Los Angeles herald., 1910-07-20
COMMISSIONERS
GIVE SAN PEDRO
TERMINAL RATES
Los Angeles Wins Great Victory
for Harbor from the
Railways
CITY ATTORNEY URGED TO ACT
Secretary Fleming Objects to the
81 Charges Now in
Effect
;ITY ATTORNEY URGED TO ACT

Los Angeles harbor (San Pedro) is
entitled to Pacific terminal rates, ac-
cordng to n ruling of the Interstate
commerce commission, announced in
Washington yesterday The commits
sion, howevo-' will not issue an order
making it's ruling effective until GER
tain lines east of Chicago have been
included in the ruling
The harbor commission yesterday
urged the city attorney to take action
to protect the interests of the city
in connection with the plan of the
Pacific Wharf & Storage company TO
dredge through harbor frontage be-
longing to the city preliminary to
constructing two long slips with a
pier between.
CITY RAILWAY
Secretary Fleming of the harbor
commission said that the 50 rate be-
tween Los Angeles and the harbor
would have to be reduced, even If the
city had to build its own railroad to
the harbor.
These were two important develop
ments affecting Los Angeles harbor.
The granting of terminal rates was
hailed with rejoicing by the business
men of the harbor section of the city,
who have been fighting for such recog-
milton for a long time. The case in
which they have won the victory is
entitled the Harbor City Wholesale
company of San Pedro against the
Southern Pacific and other roads, and
the finding of the commission proves
that the charges that the Southern
Pacific was discriminating against the
harbor were we'll founded.
While the case was not properly
brought in that eastern roads which
share In the transcontinental traffic
xsNaAa. ITNes
Angeles harbor were not made parties
to the suit, the commission gave notice
that If the railways do not voluntarily
give los Angeles harbor terminal rates.
it will take the initiative, bringing in
all roads that should be made defend
ants, and then Issuing an order for
the granting of terminal rates In this
connection the commission says
COMMISSIONS RULING
We observe that the complaint
does not include as parties defend
ant the carriers east of the Missis-
sippi river except Chicago Rock
Island and Pacific, which does not
extend east of Chicago There is
therefore a misjoinder OF all par
ties all the carriers participating
in through traffic from seaboard
territory being necessary parties
defendant under any order extend
ing terminal rates to San Pedro.
No order will therefore be enter
tanned at this time, but the COM
mission desires to be advised by
defendants in case of unwilling.
ness of themselves and their east
ern connections to act upon these
conclusions, and In that event on
it's own motion 1t will bring in the
necessary additional defendants
and thereupon will enter an order
giving effect to it's findings herein.
Fleming. Secretary of the harbor
commission, expressed keenest delight
upon receipt of the news of the action
of the commission.
"It is another grand victory for Los
Angeles" exclaimed Fleming ut
means in truth and fact that we are
a maritime city and it means that
eventually we shall control transconti-
mental commerce.
''Tt means, too, that we must break
down the 50 rate between Los Angeles
and the harbor. In the event of the
failure of the railroads to cooperate
with us in making Los Angeles the
wonderful city that it should be, we
must build our own railroad. Los An
geles is we'll able to take care Of itself
as has been already concuslvely dem
onstrated in the recent aqueduct bond
difficulty. 1t must be shown to the
world that Los Angeles is further com.
strength.
MORE PRONOUNCED
IF discrimination was shown against
San Pedro in not making ii a terminal
rate point before it became a part of
Los Angeles, as was found by the in
terstate commerce commission, how
much more pronouncde has that dis
elimination been since San Pedro be-
came unit of the city.
1.-THE contention of the harbor COM
mission, which has been made consist
emily since the inception OF the com
mission, that the industrial section of
this great city must be located at the
harbor is strongly upheld in the decis-
ion of the interstate commerce commits
sion. The commission has embodied in
it's decision recognition of the fact that
San Pedro is the real industrial axis of
the city. For my part, / believe that il
is right, as well as distinctly inevitable,
that the factories and the shops of the
city will eventually become centered
about the harbor."
When questioned with regard to the
legal technicality which has prevented
the commerce commission from making
a formal order to give san Pedro term
inal rates Mr.. Fleming said:
This Is of no consequence. The
effect is the same as If a formal order
had been issued. Attorneys in the case
will speedily overcome the difficulty"
AN OLD ACTION
The suit which has resulted in ia
vorable ruling of Los Angeles harbor
despite the faulty character of the
complaint was brought before San Pc
dro became part of Los Angeles by
San Pedro business interests which
were fighting against discrimination on
the part of the Southern Pacific. When
San Pedro became a part of Los An
geles the Associated Jobbers of Los
Angeles sought to intervene. 1t was
found they could not do so, hence they
San Pedro interests in every way pos
sible.
Eight railroads were made defend
ants in the proceeding-the Southern
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