The San Francisco call., 1910-01-25
BOURBONS RENEW
ATTACK ON BOARD
Demand That State Railroad
Commission Wake Up to
Existing Rate Evils
Theodore Bell UnIOOSeS Another
Charge of Shrapnel at Love-
land and Associates

Democracy has returned to the at
tack. on the railroad commission with
an amplihed set OF awkward questions
and the explanation that its original
letter was not an Invitation TO turn
loose a stream of political TRADE
Theodore A Bell. chairman Of the
democrats special railroad rate COM
mittee. completed yesterday the third
installment in the literary debate be-
tween democracy and the state rail-
road commissioners The pig man of
The new democracy sarcastically sug-
gesrs that the railroad commissioners
furnish some specific information
zboft rates instead OF speculative in
formation about the personnel of the
democratic state ticket
PROMISES MORE SHRAPNEL
He accuses the commissioners Of
failure to express an opinion touch
ing the reasonableness or unreason-
ableness OF the general increase Of
freight rates and catechises them upon
their. knowledge of the acts of the
California legislature, their own duties
and the da-les Of the interstate COM
mcrce commission.
Bell does not exhaust his subject in
the several thousand words indited TO
the commissioners yesterday. on the
contrary he makes them formal
promise TO make the question OF un-
lawful combinations between rail and
ocean carriers subject of further
communication.
Here are some of Bells questions as
prOpOunded 10 the commissioners:
20 you wish 10 inter that because 10
individual has complained sou hsve assumed
that no complaint existed. and have therefore
uet now sufficiently advised 10 express aIlF
conclusion 10 the fairness or injustice OF
the advanced rstesg
is it possible that occupying the position
II railroad commissioners elected and sal
aried for the express purpose OF guarding the
public against the abuses and extorrions OF
common carriers YOU are ignorant Of the
following facts, which seem 10 be common
knowledge throughout California.
Are you ignorant OF tie fact that on De
cember 80, 1905 better known a. RATE
DAY" mass meetings were held all over Tie
state for the purpose Of protesting against
The threatened increase Of freight rates and
that than 30 cities and tovrs adopted
resolutions vigorously denouncing the pro
posed increases
REFERS TO INVESTIG ALTON
Are sou ignorant Of the fact that on Feb
ruarr 3. 1913. the senate Of California
ferred 70 its committee on federal relations
a resolution for the investigation Of the in
'rease II freight rates and express charges.
aud that said committee proceeded 10 take
the testimony Of a number OF large shippers
and also number Of railroad officials
necued with the rate making department Of
rhe raslroad; and rLat On March p 1903,
this committee returned its report 10 the
senate with stenegrsphic report Of the tes-
rmony taken. and various exhibits showing
that the increased rates were not necessary
10 return fair remuneration 10 the rail
roads, and that the increase would ultimately
nave 10 be borne by the consumer:
Are you ignorant Of the fact that on
March - 1903 the following resolution was
unanimously adopted by the senates
Resolved. by the senate Of the state OF
California, that We do depiore the raise in
railroad rates by the railroads whose termi-
mails IN this state; and also the change
ia rate charged by Wells Fargo & Co, and
recommend "a the railroad commission Of
fiis state the fullest investigation Of this
subject Of railroad and Wells Fargo rates,
n order 10 conserve the interests of the PEG
pie II the state of california before the
interstate commerce commission. the tribunal
empowered ~ tho laws of the land to
slider and regulate the matters Of this kind
tSenste journal 1909. page 2091b.
Is it fact that this resolution and the
were never delivered to your board.
brought 10 your attention.
WHO WERE THE INTERESTS 90
Bell. on behalf of his committee, sug-
gests, too, that the public would be
delighted to know more about the i'm
portant interests which advised the
commissioners not to take any action
in the matter or the general increase
in rates.
The commissioners, in their reply to
the hrst democratic letter, intimated
broadly that the eminent attorneys
whose names were signed thereto. were
not well fortified in the law they as
sumed to discuss. Bell sets forth some
elementary legal principles 10 the gen
eral effect that a right of recovery is
incident to judgment, and advises the
commissioners to lose no time quib-
bling over the method Of collecting any
refund whi6h may be coming to the
people.