The San Francisco call. [volume], August 31, 1895, Page 5, Image 5

About The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913

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MYSTERIES OF TARIFF- BUILDING AIRED.
Freight Agent Smurr
Explains Something
About Them.
HOW RATES AHE BASED.
Factors That Control the
Charges Made in Differ
ent Sections.
HORIZONTAL CUTS ESCHEWED.
Declared to Be Impractical and to
Work Injustice In Their
Application.
With the exception of a few minutes at
the beginning and at the conclusion of the
session of the Railroad Commissioners
yesterday morning, the entire day was
occupied in listening to General Freight
Agent Smurr, who sought, by submitting
and explaining comparative tables of rates
and by a crazy-quilt lecture on the mys
teries of tariff building, to impress the
Commissioners with the injustice of making
any further curtailment of the revenue oi
the Southern Paciiic Company, which,
even as things are, is claimed to be on the
verge of bankruptcy.
In the course of his anxious efforts to
secure the merciful consideration of the
commission in behalf of his company, Mr.
Smurr could not resist the temptation to
score the "clipper combine," as he called i
it, for interfering with the benevolent |
efforts cf the Southern Pacific to allow the ;
grain-producer a shade more tor his grain j
than he had been getting in former years.
He charged that when the railroad had j
made a concession to the interior w.heat
shippers in rates to tidewater the amount |
so allowed was much more than absorbed j
in the excessive price of wheat charters to
Liverpool owing to the corner that existed
in ocean tonnage, due, as explained by
Commissioner La Rue, to the Fair wheat
deal.
While endeavoring to explain to the |
commission the various diffeiences in
rates over the company's own lines for the j
same distance, it was clearly demonstrated 1
that the lower rates in nearly every in- j
stance were due to competition of some
kind— either by waterways or by rival
roads. It was demonstrated that by rea- ;
son of this condition of things those places '
removed ' from all kinds of competition
were made to contribute really more than j
their share of revenue toward the main- j
tenance of the Southern Pacific. i
Commissioner Stanton sought to justify J
his opposition to the proposed horizontal
cut of 15 per cent provided for in Chair
man La Rue's resolution, which is the real j
issue before the commission, by leading
Mr. Smurr to say, in response to interro
gatories, that a horizontal cut was never
made by the railroad and would work in
justice, as reductions are always made 1
where, according to the traffic manager's
ideas, they are most needed.
Commissioner Ciark distinguished him- i
pelf yesterday, as he has done at the |
previous sessions of the commission, by |
toeing sern not beard. • * ■ ■■■- -" ■'■■'•' ■-— ;
Not a little interest was created at 'the I
opening of the session by the introduction j
by the Southern Pacific of a witness in the i
person of W.B. Curtis, who is to sever his
relations with that company on the last
day of this month to at once enter theem- :
plcy of the Trallic Association as its traffic
manager, which position will require the
exercise of his best abilities in opposition
to his present employers.
When the commission settled down to ;
business shortly after 10 o'clock yesterday
morning the secretary read a communica
tion from the Pror>erty-owners' Union of
San Diego asking for a copy of the laws of |
franchise. It stated that the Atchison, I
Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad had failed '
to give the people of that section of the
country service over the line from San
Dieeo to Barstow, although the line had |
bpen grant <1 a subsidy of $6,000,000. A
storm had destroyed a portion of the road
and the people had never been able to get
the' Atchison, Topeka anl Santa Fe to re
open operations over the entire line. They
want advice as to their rights in the prem
ises. The communication was filed for
consideration as soon as the Southern
Pacific matter could be finished.
.Attorney Martin for the Southern Pacific
stated that at yesterday's session Mr.
Smurr had been asked for some de^crip- ;
tion of tne country through which the Or- !
egon Railway and Navigation Company's
line passed, as comparisons had been made i
between rates on that road and Southern j
Pacific rates. Mr. Sraurf could not com- '
piy with this request. Mr. Martin stated j
that there was a gentleman present who
could give the desired information. With
the permission of the commission he in
troduced W. B. Curtis, the newly appoint
ed, traffic manager of the Traffic Associa
tion. ...
In replying to a question asked by Dr. !
Stanton as to his present avocation Mr.
. Curtis stated that up to the end of the
present month he was in the pay of the
Southern Pacific, but that on the Ist of
September he entered the service of the
Traffic Association as its traffic manager.
He explained by means of « topograph
ical map that in Oregon there were some
what less .topographical difficulties in rail
road construction than in California.
In the cour?t* of this work Chairman La
Rue reiterated his statement of yesterday
that he thought in making his comparison J
of rates Mr. Smurr had selected roads and
points that would throw the moat favora
ble light on the Southern Pacific rates.
"There is no road running to tidewater j
that we are not willing to make a compar- !
ison with," said Attorney Martin, when j
Mr. Curtis was through. , • :
General Freight Agent Smurr resumed j
reading from his comparison of rates.
In the course of a little side argument;
with Commissioner La Rue, the Southern
Pacific representative stated that before he
finished j he would have compared rates on
every road in California with those of other
road's in the Uuited States for the same
distance, and - that he | would make any :
comparisons desired by the Commission. |
He added that he was not endeavoring to
conceal anything. v ; ." ■'"• L i '"'
Mr. Smurr had read but a few items from
a new Sheet showing comparative rates on
the coast division of the , Southern Pacific
Company, the Oregon Railway and Naviga
tion Company's road and roads running
into Duluth. Most of these, for the shorter
distance, were lower .on the Southern
Pacific. -■ .*'_■'*' •"■ ■■ . ■ -"'..".
Chairman La Rue asked if it was not a
fact that little grain was carried from these
points, and if there was not water compe
tition which compelled the making of low
rates. Mr.'Smurr added these facta and
said the company had ; to adjust ' matters
according to circumstances they found. ,
When the rates from the Salinas valley
points were reached Mr. Smurr called
attention to the fact that from there large
shipments of grain were. made. • v vV.-v-;
La Rue— Your grain rates include those
<-hareedfor flour, oats, barley, etc. Why, the
Eastern roads you quote charge -a* 1 lower-rate
for flour, oats and barley than for wheat.
