bird
sail, Boynton, Burnett, Caminetti, Cut
ten, Estudillo, Holohan, Roseberry,
Rush, Sanford, Thompson-12.
Against the esolution-Anthony,
Bates, Bills. Finn. Hartman, Hurd,
Kennedy Leavitt, Lewis, Martinelli,
Reilly. Savage. Weed. Willis. Wolfe,
Wright-16.