Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-06-23
BY TELEGRAPH.
The Independent State Convention.

-
| dent State Convention which met at Sacra-
mento, yesterday, adopted long series of reso-
| lutions declaring that serious local evils are
weighing heavily upon the people oil this State,
requiring our earnest and thoughtful attention,
lest they become, through our careesSuess,
perpetual; that the so-called national parties 10
California have fallen into the control, 10
| large measure, OF mere worthless elements OF
society III the interests OF certain powerful cor
| pora,ions and associations OF Individuals VINO
systematically seek to accumulate wealth at
public expense throug b and by means OF mach
| inery of government u0tll affairs have reached
| poiut where people can no longer safely trust
the political control Of the State to either OF
them; that the peoples independent party
seeks to unite together the honest and law
abiding citizens of all portions OF California IT
respective of class, local or business DISTINCTIONS
and regardless of religion or previous political
opinion for the purpose of bringing about
| thorough system uf reform in the State, county,
| municipal governments ud especially with avlew
| of securing retrcnchmcnt 10 the public cxpcn
| ditures: consequent reduction OF taxation: the
regulation aud cUutrol Of all corporations cxer-
cjsiDp franchises Of political nature; the re-
| ductou 10 reasonable rate OF iares and freight
| ON railroads as we'll as steamboats, operated IN
CONJUNCTION with lah Dads; IN prevention and
! punishment of unjust discrimination by rail-
| roads and other corporations against localities
and individuals; the securing from power or
n0ssibty Of monopoly the natural water OF
| the rivers, streams and lakes of the State, re.
ycstiug them once more in the people; the res,
cue of the inhabitants from tue power of water
and gas corporations, and other kindred mo-
popoIies the publication OF the administration
of Justice throughout the State by reforming
the grand jury system so that powerful crlm,,
nails may be punished as well as weak; and
| generally to secure such improved legislation
in the Interest OF good government as Wlsdom
and honest purpose OF reform may suggest;
| that for the more perfect accomplishment OF
the foregoing this convention, composed OF
| delegates representing all parts of California,
| pledges the people independent party and Its
nomlnees for office throughout the State to
support and carry out by all lawful and proper
means the policy and purposes OF the party as
set forth in this platform; that to this end the
| agricultural aud mining companies of the inte-
rior hereby enter into solemn league and cove
nant to and with the cities aud towns
pledge themselves as solcunly to counties
of the interior that all officers, exccu
tive, legislative and judcials elected by this
party in any part Of California shall 10 good
faith endeavor iu their official capacity, law
fully to remedy the grievances of the people,
| not only such as are peculiar to their own spe-
CT constituencies aud locality, but all of the
other portions of the State as well; that We re-
peat and re-af6rn the princl plies Of the party
as resolved upon by the Judicial Convention of
the peoples Independent party, held at Sacra-
mento in Sept, 1873, and make them a
portion Of this platform as if herein set
forth at large with reference TO the rail
| road and transportation companies. The
| resolutions point out that small number
| of individuals, acting IN corporate capacity,
now own aud control the only trains on the
| Continental railroad in the country, together
with almost the entire railroad system OF the
| State, as well as the river steamers and ferry
boats plying upon our interior waters thereby
practically mnnopoliziug not only the entire
overland traffic, but likewise the general carry
ing trade OF the State and coast; that the cor
| porations controlling these railroads and steam-
| boats possess and exercise the power to ar
bitrarly make a levy aud collect these on the
| rates of freight and passenger fare, aud enact
aud enforce rules aud regulations at their own
pleasure. And it is apparent that there can
| be no relief FROM the excessive charges and un-
lust determinations of the railroad corpora.
lions through competition because Of their
vast wealth and lower which are used nvaria-
bly TO break down all rival enterprises and
ruin their projectors, and failing in that, then
combine with them against the people that IN
order to retain this power to hx rates and dis
| crmipate at easure aud prevent any lcelsa
tive reIiet from being extended the people,
| the railroad corporations have in the past sys-
tematicalIy ntcrmcddlcd with and corrupted
| the politics of the State using its wealth and
Influence to elevate schemes, and 10 many
cases to place its interested partsans 10 the
| Legislature and other stations Of trust where
they could vote away the peoples rights until
the domination of railroads and other corpora
tons 10 our politics and government have be-
come an intoIcrable evil Therefore there is
and can be no safety to good government, cap
| ital or production so long as corporations, IN
the transportation by railroads aud steamboats,
| 10 this State, possess the power, independently
| of the law, to make their own rules and regu.
latious, or to establish aud collect tolls and
rates of freight and fare at their own unre-
strc,ed will and pleasure. The resolutions
| also declare against the unjust freight aud fare
| rates fixed by the companies and pledge the
nominees OF the party to reduce said rates to
lust and fair standard, &C. The resolutions
| further declare 10 favor of certain reforms IN
State and local matters, and pledge ihn noml-
nees of the party if elected, to carry them
| out, &c.