The San Francisco call., 1910-01-22
COMMISSIONERS
RURL CHARGES
AT DEMOCRATS
BOurbOns SizzIe on Railroad
BOdy's Grill in Latter's Re-
ply to Accusations
Bell and Colleagues Indirectly
Termed Job ChaserS; Mis-
representation Alleged

Charges Of partisan politics. personal
Job chasing. wilIfuI misrepresentation
Of fact and Ignorance or deliberate
misconstruction of the law have been
hurled at the representatives of the
democratic state conference by the rail-
road commissioners.
These counter charges were melted
BY the democratic conferences demand
upon the commissioners to show cause
why they should not be removed for
inactivity and deliberate neglect of
their sworn duty. They are directed
particularly at the men who for pur-
poses Of publication helped Theodore A
Bell prepare the attack on the railroad
commission The democratic attack
on the commissioners which was given
to the press was signed by Theodore A.
Bell. Joseph A Call. George W. Cart
wright. A. E. Campbell and A. Can't
netti
The railroad commissioners answered
taeir democratic critics yesterday. Just
10 prove that the answer was conceived
in the same spirit Of brotherly love
which prompted the democratic attack,
the commissioners point out that every
one Of the democratic signers is can
didate for some state office.
DEFEND PRESENT RATES
Presumably for no other purpose than
TO add TO the gayety of the situation
the commissioners declare that such
eminent lawyers and railroad authori-
ties as Theodore A. Bell Joseph a. Call.
George W. Cartwri ght, Archie Campbell
and A. Caminetti have demanded that the
commissioners do things which, If Bell
et al. know anything about law, they
must know are not permitted by law.
For the further solace of their demo-
cratic correspondents the commission
ers cite figures and statistics to show
that California and the Pacific coast are
getting all the better of it in the mat
ter of rates for their commodities.
BY way Of leading up to a detailed
consideration of the charges and the
men who made them the railroad COM
nissioners Adite these few compli-
7lents:
Inasmuch as your democratic
state conference" held in San
Francisco. January 8. 1910. in
manner which. we presume, you
considered fair and unpreiudiced.
published TO the people of Califor-
MIA a set Of resolutions condemn
ing without prior inquiry or hear
ing all of the members of this
commission. and failed TO request of
thereof. before publishing such res
olutions Of condemnation, an eNpla-
nation Of what you were pleased TO
term the silence and inactivity OF
this board. - YOU viii pardon US II
this board suggests that your de-
mand for an explanation comes q
little late in the day, and bears the
brand OF insincerity-
OFFICE SEEKERS
This impression is further con-
frmed by the names signed to your
communication. for II the public
prints are truthful purveyors of
facts in this respect, Theodore A
Bell is a democratic candidate for
governor. Joseph A Call is demo-
cratic candidate for railroad COM
missioner, George ". Cartwright Is
a democratic candidate for lieuten-
ant governor. A E Campbell is
democratic candidate for attorney
general and A. Caminetti is a dem
Ocrstic candidate for railroad COM
missioner.
The commissioners carry the war into
the enemy's camp by pointing out that
none Of their accusers has ever ap-
pesred at any Of the meetings adver-
tised and held by the commissioners at
the il principal cities Of the state for
the purpose Of hearing complaints
The commissioners insist that the
democrats knew when their attack was
framed that the commissioners had
never been asked to bring any action
with relation 10 the increased rates
and that, in fact. important shipping
interests had earnestly advised against
any such action
SLAM AT LEGAL ABILITY
With reference to an action for re-
funds the commissioners get over the
following deft backhand Endorsement
OF the legal ability of the democratic
lawyers who signed the attack:
Your intimarfOu that acriOn nv
this board before the federal COM
mission should comprehend a claim
for reparatiOn or refund of
amounts collected in excess of rates
in effect before the advance dis
plays an oversight on the part of
the gentlemen who signed your
communication or lack or ia
mliarity with the decisions Of the
Interstate commerce commission as
that body has frequently decided
that only interested shippers can
maintain an action for reparation
OF refund.
that they have favored one section Of
the state as against another in the
matter of rates and take long fall
out Of the charge that California's pro-
ducers are being Disseminated against
IN the matter Of rates They insist that
IN no instance is the eastbound rate
higher than the westbound rate. They
declare that in some instances the
esstbQund rates are less than the west
bound and point out that. while there
are 81 Pacific coast points which take
terminal rates on westbound freights
there are 1928 Pacifc coast points
which take terminal rates on east
bound freights.