Daily Los Angeles herald., 1879-04-18

increased. Mr.. Cohen said he had
been told that afternoon by gem
tleman of this city that Mr.. Charles
Croker had recently said that If
the people of this town continued
to oppose his railroad his company
"would make the grass grow again
''in the streets of Los ADgeles."
| Sensation.
Mr.. Cohen proceed to show the
enormous profit of the railroad mo-
nopoly. 1t claimed that Its road
cost one hundred and thirty mil
lions of dollars. 1t did not cost
over forty millions of dollars. A
better road could now be built for
twenty millions of dollars. 1t is
not now u first class road. 1t av-
eraged yearly ten million of dollars
net protit-the gross receipts being
seventeen millions, on the average.
Yet, with all these enormous earn.
ings, and with the vast revenue, In
addition, from side contracts with
themselves under various names,
they were continually crying, like
the daughter of the horse leech,
"Give, give, give" And it was
this Central Pacific Railway Com
pauy, it was this monster unonopo-
Iy, II was this grasping tyrant, that
really desired the passage of this
new ConstltutiOn-as Mr.. Cohen
hrmly believed-with this Board of
Commissioners as its main PROPOSE
ton.
Mr.. Cohen deplored the fact that
the astute managers for the Central
Pacific Railroad Company had been
able to pull the wool over the eyes
OF 80 shrewd a politician as the
Hon. David s. Terry, and enlist
him as Que Of their orators in this
campaign. He believed that Judge
Terry did not love the managers Of
the Central Pacific Railroad Com.
pany, but ne had been drawn into
the support of the new Constitution
and to the advocacy of this Com.
mission by the artful management
Of the agents of the railroad monop.
oily.
Mr.. Cohen insisted that If the
Commissioners had been appointed
by the Governor, there would be u
little brighter hope for a possibly
honest administration of aff.irs un.
der such u Bo ,rd. He referred to
the fact that as a rule the appoint
ments by Governors had been
worthy and acceptable. He referred
to the action of Gov. Downey in
vetoing the bulkhead bill. He had
understood that Gov. Downey was
placed IN the Executive Chair upon
the promise that if the Legislature
passed this bill he would sign it.
But when he came to understand
what that bill was, when he came
face to face With the great respou.
slbility of his position, he decided
for the people and vetoed the bill.
[Applause.
Gov. Downey rose and said:
wish to correct you sir. I never
promised anyone that [ would sign
tnat bill.
Mr.. Cohen said that he was very
glad to hear this statement. And
he proceeded to compliment the
Governor for his action on the
occasion referred to. He said that
he understood that ex Governor
Downey was In favor of the new
Constitution, and it was to be pre-
sumed that he was In favor of the
Railroad Cum MISSION. He pre-
sumed that when he spoke In this
community heGovernor spoke with
effect. in the light of his record
as Governor of this State, and as
citizen and neighbnr deservedly
possessing great Influence. But
there was one thing in this connec.
ton that Mr.. Cohen felt Justified in
saying, and that was that when
Gov. Downey recommended this
new Constitution, and recommend
cd this peculiar pro vision for "a Rail- |
road Commission, 1t should not be
forgotten that some of his nearest
friends are largely interested in ia.
voring this proposition for board
of railroad kings. Mr.. Cohn be
lieved that one of Gov. Dowuey's
nearest relatives was the owner of
very large railroad interest, and
passes as one Of the railroad mag
mates. So that, great aud deserved
as is the confidence the people of
Los Angeles place In ex-G,veruor
Downey, his views Oh this Railroad
Commission subject, at least, should
be looked upon with respectful but
careful, aud cautious consideration.
Applause and great laughter.1
Mr.. Cohen concluded his speech |
by expressing profound interest in
the subject which he had discussed,
anu by presenting In powerful CON-
trast the selfish action Of the rail-
road kings, since they had risen to
wealth and power, and the beneti-
cent action which might have been |
reasonably expected from them un.
der o Il the circums stances.
The lateness of the hour and the
crowded condition OF our columns
preclude more extended report.