Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1911-01-13
JOHNSON
IS BITTER
AGAINST S. F.
MAKE SSHOWING THAT IT'S
RATES IN CALIFORNIA ARE
PRACTICALLY DOUBLE THOSE
OF ANY OTHER STATE IN THE
COUNTRY.
UNITED rRnss LEASED w1Rn.l

UNITED PRESS LEASED wIRE.1
Sacramento, Calf, Jan. 19.-Urg-
ing the most radical legislation ever
presented to a California legislature,
Governor Johnson, in a special mes
sage today demanded, the immediate
consideration and early passage of
the Stetson railroad regulation bill.
The measure was introduced five min
utes before the governors message
was presented in the house.
The message deals with specific
rates between stations in California,
showing their inequality, alleging
that they are fixed to get all the traf-
fic will bear 1t quotes William R.
Wheeler, of San Francisco, head of
the Merchants Traffic association,
for comparison of rates in the East,
and asserts that the operation of
railways in the two great valleys of
the state is as cheap as anywhere in
the world.
In part the message is as follows:
There has been presented to you
today bill the design of which is
to accord the railroad commission of
the state of California the amplest
power to act intelligently and justly
and with firmness and precision in
matters arising between the people on
the one hand and the railroads of
the state on the other. The bill has
been prepared after great deliberation
and study, and comes to you with the
sanction of those who are most fam
iliar with the subject embraced with
in it. 1t is presented now in pursu-
ance of the policy that has been an
nounced by the various parties with
in the state and in pursuance of the
policy that was outlined at the com
mencement Of this administration.
THAT the necessity for action ex-
lists in the matter of fixing railroad
rates within the state of California is
demonstrated by the rates themselves.
The distance from River station, in
the county of Los Angeles to San Pc
dro station, in San Pedro, is % miles.
The freight rates average on the San
Pedro road for this distance about So
ton. Merchandise in carload lots
range in rates from S1a cents to Is
cents a hundred pounds, or from SIT
to $40 ton. These rates are identi-
cal with rates charged between San
Diego and Los Angeles, a distance of
120 miles.
"The rates charged from Los An
geles to San Pedro are practically
eight or nine times higher than the
average rates of all railroads
throughout the United States. The
effect of this is to put Los Angeles,
instead of 2S miles from deep water,
commercially, more than 100 miles
from deep water, and this in the case
of Los Angeles from it's own harbor
within it's own city limits The rate,
am informed, on sugar from San
Pedro to Los Angeles is So a ton;
from Honolulu to San Pedro, $1.75
per ton" After more in this line,
governor adds:
81 quote to you now some of the
rates in this state as compared with
like distances in other parts of the
United States, where the conditions
are similar. From Stockton to Fres-
no the rail distance is 122 miles and
the average rate per ton per mile is
511 cents. The rate of the Union Pa
ciic railroad, Omaha to Havens, Ne
braska, 115 miles, averages 3.92
cents.
"The distance from Stockton to
Bakersfield is 229 miles, the rates
averaging 4.24 cents per ton per
mile, From Omaha to Lexington,
Nebraska, via the Union Pacific, 291
miles, the rates average 1888 cents.
"The distance from Sacramento to
Red Bluff is 1876 miles and the rates
average $40 cents per ton per mile.
The rates from Kansas City to juno
tion City, Kansas, via the Union Pa
citic railroad, 1S9 miles, averages 3.72
cents. r
Instances of the character here
in set forth could be multiplied in
definitely. A few only are given, as
illustrating the necessity for action
and in the hope that the data may be
Of some aid to you in your labors.
"The figures and comparisons that
give you furnish the argument in
favor of Legislation which while en-.
nabling a fair income to be received
by the railroads, will require Of then
just treatment of the shippers ant
producers of the state of California.