The Placer herald., 1874-01-17
FRElGHTS AND FARES.

Early in the session there were two bills
introduced on this subject, one by Barton,
of Sacramento, and one by freeman, Of
Yolo. Barton's bill is a long harangue
which, we suppose, provides something, but
| if anyone can tell what that something is by
reading it, further than establishing board
of commissioners, at high salaries, they have
power to penetrate deeper into the mysteries
of entangled rhetoric than the average
mind. However much we might like Mr..
Barton, we don't like his bill, for while it
would show on its face the safest protection
against high tariff, discriminating charges,
and other abuses of which the people COM
plain, it, in its deeper meshes, provides in
directly for laying down the bars for the
railroad powers, and letting them come in,
by merely capturing the, or a majority of
the commissioners, and do as they please,
No, we say Barton's bill, or Assembly bill
No. 8, which bears Bartcns name, ,oiH
neuer do. -. s3 Dtrt
Freeman's bill we like better. It is much
shorter, yet it seems to cover pretty much
all the ground, and, more than all, it seems
to be gotten up with view of doing justice
to both parties. Barton's bill would seem
to disregard the rights and interests of the
railroad companies, while Freeman's
bill looks with an eye of justice to their in
terest, while rigid in the protection of the
people against abuse, extortion or dis
elimination against them. 1t provides that
each and every railroad company, now and
hereafter, shall protect their track by good
fences, and shall put up cattle-guards at all
crossings Of streets, lanes, roads, highways,
etc. and in case they fail to do SO, they shall
become responsible for all damage occurring
from such neglect. And where they fail or
refuse to pay said damages, and the party
damaged is compelled to bring suit to re-
cover the same, it further provides that
plaintiff shall be allowed, besides cost of
suit, fifty dollars attorneys fees, provided
that judgment be found against this COM
pany. 1t provides that no railroad company
shall charge more than four cents per mile
for each passenger and one hundred pounds
or less of baggage, and not over three cents
per ton per mile for freight when the dis
tance is eighty miles or more. With this
rate as a basis for freight, it increases the
rates in proportion as the distance is less,
or as the character of the freight increases
in bulk on one hand, or becomes ponderous
on the other. 1t also provides that rail-
road companies may charge fifty per cent.
more than allowed by the provisions of the
act, on such parts Of their roads that lie
above an altitude Of 1900 feet from the
level of the ocean at high tide. This is
hard on we of Placer-too much. 1t fur
ther provides that the company shall be COM
PEELED to carry no package, however small
or short the distance, for less than twenty
five cents. And it also allows them to
charge 100 per cent. above the ordinary
rates for all fragile or explosive articles
The bill, as it appears to us, seems to do
perfect justice to the railroad companies on
the one hand, while it reduces rates and
freights, and protects the people from unjust
determinations and abuses on the other
We are anxious to see our Legislature
get to work on this subject Freeman's bill
comes somewhere near what we want, but
if they can get up one that suits the people
better, let them do it. This is an important
subjec, and the people are impatient for
action. .... ......