Los Angeles daily herald., 1873-12-07
ORGANIZATION OF THE LEGISLATURE
a POPULAR TRIUMPH.

The cause Of the people is marching
onward with dauntless stride, conquer
ing and to conquer. The Legislature
Is now organized, with the exception
of few minor attaches to be chosen
by the Assembly. Thus far the anti
popular influences have not succeeded
in carrying single point, and there is
reason to believe that they will here
after be equally powerless to promote
evil or prevent good legislation. The
election Of Estee as Speaker, through
the concurrence of both Democrats and
Republicans, was q just Reorganization
by the House of the predoninating
independent sentiment of the State.
In that body, whose blood is drawn
fresh from the public veins at every
session, and which consequently indi-
Gates more accurately the latest
changes in the currents Of popular
thought, the new political movement
has fair plurality of representation,
which would have been augmented in
to majority or even tOtality had
the Independent organization been.
more seasonably and generally inau-
gurated. 1t was eminently proper
that this newest political birth, upon
which the people have SO unmistakably
bestowed the badge ftheir favoritism,
should receive considerate attention at
the hands of its elder bretheren; and
therefore the elevation of Estee to the
speakership was graceful tribute on
the part of Republicans and Democrats
to the majesty of the sovereign masses.
In the Senate, the contest for Presi-
Il ~ Ia l.
road and anti-railroad fight. We do
not wish to be understood to say that
all the Republicans in that body are
railroad men. On the contrary, some
of the staunchest opponents of mono
poly are to be found among their num-
bers. But unfortunately, they are in
the minority, and by supporting the
party candidate give aid and comfort
reluctantly, no doubt-to the popu-
lar enemy. The railroad managers
strove for control of the Senate, and
the disposal of it's important chair
manships through the Republican Or
ganization. The election of Evans
would have been claimed, and must
have been conceded, as q railroad vic
tory. To prevent consummatiOn so
| devoutly to be abhorred, the Indepen-
dents, who are numerically weak in
| that branch of the Legislature, joined
with the Democrats in support Of
Irwin, in whose election a popular tri-
umph was achieved more signal even
than that already gained in the House.
| The Senate was the railroad strong
hold. If it had been possible to effect
a combination strong enough to con-
troll its organization, form its commit
tees, and warp its legislation to suit
the pleasure Of our railroad magnates,
| the course of benefcent legislation
would have been effectual clogged.
However strong hand the Assembly
might have extended to protect public
interest or redress public wrongs, its ac-
tion would have been paralyzed by the
Senate. For all legislation affecting
railroad interest there would have been
a perfect deadlock. Aware that the
control of this single department for
defensive purposes was equivalent to
dominion over the whole Legislature,
the railroad managers concentrated all
their forces to effect its capture. The
fact that they were defeated after
three days struggle, demonstrates at
once the desperation with which they
fought, and the hopelessness of their
being able to seriously interfere with
the future current of legislation. The
fight was fair one on their chosen
field of combat, and their defeat was
railroad Waterloo.-[Sac. Union.