Smurr— They probably have a Justifiable
reason for making tuch.a. difference which
they can probably explain; I caniiot. .-:
Commissioner Stanton , suggested at this ■
point that all statements of, comparisons
oi rates be submitted' to the commission
and that Mr. Smnrr simply explain such
portions as appeared to show a discriniina
tion on the part of the Southern Pacific.
Both La Rue and Smurr objected to this,
the latter stating that the public were in
terested in the matter and that he would
prefer to continue the full reading of his
statements before the commission. This
he was allowed to do.
Next Mr. Smurr read comparative rates
on the Southern Pacific and those fixed by
the lowa Railroad Commission. These
showed considerably In fayor of the lowa
rates and the railroad's representative ex
plained by claiming the different condi
tions under which the various properties
were operated accounted for this.
La Rue— The Southern Pacific has made
heavy recent reductions. May not some of
these Eastern roads you are quoting have done
the same thing?
Smart— No. They are on our mailing list
and we are on theirs, and thus all roads learn
promptly of any change in rates made by any
one road, and we have not been advised in this
case of any such reductions.
Commissioner La Rue interrupted the
reading in two instances to state that rates
he had secured from State commissions
were lower than those quoted by Mr.
Smurr.
The latter said his figures were from the
official tariff schedule of the roads in ques
tion, and if they differed from those fixed
by the commissions that was a matter be
tween the commissions and the railroad;
he could not account for it and did not be
lieve it could be so.
Afterward Smurr read from another ta
ble comparing rates on branches of the
Southern Pacific and those on trunk lines.
Commissioner La Rue asked why the
Southern Pacific rates were higher on
these branch roads, such as the \ acaville
and Marysville lines.
Smurr explained that on branch lines
rates were always higher as the volume of
traffic was much smaller in proportion to
operating expenses as compared with
trunk lines. He further stated that any
reduction made by the company would not
benefit the farmer, as clipperrates would
be advanced to Liverpool, the market for
wheat. He then added:
On the 28th of December, 1894, wo made a
reduction on wheat and thereby decreased our
revenue $250,000. But instead of thus saving
to the farmer the amount we gave up clipper
charges were advanced to such an extent that
the farmers got five times that amount less
for the product, so our reduction proved really
no gain to the farmer.
La Rue — Would this not have been the case
even if the railroad had not made the reduc
tion?
Smurr— Not to the same extent. The clipper
compact was never so strong as now, and it
takes advantage of every chance to increase
rates.
La Rue— ls it not a fact that the Fair wheat
deal caused a corner in wheat tonnage and a
consequent rise in the cost of transportation of
I wheat? '
M r. Smurr admitted that this was largely
true.
Chairman La Rne then called attention
to what he called the discrimination in the
case of Marysville, where for a haul of
! ninety-three miles to Port Costa the charge
\ is $2 50 per ton.
Smurr explained this as being on a
j branch line, with a limited volume of
! traffic. He then went into the condition
of the Southern Pacific,- ana claimed it
would not be fair to ask it to make any re-'
j duction in the amount of its revenue, as
\ they could barely meet expenses. If rates
i were reduced in one section they would
! have to be increased elsewhere, so as to
allow the company to keep its gross in
come undimimshed. He denied tha t there
was any intention on the part of the Booth-
I crn Pacific to discriminate against any
particular section.
When Mr. Smurr concluded the reading
of the last comparative statement they
were all submitted to the commission, and
a recess taken until 2 o'clock.
At. the opening of the afternoon session
Mr. Smurr produced some additional com
parative statements, which he explained
had been prepared during the recess.
The first figures quoted wore comparison
of rates on the Southern Pacific to Port
(Josta, in the southern part of the State
into San Diego and on the Atchison, To
peka and Santa Fe in Kansas City. Here
the rate from Brentwood to Port Costa, a
distance of thirty-one miles, on the South
ern Pacific was 75 cents, into San Diego
$1 60, into Kansas City $1 40.
Chairman La Rue called attention to the
fact, which was admitted by Mr. Sraurr,
that the rate from Brentwood to Port Costa
was the lowest prevailing on the Southern
Pacific system.
Mr. Smurr explained these low rates by
saying they were due to competition. The
same reason was assigned to explain why
certain rates from Sacramento Valley
points to Port Costa over, the Southern
Pacific were lower in proportion to mile
age than others. Mr. Smurr further stated
that tariff schedules were not based on
mileage alone for reasons he had already
partly stated. He said he would further
explain the system of making tariff sched
ules later.
Another statement was then read by
Mr. Srnurr, showing the grain ton
nage received at the principal shipping
points on the Southern Pacific during 1893
and 1894. In 1893 Port Costa received
437,000 tons, and 241,000 in 1894. The 1593
shipments cost an average of $2 83 to
move, and those of 1894 cost $2 47 per ton.
The same tariff existed during both years,
ann the difference per ton was due to the
different distances over which the crop
was carried. The gross earnings on these
shipments for 1893 was $1,238,000, and
$695,000 for 1894. Under the proposed 15
per cent horizontal reduction the revenue
to the Soutnern Pacific Company would
have been $923,000 in 1893, and $456,000 in
1894. '
During 1893 the total tonnage of grain
moved in California was 803,371, and in
1894 it was 456,000. The company's gross
earnincs for moving wheat in 1893 were
$1,816,818, and the shrinkage, if the pro
posed reductions were enforced by the
commission, would be $543,404. This
shrinkage would include the voluntary re
ductions made by the company since 1893
and the 15 per cent proposed by the La
Rue resolution. For 1893 the revenue
from all wheat moved in the State was
$456,000 and the shrinkage on the same
basis would be $244,000, of which amount
$142,000 would be represented by the vol
untary reductions of the company.
