The San Francisco call., 1910-01-16
BOARD TO FILE
AN ATTACK ON
RAILWAY RATES
State Commission Directs AT.
tOrney General to Complain
TO Interstate Body
TraHScOntinentaI Tariff on
Canned Goods Is Made SUBJ
iect of Protest

railroads are to be called to ac-
cou7t for The increase in transcontinen-
tsl rates put into effect year ago The
California state commission took the
hrst step yesterday when it authorized
tae attorney general TO begin proceed
ings The initial complaint VIII he
directed against the advance in the
cas- bound tariff on canned goods. This
aconriaint VIII have the support Of the
.osnners' league In fact. the league
'sas7fred the protest
The suggestion that Complaint he
directed against all advances Of = year
zEo has been taken under considera-
A h conferences Will be held with
Z f' Shippers throughout the state and
tnc'r advice viii be accepted as final.
pr f'e hippers request an attack on
me whole schedule the commission. ac-
ing 90 an announcement of yes
t'-iaT. stands ready to act.
Joss OF SI0.OOO.OOO A YEAR
new rates made effective in
quarry 1909. embraced advances inn
sing an additional $40. COO 600 a year
aun the people Of California. No Of
7 protest was made at that time.
was feared that the inquiry thus in
.-.tec might i'm the end cost the Pa
coast the special terminal rates.
-~3me authorities still hold this opinion.
tro subject was revived at the demo-
.atlc couference of last week and at
~ annual meeting OF the Gamers
rtor 70 1909 canned goods were billed
.sir = cents per 100 pounds in carload
l"tS In the early part OF 1909 this
figure was advanced 10 S5 cents
After working under the higher i'm
Saost for a year the Gamers discovered
at they had suffered the loss of more
tlsn 100000. They have. therefore. ap-
rsaled for Tire restoration of the IS
SVout rate.
RAILROAD BOARD EXPLAINS
Under the Wright law passed by the
lost legislature the California railroad
ffaard has the power TO inaugurate pro-
SC~dings with the interstate commerce
4 E.9rumission in behalf or the people of
. state. It is under the authority OF
is act that the preliminary steps have
been taken
The state commission has issued the
following explanatory statement
Referring 10 the action taken al
the Gamers convention. held IN
tis city on January Is. at which
tlme a resolution was passed eN
Nention that the railroad commits
sion OF California should commence
an action before the Interstate COM
luerce commission asking that body
10 investigate the advance in trans
Continental rates which took place
about January !, 1903.
ON behalf Of the commission We
4 desire 10 say that this is the first
4 1nrfmation Of any complaint as TO
rrcse rates which the commission
y las received from any commercial
interest. and even this came TO the
commission through the columns Of
The daily press
In compliance with the provisions
of the Wright act the commission
has held sessions in i OF the inn
portant county seats in the state.
which sessions have been adver-
used in the san Francisco and To-
cal papers where the sessions were
10 be held and all shippers or
interested parties requested 20
bring any matter OF Importance TO
them or TO the interests Of the
shippers in California before the
comri issiou-
SHIPPERS OPPOSED ACTION
At none Of these sessions has the
question Of the advance in trans
Continental rates been brought to
the commission. and with the eK-
ception Of 4 letter from q political
orEanlZation received q few days
ago the matter has never been
brought 10 the attention Of the
commission until the action OF the
pa pers.
At the time the advance in rates
was mooted the commission investi-
gated the matter and found that il
had no authority in the premises.
Later on when the Wright law be-
came effective that authority was
given 10 the commission and the
commission again considered the
adNlsabllitE OF taking action, but
was confronted with the fact that
many important shippers did not
n r~f c1- H..
8 taken bE the commission along
general lines.
Now that the commission is
aware that important interests in
California, whose interests, how
ever. are confined 10 special COM
modities desire that the commits
sion should take action to bring
the matter before the Interstate
commerce commission. the COM
mission stands ready. as il always
has. 10 discharge the obligation
laid upon it to represent the peo-
1 pie or California.
TOWPLATNT TO BE FILED
The following course Of action has.
- erefore, been determined upon
First-The attorney general has
been requested 10 prepare and file
complaint with the interstate
commerce commission to have the
advance in rates OF about year
ago investigated in 50 far as IL re-
Ia tes 10 tie rates on canned goods
Second-The commission has de-
termined TO hold Investigations in
VsriOus important cities Of the
STATE. al which Investigations All
parties interested viii be re-
Quested 10 appear for the purpose
of determining whether the com
mission should take action on the
advance in transcontinental rates
generally or confine its activities TO
Tie advance on special commodities
Wnep requested 10 do so. as in the
case Of the advance IN the rates on
canned goods
We want it understood that we
are taking this action beca use OF
the expressed wish OF an important
industry and that the consequences
must rest with those who desired