Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-13
TO INVESTIGATE
RATE INCREASE
STATE LEGISLATURE C0NSlD-
ERS ADVlSABILlTY
RAISE IN EXPRESS PRICES MAY
ALSO BE PRosED
Senate Adopts General Appropriation
Bill with Amendment Carrying
$4,000 for State
Farm
TBy Associated Press.l

SACRAMENTO, March 12.-An In
vestiga don of the increase in freight
and express rates by a legislative COM
mission hinges upon hearing begun
this afternoon and continued tonlght
before the senate committee on federal
relations.
Early in the session Senator Can't
netti Of Amador introduced two joint
resolutions, one providing for the ap-
pointment of q commission to probe
the railroad rate situation and the
other for an investigation of the recent
increase in express rates made by the
Wells-Fargo company.
In addition to the regular committee
Lieutenant Governor Porter named
two more senators. Wolfe of San
Francisco and Charles Bills of Sacra-
mento, to take up the subject. The
original body consisted of Senators
Burnett of San Francisco, chairman;
Black of Palo Alto and ]. 3. Sanford
of Ukiah.
Chairman Burnett, upon advice or
Senator Caminetti, author of the reso-
lutions, summoned number or proml-
nent shippers to determine whether OF
not there was a demand among them
for such an investigation, and the list
included c. H. Bentley of the cali
fornia Fruit Gamers association, w.
G.. Donnelly, chief rate clerk of the
Santa Fe railroad; Russell d. Carpen-
ter, auditor of Hale Bros. and Edward
Bonnheim of Weinstock-Lubin COM
pany, all of San Francisco.
Shortly after the afternoon session
of the senate was begun word was sent
to Senator Wolfe, who was presiding
as president pro ten., that meeting
was in progress. He hastily lett the
chair and objected to further proceed
ings of the committee, because there
was no stenographer present to record
the testimony of witnesses. This put
temporary stop to the meeting,
which was resumed at o'clock for II
short time, and then continued until
1880 tonight.
Mr.. Bentley, the first witness. ex-
pressed the opinion that such an IN
vestigation as Senator Caminetti pro-
posed would prove boon to the ship
pers of the entire state.
Bonnheim Is Witness
At tonight's session Edward Bonn
helm was the first. witness examined.
He said express shipments were very
much heavier now than ever before.
Senator Caminetti then asked for the
capital, profits and other financial
statements of the WellS-Fargo COM
pnay, which Mr.. Bonnheim said he
would furnish to the committee later.
Senator Wolfe wanted to know If the
creation of a healthy public sentiment
against the alleged discrimination in
rates would be of benefit to the mer-
chants. Mr.. Bonnheim thought 1t
would.
J. o. Bracken of the California Com
mercial association gave data which,
he said, proved conclusively that dis
elimination was being shown against
the California shipper.
Comparing freight with express rates,
after explaining that the interstate
commerce commission had ruled that
express rates should be not more than
three times as much as freight rates
for the same class of goods, he said the
rate between San Francisco and Sacra-
mento on 100 pounds of freight was 26
cents, while on 100 pounds of express
between the same points the charge
was 81.
Senator Curtin's constitutional
amendment providing for the separa-
ton of state and local taxes, the re-
suit of the labors of a legislative COM
mission appointed four years ago, was
passed by the assembly this after
noon. Senator Curtin was granted the
privilege of the floor to explain his
measure. He said that if adopted by
the people it would add at least
81, ,00O, 900 to the states revenues.
The Republican caucus to discuss
the direct primary bill and the amend
ment made to it by the assembly was
postponed until tomorrow morning.
The Democrats met and decided TO
stand pat against concurrence in the
amendment.
The latter provides for election of
United States senators by advisory
vote by legislative districts instead Of
by advisory vote in the state at large
as stipulated in the bill passed by the
senate.
With eight Democrats opposed to the
amendment and six Republicans known
to be against it, the opponents of the
change need seven more votes to car
ry their point.