Seventy-five per cent of all the wheat
was moved from the San Joaquin, Sacra
mento and Salinas valleys. Mr. Smurr
continued:
Under the proposed reduction of 15 per cent
the grain farmer would benefit to the extent of
about l 3^ cents per 100 pounds compared to
tne 1894 rates and a little over 1% cents com
pared to those of 1893.
I may add that the good intentions of the
company, if I may claim good intentions for
the company, in making the reductions in De
cember, 1894, were frustrated, as the farmer
was not permitted to benefit from them owing
to the heavy advance made in clipper freight
rates from San Francisco to Liverpool, which,
as the Liverpool market controlled the Dries
here, lowered the value of wheat at the point
of production. The increase in the clipper rate
more than took up the slack, if I may ba per
mitted to use that expression, that was given
the farmer by the voluntary reduction of the
company.
In view ot this phase of the situation, and as
it appears the desire of the commission to
benefit the farmer, I would suggest that the
commission turn its attention to controlling, if
possible, the clipper rates of vessels that come
to this port. In order to bring about a lower
sea tariff to Liverpool I would further suggest
that the commission make it part of its busi
ness to accomplish this by inducing the coming
to this port of a fleet of ships to carry wheat.
This is a most important point to consider and
would certainly give the iarmer greater relief
than any slight reduction that we might be
forced to make. If the freight to Liverpool
was reduced but one shilling the farmer
would find as great relief as would
be afforded him under the proposed 15 per
cent horizontal reduction of the commission.
We recognize the importance of making such
concessions as will preserve the wheat-growing
industry of the State, but of what benefit is the
use of our comparatively small concessions to
the fanner when the commission cannot con
trol the through rate of freight to Liverpool
on wheat? If they could give us the assur
ance that any benefit we may concede to the
farmer will not be absorbed by the clipper coin
nact we might be more disposed toward mak
ing reductions; but we do not care to benefit
the clipper compact.
Mr. Smurr here quoted from a sheet to
THE SAN FBANCISCO CALL, SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, 1895.
show the great increase that had been
effected by what he called the clipper com
pact. In 1894 the average rate for iron
ships was $6 62 and for wooden vessels
$6 06, while the present rates were $8 frl^for
iron and $8 40 for wooden ships.
It was admitted by the company's repre
sentative that the depressed condition of
things generally required the greatest
economy on the part of every one, but he
did not think it was fair to make the rail
road bear the sole burden of relieving the
distress of the farmer.
Attorney Martin— What proportion of the
wheat raised in the State and shipped to for
eign ports in 1894 passed over the lines of the
Southern Pacific Company?
Smurr— About 43 per cent and a fraction.
Stanton — What percentage of all freight
earnings of the compaiiy is derived from
wheat? •
Smurr— ln 1893 we earned about $2,000,000,
including the movement of wheat between in
terior points, and in 1894 about half that
amount, owing to the short crops that year.
Mr. Lansing, in presenting a statement of the
finances of the company, will give you the
gross amount of our earnings for these years,
and you will then be able to calculate what
proportion of them was earned in the carrying
of wheat.
La Rue— Do you in making your tariffs
equalise rates so as to meet the conditions of
the different localities?
Smurr— Yes, sir, but we must take market
and water competition into consideration.
La Rue— There have been reductions made
since that of December, 1894?
Smurr— We have made no material reduc
tioDs since then.
La Rue— lf it were admitted that a reduction
was proper, would my method as suggested in
the resolution be fair?
Smurr — No, it would not be fair.
At this point Mr. Smurr spread upon the
table a topographical map of California,
showing the lines of the Southern Pacific
Company in the State. With the aid of
this, he then proceeded to explain on what
basis tariffs were made. He said :
Tidewater points are the objectives. Port
Costa, Stockton, South Vallejo and San. Fran
cisco are the principal tidewater terminals.
In response to a question by Commis
sioner Stanton it was stated by Mr. Smurr
that a tariff based on distance alone was
impracticable, because of other conditions
that must be considered. These were
principally the distance from market of
the locality known as market competition,
and the competition created by water
ways. He further explained:
In the San Joaquin Valley we have the San
Joaquin River as a competitive factor as far
south as Fresno. In the Sacramento Valley we
have the Sacramento River, and in the Salinas
Valley we must compete with the Pajaro Rail
rond, which carries the wheat to Moss Landing,
whence it is carried by water to San Francisco.
With such conditions to contend with a dis
tance tariff in regular arithmetic progression
would not fit the situation. Nearly every
where we have to meet competition, either
active or far removed.
Our grain tariffs are on an arbitrary basis of
rate-making for all points susceptible to water
competition.
Our December (1894) reduction was made on
the representation! of the grain-growers of the
upper San Joaquin Valley ot the distress pre
vailing at that time, and if we had not made
reductions at that time I believe the farmer
would have fared as well, for the clipper com
bine would probably have had to take that
much less from the grain-shipper.
Stanton— Mr. Smurr, allow me to call your
attention to a certain peculiarity I find in
looking over certain comparative tables I have
here. I would like you to explain, if you can,
why different rates are charged for the same
haul to Port Costa from different points. I
find that from Maxwell to Port Costa, a dis
tance of 102 miles, the rate is $2 05 per ton;
from Reed to Port Costa, a distance of 103
miles, !f4 30; from Livingston to Port Costa,
105 miles. $'2 30; from Volta to Port Costa, 103
miles, $2 50.
La Rue— The rate from Reed is due to its be
ing nearer to Marvsville than the other points.
Smurr— The difference is caused by the de
gree of water competition.
Stanton— Let us take Maxwell and Living
ston. Why is the rate #2 05 from Maxwell and
$2 30 from Livingston?
Smurr— There is a greater degree of water
competition from the former place than from
tWe latter.
Ciark — Was the reduction made by the'eom
pnny in December, 1894, in the nature of a
horizontal cut?
Smurr— lt was not.
La Rue— lf it were necessary to make say a
reduction of 10 per cent would an injustice be
done by making It general?
