by one J. S. Leeds, who was then posing before the people of California as a master of all the mysteries of railroad schedules. I sought out this miracle among schedule-makers, and asked for his friendship and aid, and of both I received the assurance. The Commission will recall with what integrity these assurances were fulfilled, and with what ability Mr. Leeds increased the obscurity which enfolded the problem of the schedules and finances of the railroads of California. The Commission will also recollect the subsequent proceedings before the Legislature, in which the importance of Mr. Leeds in the early stages was accentuated by his conspicuous absence later on. From all indications this self-blown bladder among traffic managers has about finished his career in California, and will, in the near future, if he does not already, occupy a pillory of public disfavor to which oblivion would be a blessing. I think the Shively complaint should be continued and the case left open, in order that Mr. Leeds may have an opportunity to do penance by appearing as a witness once more therein; to testify that what he doesn't know about freight schedules would fill a volume, and that in his career in California he has played with equal success and ardor the dual part of knave and fool. Yours respectfully, JOHN E. RICHARDS, 6R MINUTES OF THE BOARD. OFFICE STATE BOARD OF RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS, The Board met at 10:15 a. M. Present: Commissioners William Beckman, J. M. Litchfield, and J. W. Rea. Commissioner Rea in the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. The Board took a recess until 11 o'clock A. M., to enable Mr. Richards, attorney for R. O. Shively, to be present. The Board reassembled at 10:50 A. M. All the Commissioners present. The case of R. O. Shively vs. Southern Pacific Company was called. Commissioner Rea asked Col. R. P. Morgan, expert for the Board, who was present, if his report was ready for the Commission, and after some discussion, moved that the report of Colonel Morgan be now received and read. Commissioner Litchfield moved as a substitute that said report be received after all other evidence in the case is in. It was so ordered, Commissioner Rea voting no. Attorney John E. Richards, for the complainant, then read the complaint, and called Mr. C. F. Smurr, General Freight Agent of the Southern Pacific Company, to be sworn. The Board then took a recess until 1 o'clock P. M. Reassembled at 1 o'clock P. M. Mr. G. L. Lansing, Secretary and Controller for the Southern Pacific Company, appeared, and was duly sworn. Attorney Richards asked for an order of the Board, requesting Mr. Lansing to produce, by next Thursday morning, November 17, 1892, before this Board, statements of the amounts paid the leased lines within the State of California for the use of their property for the calendar years 1890, 1891, 1892, and statement of gross receipts of the stations along those lines which comprise the Coast Division, for the same time. Also statement showing operating expenses of the lines comprising the Coast Division for same period. There being no objection the same was granted and the Secretary directed to take action accordingly. Col. R. P. Morgan, expert for the State Board of Railroad Commissioners, appeared and was sworn. At 3:15 P. M. the Board adjourned until Thursday morning, at 10 o'clock. JAS. V. KELLY, JAS. W. REA, President. OFFICE OF STATE BOARD OF RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS, Board met at 10 o'clock A. M. Present: Commissioners Beckman, Litchfield, and Rea. Commissioner Rea in the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. The case of R. O. Shively vs. The Southern Pacific Company was called. Col. R. P. Morgan, expert for the Board, was called to the stand. Attorney Richards for the plaintiff asked for an order of the Board directing Col. R. P. Morgan to bring facts, data, etc., before the Board at this time. Commissioner Beckman moved that the request be denied. So ordered, Commissioner Rea voting no. Mr. G. L. Lansing was called as a witness. The Board took recess at 12 o'clock. Reassembled at 1 o'clock P. M., G. L. Lansing in the witness chair. Adjourned at 2:30 P. M. until Tuesday, November 22, 1892, at 10 o'clock A. M. JAS. V. KELLY, JAS. W. REA, President. OFFICE STATE BOARD OF RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS, The Board met at 10 o'clock A. M. Present: Commissioners Wm. Beckman, J. M. Litchfield, and J. W. Rea. Commissioner Rea in the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. The Secretary read a communication from the Interstate Commerce Commission, under date Washington, D. C., November 1, 1892. Ordered placed on file, to be considered at next regular meeting. The case of R. O. Shively vs. Southern Pacific Company was then called. Mr. G. L. Lansing, Secretary and Controller for the Southern Pacific Company, on the stand. The