The Placer herald., 1874-03-07
PUT IT THROUGH.

When the Freeman bill, for the regula
ton of freights aud fares, was before the
Assembly Committee, Stanford and his COL
leagues sullenly declined all invitations from
said committee to appear and show cause
why the said bill should not become law.
Why was this? Because Stanford knew
that every member of that committee and the
the of which they formed part, were fresh
from the people, pa took of the sentiments
of the people, and filled with a determina
ton to do the will of the people, and that
no such weak, whining, wisly washy evil
dence as lie and his had to present could
nave any effect on them. Stanford knew
his evidence would have no bearing in tho
Assembly, end, weakened by the defeat,
would have but little weight with the Sen
ate. "No," says Stanford, 81 will let the
bill pass the Assembly and go TO the Sen
ate, and then will marshal my forces and
defeat it" The Till did pass the AssembI,
by an overwhelming majority; was passed
to lhe Senate and referred to the Senate
Commit on Corporations, when IN came
Mr. Stanford with lis leagued troupe OF
tnesses, each armed with bundle of
mouldy, dusty documents, from which they
proceeded to prove that some little one-horse
branch road would not pay at the prices
provided by the Freeman bill. All these
dusty documents have been patiently gone
over; all Stanford's accumulated knowledge
Of railroads and the cost of conducting
them has been poured out upon the heads
of this committee, and all without effect
unless it be to convince the committee and
he people more firmly than ever that dis
elimination has been pracliced, and that a
reduction of fares and fre'ebts should be
made. Stanford's talk about short roade
not paying is all bosh. Suppose they don't,
ho ever heard of an extensive business Of
any kind that every individual branch of it
was making large profits? Is it not the
rule in all extensive undertakings that GER
tain adjuncts to the main business are added
sometimes at great cost, which, in them
selves, are not supposed TO be remunera
live but to increase the patronage and en-
hance the profits of the main branches OF
the business? In cities we often see free
lunch houses. which of themselves are
continual expense 10 the pl ploprietors, but,
considering the patronage they bring to 9th
er branches of the business, they tend indi-
recly to increase the profits. The sborI
railroads. act precisely in this way, as
feeders of the main trunk, and would
he source of revenue to the com
pany, even if run free. This talk of tear
my them up is all buncombe; they could moi
afford to do it, But then, again, Mr.. Stan
iord's assertion that these roads alone would
not 'oduce profit if run under the Free
man bill, is not strictly true. Mr. Stanford,
though, being under oath, we will not say
that it is not true as regards the present
amount of business of these short roads.
But then, here another principle comes in.
Don't Mr.. Stanford and all of us know that
thousands of men are to-day getting ricl
on large sales and small profits. while thou
sands of others right ly their side are get
ling poorer on small sales and large profits :
| Amt this an axiom in busi"ess matters gen
orally conceded ? Most assuredly it is.
Then will it not hold good in this instance
We don't see why it should not. Then, II
the rates of ireehts and fares were lowered
would the bu siness not be even more than
proportionately increased and the profits Of
these roads even greater than at present 1t
would seem so. Would not thousands OF
tons of produce be shipped that will moi
bear the expense at present rates, and would
not thousands of people have the benefits Of
travel who cannot now afford the luxury
Most certainly So Then, pray tell us, hon
olable members Of the Senate Corporation
Committee, where will You find the excuse
for not recommending this bill 3? and, Sena-
tors, or what will you hang your apoloe,
ior opposing it Then put this bill through
1t once, and show yourselves worthy th,
State and people you represent, and let the
minds of an eager people relapse to resi-
with assured confidence in your integrity.
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