Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-20
SEEK PROTESTS
FROM SHIPPERS
STATE RAILROAD COMMISSION
CALLS MEETING
INCREASE IN FREIGHT RATES is
SUBJECT OF INQUIRY
REGULAR seml-Annual Session of ln-
uulsitors Postponed in Order to
Give Professors Chance
to Make Appearance
Seeking an expression of opinion from

Seeking an expression of opinion from
Southern California shippehs regard
ing terminal and inland railroad
rates. the state railroad commission
has called a meeting Of members OF
commercial bodies of Los Angeles ana
orange counties for Tuesday afternoon
for the discussion of shipping problems
coming under the authority of the COM
mission. The meeting has been caIIeu
according to a provision of the Wnght
act, passed by the last Legislature,
which provides the commission snaLl
take action in bringing suit against
violators of the rate laws only when
interest requires" The commission
wishes to sound public opinion partlcu-
larly in regard to the case of the can
ners' league of California, which in a
resolution passed in San Francisco
January 10 requested the commission
to investigate, before the interstate
commerce commission, the increase In
rates which became effective January l..
In compliance with the state law re-
duiring hearings to be held in shipping
centers once in each six months, a
meeting was held yesterday, but as no
complaints were made, no official busl-
ness was transacted. A. p. Fleming
secretary of the harbor commission, ap-
peared before the railroad inquisitors
intending to place before them the mat
ter of terminal spur tracks at San
Pedro, but deferred the matter until
Tuesday.
Commercial Bodies Invited
Following are the commercial organ
izations asked to send representatives,
to the Tuesday meeting;
Los Angeles chamber of commerce,
Los Angeles Merchants and Manufac-
Thn1ACa1n CTnppYG'
association of Southern California, Wal
nut Growers associations and the
boards of trade of Pasadena, Alhambra,
Santa Monica and Long Beach.
Following is a copy of a letter which
was sent yesterday to each of these
bodies
The action of the Gamers league
of California at its session held in
San Francisco January IS, 1910, in
passing a resolution requesting this
commission to institute proceedings
before the interstate commerce
commission to investigate the ad-
vance in rates of January l, 1909, is
the first expression on the part of
commercial interests desiring such
action which this commission has re-
ceived since the advanced rate went
into effect. Previous to the passage
of the Wright act at the last ses-
-
sion possessed no authority to in
stitute such proceedings, but that
act conferred the authority on the
commission and directed it to pro-
ceed IN such matters when public
interest requires"
Since the Wright act became eff
fective this commission has held
sessions in fourteen county seats of
California, ten of which points are
inland, yet, as above stated, no one
has appeared before the commission
either in person or by letter to COM
plain of these rates. The Gamers
league. since the passage of the
resolution above referred to- has
requested the commission to confine
the proceedings in their case to the
specific rate on the commodity in
which they are interested, namely,
canned goods, but the commission is
desirous of ascertaining the consen-
sus of opinion on the whole situa-
tion and to that end proposes to
hold Investigations or conferences
at different points in the state and
will meet in the supreme court room.
department two, Bullard block, Los
Angeles, Cal, on Tuesday, January
25, 1870 at 2 o'clock p. IN. All ship
pers and organizations of shippers
interested in the question of rates
to or from Pacific coast points, ter
minal or inland, are requested to
be present and assist in the delib-
erationS.