Imperial Valley press., 1921-12-12
IMPERIAL CO.
RAT { { AS {
HEARING ENDS
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" S~eo s~SNe evss~sfNNkJJ
points in California north of Sacra-
mento, in the very districts where the
railroad admits the operating costs
are much higher than in the Los An
geles district. The discrimination is
so evident as to be almost unbeiev-
able, says Mr.. Gregson.
If the population of the districts
were taken as the uasis of computa-
tion Of freight rates, then again, as in
the cases of tonnage and operating
cost, the difference should be in favor
of the Los Angeles division, instead of
against this division.
Four counties in the Los Angeles
division show population, according
to- the 1920 census, of 1,103,606, as
against only 196,75O in eight counties
in the division from Sacramento
northward, and only 515,957 in nine
counties from Sacramento southward
in the San Joaquin Valley.
Ignoring higher operating costs in
divisions with sleeper grades, ignor-
ing the preponderant tonnage carried
in the Los Angeles district ignoring
the population density that usually
operates in favor of freight reduction,
the testimony of high official of the
Southern Pacific states that the prop
err method of computation for South
ern California is, on the basis of "con-
structive mileage; the constructive
feature being the addition Of so per
cent to the actual mileage, because of
the Beaumont grade.
How this operates against CaleXico
shippers is thus illustrated: Los. An
gelcs to inland. is $50 miles. Fifty
per cent Constructive penalty in
creases this to 20 miles. INLAND to
Calexico, claimed as branch line, is
forty miles, making sixty miles with
penalty added. The rate is thus
charged for $50 miles, instead of the
actual 22U miles.
The Gregson contention is that Ca
lexico is on main, not a branch line,
being on the California. from
INLAND to Arizona Junction, which is
as much a though line as the Oregon
Short Line or the Porterville line into
the San Joaquin Valley.
We emphasized at the hearing our
charge that the Imperial rates are
based on artificial mileage, and the
railway defendant agreed this is So
said Mr. Gregson; and they also insist
ed they are justified in weighting the
mileage, because Of the Beaumont
grade, Notwithstanding the sleeper
grades on other sections or divisions
of the road are not similarly weighted
This resolved the whole contention
of the railroad down to the claim OF
right to make arbitrary rates for one
section as against or compared witt
any other section, and destroys the
entire basic law designed to secure
equal treatment for all shippers.
If this system is allowed to obtain
in California; system not in keep
! ing with practice and law in other
parts of the United States-accord
ing to the contention of the Imperia
shippers represented by Mr.. Gregson
the result will be an intolerable Sc
ries of determinations.
The presentation of the case before
the commissioner makes it plain thai
the merchants and shippers of Imper
al and Southern California have q
just grievance in the matter of exccs
sive freight rates now being paid
putting an unequal and therefore un
Just burden on this district.
The statement was made that be
cause of this discrimination the loca
shippers are studying the matter o.
shipping by auto truck and abandon
ing the railroads as carriers of freight
in this territory.
If this policy of penalizing on the
plea of mountain grades is persisted
in by the railroads, then it is the clear
ly defined intention of the shipper:
to get behind and support responsible
trucking interests; to legalize and sta
bilize this form of transportation anC
to adopt it as the standard for South
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