Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1879-02-25
THE SITUATION, PRESENT AND
FUTURE


The great and overshadowing topic of the
hour is the railroad question. Concerning
that question the issue is forced upon us, as
to What Is to be the attitude of the Repub-
lican party as represented in the Legislature,
in regard of an effort to comply with that
party position before the people.
Let us look for a moment at the Senate.
That body is comprised of twenty-five mem
bers. Seventeen of this number are Repub-
licans, seven are Democrats, and one is an
Independent" so-called. Of the twenty
Eve sitting members as many as thirteen-s
constitutional majority of one-are hold
overs. Their names are: Gallagher, Haines,
King, Wheeler, Gibson, Powning, Thompson,
Kaiser Day ton, Doolin, Farrell and Perley,
Republicans, and Neder, GO Independent"
The question is pertinent, and not only
pertinent, but of much moment, {" How do
these thirteen holdovers stand with relation
to this all -sbsorbing question of railway leg
islation. We leave it to those who choose to
to canvass the list. Probably the rollcoll of
sively before the present session is ended.
The Republicans whose term of Office will
expire with the present session are five in
number, namely: Boardman, Martin, Stone,
Blair and Comins Unavoidable events in
the near future will determine the status of
each of these gentlemen.
The seven Democrats are said to be united
upon the subject of restrictive railway legis-
lation. In other words, they as representa-
tives of their party and it's platform, are said
to be Sound" Their names are, Stewart,
Schultz, Westerdeld, Cassidy, Cresswell,
Sheppard and Mcconnell.
Six Republicans cooperating with these
seven Democrats can give bill regulating
fares and freights on railroads constitutional
majority in the Senate.
The question then becomes of vital i'm
portance, ''Will these seven Democrats stand
together in favor of a sound and effective
railroad bill, and is there sufficient number
of Republicans who will cooperate with them
TO secure its passage2"
We must confess that there is something
humiliating in the very pertinency OF this
query. 1t is humiiating, aye, and cause
for alarm, that the Republican party, as rep
resented in the Senate, occupies a doubtful
position with regard to this grave and i'm
portant issue.
Forty three out of the fifty members Of the
Assembly are Republicans. Every one OF
these is under the double pledge of State and
county platforms to do MS best to promote
An effective statute restricting railroads within
under our own laws as we'll As those that are
Incorporated under the laws of other States, in
the matter of charges for transportation and
travel In other words, the standing OF the
Republican Party of Nevada upon this great
question is entrusted to Legislature whose
membership is overwhelmingly strong in re-
gard of that partys representation. Shall it
be recorded that this Legislature, so impreg
nably Republican, has betrayed the party
into the hands of the railroad monopolists2
Is it to be mades manifest to the people
through the action of the Senate that they
must look to the Democratic party, in the
future, for an honest fulfllment of pledges to
curb the arrogance and rapacity of the rail
road companiesl
Are we to look hopelessly toward the thir
teen holdovers for relief tive years hence?
These are very grave and momentous ques-
ton.