Sraurr- We would not think of making a
horizontal reduction. We would apply the re
duced rates to the localities where we thought
they were most needed— for instance, to the
place most remote from tidewater. . The farmer
who is so near tide-water as to get a rate of $1
to it is not so badly in need of a reduction,
even if his rate is 5 cents a mile per ton, as the
farmer whose rate, owing to his distance from
a shipping point, is $H a ton, even if he is pay
ine only at the rate of 1 cent a mile per ton.
This is the view we take of the situation.
Martin — I would like to call your attention
again to the question oi Dr. Stanton with ref
erence to the difference charged Maxwell and
Levingston. Is it not due to the greater water
competition nt Maxwell?
Smurr— That is what I stated. Now to return
to my explanation of the basis on which rates
are made. We take Port Costa, the great ship
ping point for grain, as the starting Doint.
Stockton, Sacramento and San Francisco are
given differentials that are entirely arbitrary.
Stockton's grain rates are made under special
conditions, fixed years ago by the commercial
body of that city and the company.
Stanton— There are some points from which
the rate is 5 cents a mile per ton.
Smurr— l have no doubt of that; and in some
localities it is even higher, perhaps.
La Rue— Yes; I find a rate here that is as high
as 7J-2 cents a mile per ton. »
Smurr— That is due to the short haul, which,
as I explained before, is much more expensive
in proportion than a long haul. It is also
probably due to the character of the road.
Mountain roads are more expensive to operate
than those in the valleys. In the case of a
short haul the 5 cent rate might apply, while 1
cent a mile might be a good rate from other
points. Where there is a difference in the
rates there is always a good cause. Water
competition is not always a factor. In some
localities, where competition is keen, we are
satisfied if we get something over the bare cost
of hauling the freight, that is the operating
expenses, but we take it so a.vto lighten the
burden of other portions of our roads in meet
ing the fixed charges. Rate-making in a coun
try like this is by no means a scientific propo
sition. To rnn a road so as to compensate the
owners it must not only return something over
operating expenses, rfut must leave a surplus
after also paying the fixed charges. Our claim
simply is that our rates are justifiable on any
standard that can be brought to bear on them.
Martin— Does wheat bring the railroad com
pany any more of the share of the operating
expenses and fixed charges than other commo
dities in proportion to the respective volume
of earh handled?
Smurr— No, sir.
Stanton— ls the gross revenue from wheat
larger than from any other commodity?
Smurr— The revenue from wheat is larger,
but wheat is more costly to handle. Other
commodities can be handled more readily ami
cheaply. Wheat frequently requires special
service and must always be moved promptly.
In handling other commodities we can move
them more to suit our convenience and, conse
quently, more profitably. Wheat traffic also
requires the return of empty cars.
La Rne— Are not empty cars sent back East
by the company in which other commodities
than wheat have been shipped.
Smurr— No, sir. The time has gone by when
California imports more than she exports.
The movement of empty cars is now this way.
The balance of trade is in favor of California
and has been during recent years. If the bal
ance of trade could be maintained between the
Kast and West rates could be made cheaper.
Take the matter of fruit shipments in re
frigerator cars. These cars, which are twice
the weight of ordinary ones, must be hauled
back empty, and this costs money.
Stanton— Rates. I believe, are based on com
modities according to the volume .carried of
each, as near as this can be ascertained.
Sraurr— lf there were no water competition,
if the exact volume of the various commodities
could be ascertained, if the length oi haul
were known in advance and if there were no
market competition we might be able to fix
rates exactly as they ought to be, but this we
cannot do.
Manton — In other words, you can't make a
forecast. Could not a distance tariff be adopted
for wheat alone?
' Smurr— A distance tariff is not practicable.
Martin— Would it not, so far as water lines
are concerned, have the effect of preventing
competition?
Smurr — It would. It would wipe out all
natural advantages, in all probability. We
tried it in years past in different localities, but
it had to be abandoned in each case.
Martin— A distance tariff is only practicable
where there is no water competition?
Smurr— Yes, sir.
Stanton— lf rates were made lower in one
place by reason of competition by water, would
they be raised in some other locality?
This was cleverly evaded by a disquisi
tion on the effects of competition antf the
impracticability of a distance tariff. Later
Attorney Martin, unaware of his sinning,
called attention to the fact that Mr. Smurr
had not answered Dr. Stanton's pointed
question. It was repeated by Mr. Martin
and Mr. Smurr replied:
"No, sir. If we get even 1 mill above the
actual cost of hauling we take the business, as
however small the sum may be we do not lose
any opportunity of a source of revenue for
meeting the fixed charges."
La Rue— l have come to the conclusion that a
distance tariff could not be applied in this
country.
Smurr— There has been a continuous reduc
tion in our freight rates in past years, but the
volume of traffic has not increased proportion
ately, a3 our income has gradually been grow
ing less.
La Rue— Have not your current expenses
been reduced?
Smurr— Our current expenses have only been
reduced since the recent period of hard times,
nut Mr. Curtis can give yon better informa
tion on that subject.
Assistant Manager Curtis — Our expenses
have not been reduced in proportion to the
loss in earnings. The tonnage has not been
increasing for the past five years in proportion
to the reduction in rate 6, and consequently we
are at present running at a loss. At the end of
last year we had an actual deficit of $2,500,000.
La Rue— Which is the larger part of your la
bor expense— high or low grade ?
This brought out a mass of figures show
ing that the lower-class laborers received
the larger share of the $12,000,000 distrib
uted annually by the railroad. It alao
showed that the average for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1894, for the lowest class
of labor was $1 57 per day; for mechanics,
$2 49; for clerkß, $:i 40, and for the general
office employes, $13 76.
Martin— Have you any more information or
explanation to offer?
Smurr— No, sir.
Martin — (Addressing the Commissioners)
Gentlemen, do you wish to ask any more ques
tions?
La Rue— No, sir. Has the railroad any more
men whom it wants to present facts or fig
ures?
