The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1913-02-25
Other Lines to Share Same
Conditions of Contracts
S. P. May Enter
q With c. P.
BODY AGAINST TWO
LOCAL S. P. SYSTEMS
Wickershan, in Wire, Is
Informed of the State
Boards Ruling

The state board OF railroad commits
sioners at midnight last night handed
in decision that approves of the ap-
plication of the SO called Hartman
railroads for recognition of the dis
solution contract made between the
railroads and the Attorney General
and approved by him. The commits
sion however, imposes conditions that
may bring the entire matter again into
the courts
The Union Pacific viii be limited to
the line from Sacramento by way of
Niles to Oakland as exclusive
If the Southern Pacific grants the
Central Pacific right to use the BEN
icia short line 1T shall acord to all
the competing carriers like privilege
in similar terms.
Other provisions required by the
Commission were wired to the attor-
ney general and will be presented to-
day in the hearing in the circuit court
in st. Louis where final action on the
application submitted to and approved
by Mr.. Wickersham is awaiting the
findings of the California body.
SCHLACKS ON STAND
The session, that lasted from 0 o'clock
in the morning until 1880 in the even
ing. with an hour and half interval
for luncheon, was opened for the West
ern Pacific with Charles II Schlacks,
vice president of the Gould line, on the
e4srd A++ovy,1,, fsh.rraS (. vxrt,oo1o- co.
the Western Pacific, brought out through
the witness that certain influences had
been used upon the Western Pacific to
terminate in San Francisco a contract
made relative to trackage arrange
ments over Industrial rails in this city.
Certain city ordinances governing the
control of joint Santa Fe and Southern
Pacific use OF streets of the city were
submitted in evidence. and it was shown
that here. and in other cities that the
Western Pacific had Industrial or spur
track privileges that might be con-
cluded on so days notice from the
Southern Pacific company.
FORCED INTO $. p. CONTRACTS
Mr.. Wheeler offered in evidence an
interview from the Wall Street Journal
with one Of the bankers interested in
financing the unscrambling, and other
documentary evidence of the negotia-
tions for the purchase of stock of COM
panies concerning in the unmerging.
After explaining that 75 per cent of
the tonnage is reached in this city by
Industrial tracks, Mr.. Schlacks said
that his line was virtually forced into
making a contract with the Southern
Pacific company that was detrimental
10 his corporation.
The witness showed that in San Fran
cisco it cost the Western Pacific Is per
cent of its earnings to obtain use of the
state belt line and the Southern Pacific
Industrial tracks.
During the hearing William r. Wheel
q traffic manager of the San Francisco
Ghamber of Commerce. was heard on
San Franciscos interest in the railroad /
commissioners decision and the adjust
ment of local track privileges.
FEARS HBoTTLING UPo OF CITY
Mr.. Wheeler said the Chamber of Com |
merce was principally concerned in find /
ing out whether the city would be bot |
tied up by acceptance of the attorney
generals decision favorable to the dis
solution of the Hartman merger and
the subsequent contract between the |
Union, Southern and Central Pacific
companies.
Regarding the joint use of Industrial /
tracks in San Francisco under condi-
tions that the Western Pacific asserts
are detrimental to it, Attorney Wheeler I
asked his client:
IF this contract was unfair, why did /
you enter into it?'
i believe there should have been
reasonable compensation for the privi- /
leges," answered Mr.. schlacks. I'VE I
were anxious to reach the shippers of
California and we had to make the I
best arrangements we could"
LINE THREATENED, HE SAYS
At this point Attorney Wheeler
asked whether any threats had been /
made to make the Western Pacific ..be T
good or lose the contract that gave it i
what little privileges 1t had, according
to its contentious.
There have been threats" answered /
Mr.. Schlacks "The vice president in
charge of traffic of the Southern Pacific +
Informed me verbally that If l entered T
- to any arrangement or Interchange of
traffic with the Northern Electric Ca I
line building from Sacramento to
Continued on Page 8, Column /