The San Francisco call., 1909-05-25
PACIFIC COAST
IOBBERS ARE
MUCH ALARMED
Proposed New Railroad Rate
Schedules Regarded as a
Menace to Interests
San Francisco, Los Angeles,
Portland, Seattle and Tacoma
Unite in Vigorous Protest

O0lt6 III figOtO tOuS ElOtSct
Reports reached the traffic bureau OF
the merchants exchange yesterday
that the Hartman railroads were
preps ring new rate schedule affecting
California. fashioned on the principle
OF that which the Hin lines. have
recently proposed for the northwest.
such system of rates would discrimi-
nate against san Francisco and Los
Angeles and transfer their big jobbing
business to salt Lake and Denver.
Active steps TO resist such a movement
were taken yesterday at meeting of
the commercial interests Of the state
held in the rooms of the chamber Of
commerce in the Merchants exchange
building. san Francisco. Los Angeles
and Sacramento We're represented at
the conference.
protest viii be lodged at once
gainst the proposed rate readjust-
ment i'm the northwest The interstate
commerce commission viii be re-
suested to refuse to approve the new
schedule applicable to Spokane and
Seattle The same principle is involved
there as viii be involved when the at
tempt is made 10 place the amended
schedule in effect for California points.
In the protest against the new
Spokane rates the entire Pacific coast
viii stand together as unit. Meet
ings similar TO the one in this city
were held yesterday in Portland,
Seattle and Tacoma. The business in
teresrs of these cities had been invited
10 send delegates to the local meeting,
but held their own gatherings, acting
in harmony with this city
The objection TO the new rate sys-
TEN. stated briefly. is that it reduces
rates in the interior, while holding
them up at the coast terminals. there
by robbing the Pacific coast points of
their jobbing trade
TWO IMPORTANT MEASURES
Two important movements were
launched at yesterdays meeting. The
first was the authorization given VIII
liam r. Wheeler. manager of the traffic
bureau OF the merchants exchange. TO
proceed TO Washington to protest
~ the hearing June against the new
rates The second movement of great
importance vas the issuance of call
for Z big meeting 10 be held tomorrow
morning at 10 O'Clock TO unite all
interests in support OF the rate cam
psign. Not only viii the regular job
bing and manufacturers associations
he represented at this meeting. but
delegates viii be invited from the
realty board the underwriters asso-
ciarion. the bankers association and
The metal trades association. The
meeting viii be held in the rooms Of
the chamber OF commerce on the thir-
teenth floor Of The Merchants exchange
building
The invitations TO this gathering
have been so general because the
threatened rate alterations would Sc
riously affect every line Of industry in
California II is reea rded as the most
serioss blow that has been aimed at
the state in its entire commercial his
tory.
LARGE INTERESTS REPRESENTED
r. p. Rithet. chairman Of the gov
erning committee of the bureau. pre-
sided at Yesterdays meeting Other
members Of the governing committee
in attendance were: A /. Scott. c. R.
Havens. r. r. Lilienthal A G. Towne.
r. A. SOmers and c. H. Bentley. Among
The others present were: James Rolph
Jr. president OF the Merchants ex-
change: William L Gerstle, vice pres
ident OF the chamber of commerce: A
SbsrbOro, president of the Manufac-
turers' and producers association; A
A. Watkins, president of the board of
trade: A. c. RulofsOn. president Of the
Pacific Coast jObbers' and manufa ctur-
ers' association; George H. Robins of
the Merchants association; Isidor ia
cobs. representing the canning inter-
ests; George J. Bradley, manager of the
Merchants and manufacturers associa-
tion Of Sacramento; p. c. Drescher Of
Sacramento. John Botcher Of Sacra-
mento. J. r. Lindley of Sacramento.
n. r. Geary OF Sacramento: +. p
Gregson. traffic manager Of the Asso-
cisted jobbers Of Los Angeles; G. r.
Detrick Of the San Francisco automo-
bile trade association: H D. Loveland
or the state railroad commission. Viii
liam r.. Wheeler, manager Of the traf-
nc bureau Of the Merchants exchange.
and Seth Mann, attorney for the traffic
bureau
Wheeler was the first speaker and
discussed the situation al length. read
ing the correspondence that chad passed
between him and the traffic bodies of
the northwest looking to harmonious
action
Gerstle then introduced the resolu-
. ions empowering Wheeler to take such
-action as he deemed proper and calling
the meeting for tomorrow morning.
The resolutions We're passed unani-
mously. Speaking Of the proposed
rates, the resolutions say:
PURPOSE OF NEW SCHEDULE
The proposed schedules Of rates
have been drafted and offered by the
carriers 70 the commission plainly upon
the theory and plan Of favorfng the
cities Of the middle west and of dis
eliminating against the products,
manufactures and distributing interests
Of the Pacific coast. which purpose and
intent Of the carriers are not only
plainly apparent from the rates asked.
but are also frankly stated by the car
riers in their explanation OF the pro-
posed rates"
Seth Mann spoke Of the necessity Of
organizing. He said that the middle
west had been able to obtain advan-
tages from the railroads by reason of
their strong commercial and traffic or
ganizations
Wheeler announced yesterday that
while in the east he would not only
appear before the interstate commerce
commission, but would endeavor to
secure the cooperation OF the cities on
the Atlantic coast to oppose the dis
elimination of the railroads against
seabOard points