Martin— We desire to present financial state
ments and wouid like to do so to-morrow, but
if we had more time we could present them in
more condensed form and thus save the Com
missioners considerable time in the examina
tion of them. We would, therefore, ask for
time until Monday to do this.
Stanton— l object to any delay and want to
get through with this matter at the earliest
day. I think we ought to meet again to
morrow.
Mr. Lansing being appealed to said he
thought he could have nis statement in
shape by this morning, and with the un
derstanding that he would appear before
the commission with it to-day the session
was adjourned until this morning at
10 o'clock.
THEY CONDEMN STANTON
The Iroquois Club Calls Him
a Traitor to the Demo
cratic Party.
The Conduct of Commissioner La
Rue Is Held Up to Public
Admiration.
The Iroquois Club held its regular weekly
meeting at Pythian Hall last night. Max
Popper, chairman of the committee ap
pointed some months ago to effect Demo
cratic organizations in each district in the
county, reported that the work had been
successfully accomplished. The commit
tee was then instructed by the club to pro
ceed with the permanent organization of
these district clubs, the date of such action
being left to their pleasure.
The most important event of the evening
was the reading of a resolution introduced
by John Heenan, in which the conduct
of Railway Commissioner Stanton was
strongly condemned. It certainly voiced
the sentiment of every Democrat present,
and an effort was made to pass it then and
there. The rules of the club, however,
sent it to the committee on resolutions,
but it will unquestionably be taken up and
passed at the next meeting. The resolu
tion reads as follows:
Whereas, The Democratic party is tho undy
ing enemy of corporate corruption, greed and
avarice, whether National, State or municipal,
and has at all times been and shall continue the
sturdy stay and support of the toiling indus
trious masses of our Republic in the'r just
cialmof their true and hnnest share in the prod
ucts of their toil, without confiscation by in
dividuals or corporations under the guise of
law; and whereas, a gigantic corporation in
ou»*mldst. Condemning alike the laws of God
and man and of their own ultimate economic
■weal through political brokers without parry
or principles and gangrened to the core with
rottenness, is subverting the law of just return
■to the producer, and is mßking industry un
productive in our State; and whereas,
the fixed and enduring principles of our
glorious party, the lost grandeur of the
j>ublic liberties and rights, have been by one
of our public servants, elected by our votes to
the sacred trust of the Railroad Commission,
with unblushing effrontery contemned and
disdained: and whereas, said Commissioner,
Dr. James I. Stanton, has abjectly betrayed his
immortal party, and has taken his direction i
from the political brokers of said arrogant and
ruthless corporation; and whereas, said Com
missioner had shamelessly violated his solemn
and sacred pledge of honor, now, therefore,
belt
Jiesolved, By the Iroquois Club of San Fran
cisco, that we denounce and' condemn the sin
ister and oblique action of Railroad Commis
sioner Dr. James I. Stanton in refusing to sup
port the just Democratic resolution of his
fellow and honorable Commissioner, H. M. La
Rue, in relation to the reduction of freight
charges on grain, admittedly now too high by
reason of the state- of the grain market and
the slimncss of the yield for the season; that
we consider him, the said Dr. James I. Stanton,
an unblushing breaker of his most solemn
and sacred public, personal pledge and a recre
ant to the ennobling principle's of Democracy;
that he is unworthy of bearing the name of
Democrat and should return to private life
and ignominy; but that we turn with pride
and pleasure to the upright constitutional
Democratic conduct of H. M. La Rue, the good
and faithful public servant, and congratulate
him on his open shining integrity and honor.
That all the Iroquols clubs of this State and
City be requested to adopt like resolutions.
That we call on Chairman Gould of the Demo
cratic State Committee to call said committee
together to take meet action in this juncture
of affairs.
The annual outing of the Iroquois Club
will be held at San Leandro September 25,
where an elaborate bullshead breakfast
will be given.
A SOUTH SIDE NIGHT.
Grand Parade of Bicyclists to the Co
lumbia - Square Mass-
Meeting.
The South Side Improvement Club are
making great preparations for the big
mass-meeting that will be held in Columbia
square and Folsom street on the evening
of September 6. A large number of South-
Side prbperty-owners and those interested
in the proposed Folsom-street boulevard
have been selected as vice-presidents. H.
B. Russ has been selected as president of
the evening. Among the speakers will be
Hon. James G. Maguire. A. Branch and
G. 1). Shadburne. Other speakers will de
liver addresses in favor of better streets
and the bituminizing of Folsom street.
There will be two bicycle parades, prob
ably such as has never been seen before in
this City, and the two lines will meet at the
square. One division will be marshaled by
Captain Burke of the Californias.
In this division will be the California
Club, Liberty, Polytechnic, Alpha (in
bloomers), Monarch, Lowell High School
and South Side clubs. Accompanying will
be many unattached riders. The line of
the parade will be from Twenty-second
street, down Folsom to Twentieth, to Shot
well, to Fourteenth, to Russ, to Columbia
square.
The other division will be under Marshal
Korn, and will consist of the San Fran
cisco Road, Bay City Wheel, Outing,
Waveriey, Royal, Imperial, Sunset,
Golden Gate and Camera clubs, besides
many unattached riders.
All of the "bikes" will be decorated with
Chinese lanterns, ribbons and flowers.
There is the keenest rivalry between the
two divisions to see which will be able to
get 1000 wheelmen in line.
I.Hlmr Exchange iv Line.
The petition of the Union for Practical
Progress to the Mayor and Board of Super
visors asking that a special election te called
on the municipal owneiship question, received
the unanimous indorsement of the Labor Ex
change at its last meeting in Gcldtn R|ile Hall,
on Mission street. Thursday night.
The exchange has now a membership of 850,
with J. S. Clark president and It. F. Kyfkoge,
secretary.
TRYING TO SHIFT TAXES
A Decision Found That May
Mean a Big Change in
the Levy.
TEST CASE BEING PREPARED.
Slngle-Taxer9 Hope to Force Prop
erty-Owners to Pay More
Money.
