Weekly Trinity journal., 1874-04-04
FROM THE CAPITAL,
SPECIAL TO THE TRINITY JOURNAL. "
SACRAMENTO, March. 81, 1874.

SACRAMENTO, March. 81, 1874.
On Monay night, at y midnight, the
the twentieth session Of the California
Legislature came to an end. 1t would
take the full space of letter to give a
brief review even of the results Of the ses-
sion. ] shall content myself with the
usual account of the more important
legislation accomplished since my last
letter.
The proposition for constitutional con-
vention was placed in such form as to
require a vote Of the people next fall as
to whether it shall be called or not.
The illegal salary heretofore paid the
State Board Of Examiners was cut off.
The Senate insisted upon it. The AS
sembly refused to agree to it, and for two
days there was dead lock upon the gen.
eral appropriation bill, of which that was
one Of its features. The Senate, how
ever, had backbone, and though the Gov
ernor refused to sign any more bills un-
til the appropriation bill was passed, the
Senate stood firm, and at the last mo-
ment the Assembly gave way. So, too,
upon the charity appropriations the AS
sembly gave $4,000 to San Francisco in
stitutions, the Senate amended and added
81, 800 for other charities outside Of that
city. The Assembly refused to concur,
the Senate refused to reccde, and lock-
up took place. The upper body swore
it would not be dictated to, and finally
compelled the House to weaken.
The Railroad bills met the fate of the
unrighteous. Frceman's bill as l re-
ported to you got its death blow early in
the consideration of these measures.
This left the Irwin bill, which raised
rates on short and lowered them on long
distances. But the raise was higher than
present rates, and the reduction lower
than the roads could carry for. This bill
was voted down in the Senate, and then
came the Chamber of Commerce bill.
This lfshould have passed, and would
have been law to-day had it not been
killed by the Dollys, who were determ-
ined none but the Freeman bill should
be approved. They intend to use this as
club in the next campaign, and never
really intended to legislate honestly upon
the matter of freights and fares. The
Freeman bill on all hands, by its friends
and foes, and by the impartial, too, was
adjudged to be impracticable, based upon
a principal the reverse of right, and gen.
orally known to be a monstrosity. Its
whole principle was, on short routes low
rates on long routes a gradual increase
no classiticatons save two; dangerous
goods, and tons exceeding so cubic feet
measurement. To apply such an arbi.
trary law 10 all the grades of frcightagC
was simple ruin to transportation inter.
ests of the roads and the people, too
The remaining bill was then the Cham
Der of Commerce bill. 1t provided sim
ply for commission to gather all in
formation necessary for the proper un-
earthing Of exactions and extortions, and
the gathering of all facts necessary fol
n clear understanding of the transporta.
tion problem, admitted to be by all ar
intricate and delicate subject. Next, tt
E establish stations where demanded by 81
voters resident, to examine into every
case of alleged eXtortion and discrimina
ton, and to prevent any increase in rates
This would never do for the anti-railroaC
people, as it would expose the falsity o
all their charges, and take away all theil
thunder. The railroad men openly sale
that they feared no examination, ant
were innocent of the charges made with
such pertinacity for year past. If thi
was so, it would never do for the Dolly
to prevent investigation. Pendegast tack
cd on an amendment regulating grain
lumber, and some similar rates, and re
ducing them materially. The bill in tha
shape passed by 26 to II and was sent t,
the Assembly on Saturday night. Tha
body referred it to its committee on cor
porati0ns which on Monday reported
back the bill all cut up, and butchered i
by attaching the Freeman rates for fare
and the Irwin rates for freights. 1t wen
upon the file and there it died. Now fo
? moment observe the situation. TIL,
Assembly claimed to be actuated by
sincere desire to do something on tn
railroad question. High rates was no
the complaint so much as discrimination
and extortions alleged. 1t got up tn
Freeman bill intending it never shoulC
pass and made it impracticable, unjus
and absurd purposely. 1t was introduc
ed on the second day Of the session, i
went to to the committee on corporation
composed wholly of Dollys, and it wa
kept there two long months. No opei
: session of the committee was held, not
word of testimony taken, not a particl,
Of examination made. In two month
the bill was reported back and rushed
through, not one of the members know
ing anything about its application, princi
pie or probable effect. 1t was sent to tn,
Senate and referred to its committee or
: corporations. 1t had not been there one
week until q howl went up on all tn,
Dolly Warden trumpets that the com
mittee should at once report back. Why
the haste They knew the bill would
never stand the test OF examination.
must be rushed through or it would die
so little vitality had it. The committee
investigated and held few sessions ant
found it could never report back the bill
and recommend its passage. Even thu
rabid Dollys on the committee reported
against it and spoke against it, and ad