Board took a recess until 1 o'clock. Reassembled at 1 o'clock. Mr. Lansing on the stand. At 2 o'clock P. M., the Board adjourned until Wednesday morning, at 11 o'clock, November 23, 1892. JAS. V. KELLY, JAS. W. REA, President. OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS, The Board met pursuant to adjournment at 11 o'clock A. M. Present: Commissioners Beckman, Litchfield, and Rea. Commissioner Rea in the chair. Upon motion of Commissioner Litchfield, the reading of the minutes of the previous meeting was dispensed with. The case of R. O. Shively vs. Southern Pacific Company was called. Mr. G. L. Lansing was recalled as a witness. Upon motion of Commissioner Beckman, John E. Richards, Esq., attorney for plaintiff, was given permission to take from the office of this Board any schedules or documents necessary for his own information and use, for a reasonable time, upon giving the Secretary a receipt for the same. Upon motion, the report of Col. R. P. Morgan, expert for this Board, was ordered to be delivered to the Secretary in a sealed condition, and to be kept so sealed until called for by the Board. The Board took a recess until 1 o'clock. The Board reassembled at 1:25 P. M. All the Commissioners present. Colonel Morgan handed his sealed report to the Secretary. Attorney Richards then asked for the production of Colonel Morgan's report. After discussion the Board adjourned, without taking action in the matter, until Tuesday, November 29, at 10 o'clock a. M. JAS. V. KELLY, JAS. W. REA, President. OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS, The Board met at 10:20 A. M. Present: Commissioners Beckman, Litchfield, and Rea. Commissioner Rea in the chair. The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. The case of R. O. Shively vs. The Southern Pacific Company was called. Mr. G. L. Lansing, Secretary of the Southern Pacific Company, in the witness chair. Mr. Beckman moved that Mr. Lansing be required to furnish the statement of the gross earnings, outside the Coast Division, for the years 1887 to 1891; also statement of gross earnings and gross operating expenses of the Southern Division. Roll call: Commissioner Beckman, aye; Commissioner Rea, aye; Commissioner Litchfield, no. Motion was carried. Recess was taken until 1 P. M. At 1 P. M. the Board reassembled; all the Commissioners present. Upon motion of Commissioner Litchfield, the next hearing of the case of R. O. Shively vs. The Southern Pacific Company was set for Tuesday, December 6, 1892, at 10 A. M. Commissioner Beckman moved that when the Board adjourn to-day, they meet Wednesday, November 30, 1892, at 11 A. M. Mr. J. L. Willcutt, Secretary of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, was called and sworn as a witness. At 2:35 P. M. the Board adjourned. JAS. V. KELLY, Secretary. JAS. W. REA, President. OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS, The Board met at 11 o'clock A. M. Present: Commissioners Wm. Beckman, J. M. Litchfield, and J. W. Rea. Commissioner Rea in the chair. Reading of the minutes of the previous meeting was dispensed with. After some preliminary remarks by the Board, the report of Colonel Morgan was read by that gentleman. At 12:20 P. M., the Board took a recess until 1:15 P. M. Reassembled at 1:20 P. M.; all the Commissioners present. Commissioner Litchfield moved a reconsideration of the action of the Board on Tuesday, the 29th inst., adjourning the case of R. O. Shively vs. The Southern Pacific Company until Tuesday, December 6, 1892. So ordered. On motion of Commissioner Litchfield, the Board adjourned until Friday, December 2, 1892, at 10 A. M., to enable attorney Richards to examine Colonel Morgan on his report. JAS. V. KELLY, Secretary. JAS. W. REA, President. OFFICE STATE BOARD OF RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS, } The Board met at 11 o'clock A. M. Present: Commissioners Wm. Beckman, J. M. Litchfield, and J. W. Rea. Commissioner Rea in the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. John E. Richards, attorney for R. O. Shively, called Col. R. P. Morgan to the stand as a witness. The question of introducing Colonel Morgan's report as evidence was discussed at length, and the Board took a recess until 1 o'clock P. M. without action thereon. Reassembled at 1:15 o'clock, and after some further discussion upon the admission of Colonel Morgan's report in evidence, Commissioner Litchfield moved that the case of R. O. Shively vs. Southern Pacific Company, now at issue, be postponed until Wednesday, December 7, at 10 o'clock A. M. So ordered. The Board then considered the bill of Col. R. P. Morgan, expert for the Board, together with his memorandum of expenses. The same was approved and unanimously recommended to the State Board of Examiners for its approval. The Board then adjourned until Wednesday, December 7, 1892, at 10 o'clock A. M. JAS. W. REA, President. JAS. V. KELLY, Secretary. |