The single tax advocates are hard at
work on a test case which, if successful, in
all likelihood will force the real estate
owners of the City to contribute something
like $1,000,000 more than usual to the mu
nicipal treasury.
In a nutshell, the real estate owners pay
county taxes on the levy made by the
Board of Supervisors. The State Board of
Equalization almost always raises this levy
for State purposes. Bilt the real estate
owners never pay any attention to this
raise when paying their county taxes.
The single-taxers claim to have found a
decision of the Supreme Court which holds
that the rate fixed by the State Board of
Equalization holds for both State and
county purposes. If this proves to be cor
rect real estate owners will have to pay the
State rate on their county taxes. Last
year the State Board raised the San Fran
cisco County rate 15 per cent. That means
about 51,000,000.
The single-taxers intend to wait iintil
the State Board of Equalization has fixed
the State rate, which it is now engaged in
doing; then they will file a writ to compel
the Tax Collector to gather whatever in
creased rate the State Board sets. All
this is in line with the life work of the
single-taxers, for the move forces the in
creased taxation onto the real estate
owners, and that is just where single
taxers aim to nave the burden of taxation
fall.
The figures for the last fonr years show
that the difference between State and
county taxes as set by the respective
boards represents quite" a handsome sum.
In 1891 the Assessor's valuation on county
property was $311,566,079. The State
Board of Equalization raised thia to $399,
--826,077. In 1892 the Assessor's figures
were $346,224,706. The State Board raised
them to $412,047,076. In 1893 there was no
increase. In 1894 the figures were raised
from $325,108,898 to $372,765,543, an increase
of nearly $50,000,000. This year the
Assessor's figures were $327,802,107. The
Board of Supervisors fixed the rate upon
this valuation at $1.5371.
Under the old system real estate owners
would pay this rate for county purposes
irrespective of any raise the State Board of
Equalization should levy for State pur
poses. Right there is where the single
taxers propose to step in and try to make
them pay the State rate in both instances
Nearly all people who have no real estate
and who pay taxes on personal property
will escape this raise, if there ia any raise
this year. The chances are that they will
have paid their taxes before the test suit is
brought.
Mayor Sutro got an inkling of what the
single-taxers are about and sot his lawyers
to work on the matter. They are now ac
tively looking up all the points involved.
Mayor Sutro is doubly interested, for not
only will he be called upon to act in his
official capacity, but he owns a ereat deal
of land in the county. At the time of the
Midwinter Fair it was stated at a meeting
of the Board of Supervisors that he held
title to nearly one-tenth of the land in the
county. Most of it is located about the
Golden Oate Park and the sandhills
bordering the ocean.
The suit on which the single-taxers
will base their contest before the Supreme
Court is entitled E. J. Baldwin against
Asa Ellis, Tax Collector of Los Angeles
County. It was an action to recover taxes
alleged to have been illegally exacted.
The main question was: "Has cr has not
th" State Board of Equalization the lawful
right to increase or lower the assessment
roll of counties so as to affect taxes for
county purposes?" It was maintained by
"Lucky ' Baldwin that the increase or re
duction affected the roll only so far as
State taxes were concerned. The decision
of the court is directly to this point and is
in favor of the State board.
In closing its opinion on the point the
court said :
Section 3627 of the Political Code enacts
that all taxable property must be assessed at
its full cash value. If the appellant's theory of
the law be a proper one. then there must be
two cash valuations of the same piece of prop
erty — one for the State and another for county
purposes. There can be no real need of v State
Board of Equalization unless its main function
be to ascertain and declare, as near as possible,
the true valuation of taxable property.
The object which the constitution seeks to
attain is that the assessments shall be made to
accord with the true value In money. We can
not understand how it can be held in the light
of such words that the true value in money
means two true values in money, which seems
to be appellant's contention here.
Tax Collector Block has ruled that the
State board has no power to fix a valua
tion npon which county taxes shall be
collected.
STATE HORTICULTURISTS.
They Meet and Talk of a Dried
Fruit Exhibit for
Atlanta.
TheZante Currant Revived and Re
ports Heard on Orchards and
Auction-Rooms.
Several topics of interest to the fruit
growers in the State were discussed at the
meeting of the State Horticultural Society
in Assembly Hall, Mills building, yesterday
afternoon. President B. M. Lelong called
the meeting to order, and there were pres
ent the following members: E. W. Masltn,
W. B. West, B. N. Rowley, .Gustav Eisen,
R. P. Rixford, H. Overacker, E. J. Wick
son, Theo Deming, Ed M. Ehrhorn, Frank
A. Kimball, T. Kamsey, F. W. Cramtall.
Dr. Gustav Eisen spoke on the subject of
"The Grapes of Corinth and Their Rais
ins." discussing the Zante currant and the
suit now pending in the United States Cir
cuit Court, in \thich S. L. Jones & Co. are
contesting the duty on a shipment of that
fruit.
John P. Irish followed Dr. Eisen, and en
couraged the members with a hopeful out-
Jook for the sustaining of the duty.
A. P. Van Duzer. attorney for the im
porters, was invited to speak. He did so,
but did not make much impression on his
hearers, as he was not on their side of the
tight.
While the Zante currant auestion occu
pied the largest share of the time, the
proposition to popularize California fruits
in tne East was the subject of practical
interest. D. M. Carman spoke to the sub
ject. He said it was a mere question of
making California dried fruits popular in
the East in order to get the Eastern trade.
He suggested a cooking school with head
quarters at Cliicago and a branch at the
Atlanta Exposition, and asked if the State
Horticultural Society were not the proper
body to take up the matter and carry it to
final accomplishment.
R. P. Rixford said he was a member of
ROYAL
Baking Powder
JkM»molnW&ly Pure
the committee that had been appointed to
take up the matter of an exhibit in the
New York fair, but that he was not aware
that the committee's duty went beyond
that plan, which had been abandoned.
President Lelong favored the idea of a
practical exposition of California dried
fruits in the East, and agreed with other
members who declared that the usual ex
hibit of fruits in cases and glass jars had
become rather stale.
