The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-20
THE CONTEST IN cAL1roRxrA.
Shalt the New Constitution DO Adopted or
Rrlcctedf

Shalt the New Consultation Be Adopted or
H'Jectedt
SAN FRANCISCO, April 2.-The Convention
elected 10 frame a new Constitution for tho
State OF California. which had been in session
for several months at Sacramento. concluded
its labors on March 8. The proposed Constitu-
ton. as submitted to tho people. is to be ratified
or roiocted at a special election to be held on
tho 7th Of May and it, adoption or rejection is
now an all-absorhng issue.
The merits and faults Of the elaborate insiru-
ment which the delegates to the Convention
have put forth for the public approval are be-
ing discussed In every newspaper. in every
bank parlor merchants counting room.
brokers' Office. home. barroom lecture room.
and oven In the pulpit. Tho contention wakes
hot and strong. The Central Pacific Railroad
Company. the water company the gas COM
pany all the banks. tho mining companies, the
Stock Boards. the great landownors-al the
powerful monopOles Of this monopoly-riddon
city and State are arrayed against its adoption.
The merchants who are with a few exceptions
slaves to the Central Pacific Company and the
banks, arc holding mcetingsito denounco it,
% the six daily n new t 2nIy o onno ne
and Examiner representing all shades Of party
politics, are opposing IT,
Tho monOpollsts and theirttoadiee and stool
pigeons are actively ut work trying to hulldOze
tho Chronicle In this effort they do not hesitate
to resort To- the meancst and most despicable
methods Every business man who advcrtses
In the CirOisicle Ii approached by cmissarios Of
tho mOneyed power and begged to withdraw his
advertisement; where caJOery don't answer
the offender Is threatened with tho hostility OF
the railroad II he happens 70 be an importer
OF goods from the East. and with the hostility
Of the banks IL ho Is borrower Of money.
or tho twuntythree articles In tho new Consti-
tuition. twP relating to COMPUTATIONS and revenue
railroad company and the banks and their ser
vitOls and depondants, IA vol a. TO the men
who are holding great tracts oil land which they
expect TO sell at some future day for lOO-fQld
their assessed value under our present faulty
The art ,e on corporations forbids the
Watering Of stock. or the issuance OF any stock
or bonds except for money paid. labor done. or
INITIATIVE votne 1t elections for directors or
trustees. and makes direcors or trustees OF
and seypraily liable to the creditors and stock
holders Tor all money cmbozllcd or mtsnppro-
printed by the oil GERS Of such corporation or
Joint stock association during the term OF Office
Of such director or trustee. No rlilrOhl com
pany or other common carrier shall combine or
make any contract or combination win tle
owners otAny competing carriers, and whenever
q railroad corporation shall reduce It's rates for
the purpose Of competing with or driving Of
another carrlor such reduced rates shall not
be- raised or increased without the consent OF
the governmental authority, In which shall be
vested the power to regulate fares and treights.
This authority is TO be vested Ia throo Railroad
Commissioners who arc 10 be elected by the PEG;
!
shall have power 10 establish and regulate the
charges for freighis and fares 10 hear and de-
termnc complaints against railroad and other
transportation companies; to examine ~ AL
| times tho books OF such companies: and are
| empowered TO execute their processes IN tho
| same manner and TO tho same eXtnnt as Courts
| OF Record. Any railroad or transportation
| company which shall refuse to conform TO the
| rates and rules established by the Commission
| cr, shall he IND not exceeding $4,000 for each
! Cffence; and every officer. agent, or employee
| who shall demand or receive rates In excess
| thnranT ghall bo gtlhlapt fine and imprtsOQ-
! mont. The Legislature may, in addition TO
these penalties. enforce compliance by Tor
| fciture Of the charter Of the offending company.
| This section Is intended 10 check the rapacty
Of the Central Paciil' Company. which owns all
| the railroads in the State-wth two triiling ~ .
| ceptions-nnd wielis ia power remorselessiy II
| Is. OF course, hghiing tho Constitution vignr-
9usly thnueh srrrt!{ ~ servhhl1s anu tneit i9i-
rather like tho cstablis hment ~ railroad conf
! mission. as they would buy tho commissioners.
| and continue 70 mannge their ,nnalrs IN tAelr
| own way without being troubled with the eNnc-
| tons of successive Legislatures. This threat
OF buying the commissoners Is certainly bold
| nvowal Of tho dctermi nation OF the managers OF
| this gigantic and INSCRIPTIONS monopoly 70
| dofy All law and legislation which conflicts with
| their tyrannicnl and eXtortionate demands.
The stock Exchanges particularly Object to a
clause VIII h rronllits the buying nnl 81 ne
| ~ stocks on murrins-a system Of gambling
when prevails o. % great extent, and which an
uu.Iiy ruins taous D 4 ~ our citiz 'ns.
~ WIZ H '.' ''.' w. '...'. " "a
eN.i il'"r. rs - il.s ciy ore array ~ 'l'' u-'
rAUl '.ilNu.Hu tlHY viii dlUhuy -s su .c"" ll
iu taf lr. |.4.l. d. tlt country % is Itk"lf o.
L...' WITH r..rs favor; rut any majority 70 may
command q l.e u.icy viii Tall below til9 op,
ing u lll'' it Tie eVy ana N5 f"eN1s-" "
Many. lE..Esrt W,,-moaping voters ana
flD1.i w. tLe gas tnsl i is iAenl4ey 3 tonsiiiu-
or.r b ru.y ana his 'olowers. Thus a
slullI crinr,tl i. nIn-ulrilsAu le-4t's II ~
G. 1vcLUuu. who 81 ~ elected IN direct opulsf-
ZION t1 TIE ~ rn yhes. outnumterad tl'
W. Ring o. p IS dole gatos two 10 onc. THO