Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-25
Los ANGELES WINS
THE SAN JOAQUIN
VALLEY RATE CASE.
This City Granted Same Freight
Charges to Big Section
as San Francisco
DISCRIMINATION Is TO END
Local Jobbers Score Great VIC
tory Before State Rail-
road Commission
DISCRIMINATION is TO END
Associated Pressl

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec 24.-An or
der made today by the state railroad
commission will compel the Southern
Pacific railroad and the santa Fe rail-
road to fix rates from Los Angeles
10 San joaquin valley points at the
same ratio as those in force between
this city and the freight points Of the
valley.
This decision was the result of the
protest made by the Associated job
bers of Los Angeles, in which they
complained that the rates on freight in
carload lots to certain cities and towns
in the san Joaquin valley were unrea-
sonable and discriminatory
According to the complaint made by
the Los Angeles jobbers the unreason-
abIeness of the rates is measured by
the rates applying from san Francisco
TO equi-distant points with the points
or stations complained of, as well as
by comparison with rates applying for
equal mileage between other points
similarly situated.
The second count discrimination, Is
based upon the defendants rates from
San Francisco; the Complaintnt con-
tending that her merchants are unable
to meet San Francisco at or near the
halfway point between the two cites
by reason of discriminatory rates
which give undue preference and ad-
vantage to San Francisco.
PRESENT RATES TOO HIGH
The commission in its decision ex-
presses the opinion that the former
rates were forced by competing fea-
lures and that the present rates from
Los Angeles to bakersfield and TO
points north thereof in the san Joaquin
valley are excessive.
The decision also expresses the be
lief that the railroads themselves
would have made the necessary ad-
1ustments had it not been for the OBJ
lection of the San Francisco merchants
named as intervenors in the complaint.
The contention of the san Francisco
interVenors that the increased cost OF
operation over the Tehachapi and other
grades to the south justitics the dis
elimination, was dismissed with a quo
tation from Interstate Commissioner
Lane, who held that no carrier has
right to single out a piece Of expensive
roadbed and make the local traffic
thereon bear an undue portion of the
expense Of the maintenance or con-
struction Of that portion.
The commission also declared the
Joint operation Of the TehaChapi pass
line by the two railroads reduced the
cost of operation for each. The fact
that the Santa Fe line from Los An
geles to the san Joaquin valley points
is of greater length was not considered
of any effect because the Santa Fe
had requested that it be considered
upon the same mileage as the Southern
Pacific.
CLASS RATES TO BE CHANGED
In conclusion, the two railroads are
ordered TO make their class rates in
accordance with the decision of the
commission.
In the case of the iobbers Of Stock
ton. who were also interveuOrs in the
complaint, the commission ordered that
the railways give the merchants Of
that city the fun benefit of the forced
rate conditions between san Francisco
and Stockton, and points i'm the san
Joaquin valley south Of Stockton.
The commission held that the low
diflerontials in operation between san
Francisco and Stockton had been
forced by low water rates which no
longer existed, ana while it recognized
mat certain differCntials between COM
meTcial cities are necessary, such was
no longer the case between San Fran
cisco and Stockton and points south of
The latter city.
Stockton also complained Of the dis
elimination faVOring Sacramento, but
the commission held that the adjust
ment between san Francisco ana Stock
ton would correct the matter without
action on its part.