"It is only necessary," he said, "to show
the people of the East what can be done
with our fruits when put over a tire by a
skillful cook. This plan will be exhibited
at the State Fair at Sacramento, and I am
heartily in favor of the matter being
pushed by this society of placing our fruits
properly before the people of the East."
The subject was further discussed by
several members, and the president was
empowered to appoint a committee to take
the matter in hand and report a plan
which will result in the popularizing of
California fruits at Atlanta and elsewhere
without the necessity of advertising any
grower. The idea prevailed that contention
between growers would be avoided by plac
ing the control of the exhibit in the hands
of the society, who would arrange to pay
the growers for the fruits carried East to
be used in the demonstration. The com
mittee named is composed of C. H. Allen,
H. P. Stabler and H. Overacker.
A resolution was presented favoring the
holding of the State Fruit-growers' con
vention in November at Sacramento. But
no action was taken in the matter.
B. N. Rowley and E. J. Wickson, the
committee appointed to investigate the
subject of "Profitable life of fruit trees in
California" submitted a report stating that
very few responses had been received to Its
requests for information owing to the fact
that most of the orchards bad not attained
sufficient age.
H. Wein stock, president of the Califor
nia Fruit-growers and Shippers' Associa
tion, reported that the association has Suc
cessfully carried out the reform in the
direction of issuing daily bulletins show
ing the fruit in transit in order to prevent
glutting the market. But the idea of con
solidating the auction salesrooms in Chi
cago and New York has largely been de
feated.
CARPENTERS AND JOINERS
New and Important By- Laws
Were Adopted Last
Evening.
No Member Allowed to Work With
a Non-Union Man— The
Labor Council.
The Carpenters' and Joiners' Union No.
22 held an active meeting last evening and
initiated 125 new members, making a mem
bership of over 750. It was the last meet
ing at which new members could be ac
cepted on a 50-cent initiation fee. With
but little discussion the new by-laws that
will be added to the old were adopted.
The new provisions will have an impor
tant bearing upon the work in the carpen
ter line. In the first place, the working
card system has been adopted, and all
members in good standing must be pos
sessed of the little red pasteboard showing
that his dues are paid, at least one month's
on each quarter. No member will be al
lowed to work on a job with non-union
men. and the standing of any one can be
easily determined by the working-card.
Under the new by-laws eight hours will
constitute a day's work, and the rule will
be strictly enforced. For all work done
overtime must be paid for by what the
carpenters call "time and a half." For
Sunday work double time will be charged.
Alt fractional parts of a day, instead otbe
ing paid for by the hour, shall be paid for
at the rate of a quarter, half and three
quarters of a day. These rules will go into
effect on September 15.
The four carpenters' unions in this City
control five-sixtns of the carpenters, or
about 2000 members. The carpenters state
that work is fairly good, and this fact be
coming known throughout the State,
where there is but little being done in the
buildine trades, has caused an influx of
carpenters. The City is now Hooded with
members of the craft who are sadly disap
pointed. As fast as possible the new
comers are being taken into the fold.
The American Painters' and Decorators'
Union was last evening granted a repre
sentation in the Trades Council of this
City. The latter body indorsed a resolu
tion recently passed, by the Union for
Practical Progress, and which was pub
lished in The Call, which advocates
municipal ownership of telephone, tele
graph, gas, streetcar and water systems.
The Musicians' Union complained that
the Golden Banner, a Swedish organiza
tion, is hiring a non-union band for ?ts
parties nnd picnics. The matter was given
to the executive committee with instruc
tions to do missionary work with this
society.
One Bank Legs.
The Bank Commissioners have received a
notification from the Bank of Fallbrook of San
Diego County that the bank ceased
deposits on August 24. The cashier has been
instructed to wind up the business of the con
cern. The capital stock is $25,000, and $18,
--000 is due depositors. The reason for the bank
closing its affairs is because there is not busi
ness enough in that locality to warrant its con
tinuance. The bank is solvent.
For Land Deeded to a Niece.
Mrs. Bridget Martin, 80 years old, is suing to
recover property at Douglass and Nineteenth
streets from her niece, Catherine X. Hernan.
She deeded the property to the niece, bnt she
claims that the latter took advantage of her
age to induce her to do so.
STRICKEN WITH PARALYSIS.
From the Industrial News, Jackson, Mich.
Myron L. Root, a worthy workman, has lived
for nearly twenty»five years in the city of
Jackson, Mich., at 234 Adrian aye., where he
owns a happy home. His health had failed
him for some years back, and the loss of his
wife two years ago filled his cup of misery to
overflowing. Grief and worry soon brought on
a stroke of paralysis. A few weeks later he had
a second stroke, which totally disabled him.
He could neither move a limb nor his head
and had to be fed like a baby. The best medi
cal aid was furnished him, and his friends did
all they could for him, but human hands
seemed powerless to give him relief.
Both physicians who were treating him told
him, after a consultation, that there were no
means of helping him. He was then but a
mere skeleton, without power to move and
scarcely strength enough to express his wishes.
Death was truly much preferable to a lingering
life of such misery and helplessness.
The marvelous cure by br. Williams' Pink
Pills of a woman afflicted similar to himself,
which appeared in the Industrial News, was
read to him, and although only a lingerinjr
spark ot hope existed he consented to give the
medicine a trial, but insisted that another
physician be called, in order to lay the matter
before him. The physician was summoned,
and after a thorough examination of the pa
tient and learning the history of the case, said
that he could promise no relief and advised
him to try Dr. Williams' Pink Pills, which he
had often known to succeed when everj-thing
else had failed. The pills were procured, and
he took them according lo directions, with the
most wonderful result. At the end of two
week* he could walk and at the end of four
weeks, although weak, he was perfectly cured
and is now able to do all kinds of light work.
Dr. Williams' Pink Pills contain, in a con
densed form, all the elements necessary to give
new life and richness to the blood and restore
shattered nerves. They are an unfailing
specific for such diseases as locomotor ataxia,
partial paralysis, St. Vitus' dance, sciatica,
neuralgia, rheumatism, nervous headache, the
after effect of la grippe, palpitation of the
heart, pale and sallow complexious, all forms
of weakness either in male or female. Pink
Pills are sold by all dealers, or will be sent
post paid on receipt of price (50 cents a box, or
six boxes for $2 50) by addressing Dr. Williams'
Medicine Company, Schenectady, N. Y.
University of Calirornia— s4o,ooo to Loan.
BLANK APPLICATIONS WILL BE SENT
upon request No application for less than
910,1/00 will be considered. Applications must be
sent, in duplicate, to Begem Albert Miiler, 53U
California St.. 8. F. J. H. C. BONTE, Becty.
Berkeley, CaL, August 23, 1895.
;-•";: - , KEW TO-DAY., 'V.V. I^ ' '
..• - i.. -■■--.. . . •_. . . .I.^- ■_. « t.-*,-*\ ij
And Still
Another •
Mothers'
Day.
The great success of our "Mothers' Days
has not surpiised us. Our goods and oar
prices are such that they command success.
To-day we shall redouble our efforts and offer
still greater values. . ;
Fire and water sales are expensive to the
buyer. What appears to be cheap turns out to
be dear when you get it out into the daylight.
Buying in our store is buying In BROAD DAY-
LIGHT.' Best lig*hted store in San Francisco.
Here are a few of the many things we offer to-
day: - ...
BOYS' SUITS.
Blue,3rdwn arid Gray Cheviot andtf;^ (\(\
Serge Reefer Suits, ages 4 to 8....h\5*, vi/ ,
Strong School Suits, ages sto 14, dark<t f «*e
and medium, coiors.very durable..«P * • JO
Blue and Black Serges, double-breast-
ed and square cut, Long Pants, CT _f\
ages 13 to 19....:..:..... 3>/«s v
CORDUROY PANTS.
Special value in ' Gray and Brown
Corduroys, ages 4to 14, just the - C«-
thing for school, will wear like 7-^
ir0u......*....;...................... v 's*"
CAPS AND BLOUSES.
Boys' Yachting Cap 5. . . 1 . . . .; ;.'... 850
Boys' Yachting Caps, gold and silver .
trimmed 500
Blouses, fancy trimmed, 3 to 7 years. 500
TIES.
I New line of Windsors and Bows ■ 25a
ROMAN
&co.
Cor. Fifth and Market Sts.
_ Open till 10:30 to-ni»ht. ...'.'-' 1 ■'.'..
— — — —— 1"— U-i I I^T.lTj.l' Mill HI ■!
REDUCED*
TELEPHONE RATES.
SERVICE No. i.
I"' -Old, S9 5O • New, S5 50
Per Month.
WITH NICKEL-IX-THE-SLOT AT-
TACHMKXT.
Redaction over 42 per cent. -
THIS SKUVICE, NOW GIVEN FOB
85 50 IRK .MONTH, INCLUDES:
Indlvidnal Metallic
Copper Circuits (Two Wires)
Loug Distance Telephones . Express System
Forty City Switches
SERVICE No. 2.
Old, S9 5O New 84 50
. ■ - .. Monh.
WITH NICKEI.-IN-THE-SLOT AT-
. TACHAIENT.
* •-• Reduction over 52 per cent. •
THIS SEKV.CK, N W • GIVKN FOB
•4 5O PE.C MONTH, INCLUDES:
i Combination Line Metallic .
Copper. Circuits (Two Wires, one subscriber oa
5 :" -■% each wire) no bell-ringing interference
Long Distances Telephones Express System
Forty City Switches
SERVICE No. s7~ ";O:
Old, 89 50 New, 83 50
' •' . Per Month.
WITH NICKEL-IN-THE-SLOT AT-
TACHMENT.
. Reduction over 73 per cent. --'
THIS MiKViCK, .NOW GIVEN FOR
*3 50 I'EK MONTH, INCLUDES:
Party Line Metallic ' ■ • •■■■•_ .- ■■■
Copper Circuits (Two Wires, flvAJiibflcrUjers
on each wire) ■
liOng Distance Telephones Express System
Forty City Switches (to each subscriber)
•j Three hundred subscribers are now connected at
this $2 60 rate. •, -".-"
■:.;■■ "■■■i.i"~r r ■.::,:■-: L. H. JACOBI, a
. ; , Contract Agent. 'Jlti Bush st.
! San Fbakcisco, August 8, 1895. ; .
____ — —
i LI PO TAI J R.'5 / — >w
Herb Sanitarium, p^-J
No. 727 Washington St., \ \X I
Cor. Brenham Place, abova . I&2L* A '
the plaza, San Francisco, CaL ' /Jhxtst*.
Office hours-0 A. M. to -^^^/A^N
1» M.,1t04 and sto 8 rW*' -■ •
P. M. , ■It'.^ju j-~ -
" San FRAXcisco,'Jnne 1, 1895.
1 -'; - • - • ■ -• 619 Geary street.
• After three years of acute < suffering from bron-
chitis and Insomnia and having been treated . dur-
ing this time by physicians or both the old and new
schools without the slightest Improvement I con-
sulted Dr. Li Po Tai 1 Jr., who ■at once found th«
direct cause of the trouble.' After a course of treat-
ment with him I can pronounce myself cured, t
feel I owe my life to his skill. DORALONO.
f ALL ill WINDOW
PAPER 11 SHADES
Largest Stock and Lowest Prices.
G.W.CLARK&Io:
653 Market Street.
SAMPLES SENT. /' \. '
*^nN& » m
TS THE VERY BEST ONE TO AMINE YOTTB
1 eyes and fit them to Spectacles or Eyeglasses \
with instruments lof his | own - Invention, . whosa I
tuperiorlty has not been equaled. 1 My aucceM hag -
been due to the merits of my worlc
* Office Hours— l 2 to 4r. it. .' ■ • . •
5