The weekly Arizona miner., 1879-07-18
RAILROAD FREIGnTs AND FARES.

The discussion betwecn Frank M. Pixley
 and George C. Gorham, conducted by the
 first through the columns ofthe Ar.onaut.
 and by the second from the platform ot
 Union Hall, although fnIl of interest for
 tLe student of yituDerative literature, scarce
 ly throws any light on the subject which is
 claimed to be under consideration. viz: ina,
 of tEe regulation of railroad fares and
 freIghts. IL is of small consequence to
 the people whether Mr. Gorham's mo-
 tives, in assailing the corporation from
 which it is claimed he has received favors
 in the past, be good or evil motives. It is
 of even less consequence whether Mr. Pix
 ley has been retained by the R. R. Compa-
 ny to defend it, or whether he works for
 fun; and least of all :s it of consequence or eyeR of interest to know whether Mr. Pixley has or has not always been an upright man in his official and personal life.
 The real question before the voters is whetEer the Railroad Company should Le made to submit to specific reduction of twenty-five per cent upon its present freight and passenger rates, or whether the amount of such reduction, if any. should be left, as the new Constitut.ga contemplates it shall be left, to the judgment and integrity of the Railrnad Commissioners.
 NIT. Gorham insists that such specific re- luction of twenty five per cent ought to be Ia h, Ina |. array of facts and figures which would be formidable arguments if they were no: bas- ed upon an utterly erroneous and illogical basis.
 We submit that ire amount of profit made by the members of the Contract and ii mace Company. ten years ag', ought to have nothing to do with the question of fares md freights. Whe.hes the road was built |, ,t great profit or great loss to the con tractors cannot effect the question of iis i intrinsic value, and it Is its intrinsic value i done which deserves to be considered in | his connection. If the receipts of the road | Ire great enough, after deduoting Its ex- Ienses and necessary disbursements, t1 pay | % its share holders eX0rbitant dividends Ipon its capital stock, then reason might 'e found, providing the State has d right to interfere. for the State reducing the rail- oad charges so as to bring their dividends lOwn to reasonable figure. But the pro- esses. legitimate or illegiiima;e, through which the holder of Central Pacific stock obtained the money to bay it C n Iot, it seems 10 us, cut any legitimate fig Ire in the discussion.
 Suppose, to illustrate, that the robbers of he Park Bank hId invested their ill gotten aius in Western Union Telegraph, stock, nd bill were before the California Legis- ature to reduce. by law. the price of icle- .r1ph.c messages ia California.
 IL might be that the Legislature has, un Ter the new Constitution, the right to pass
 law making a reduction in the price of ;lecrams; it might be that such redu tion 'ould be just and proper for other rca1ons. II 'ut what man possessing the elements of , pmmon logic or common sense would , aim that such deduction ought to he , lade because some of the stockholders in ie Telegraph Co. had stolen the money 10 i urchase ,heir stock with. l
 Yet this IS substantially Mr Gorham uion Hal argument, and it seems to Us lat sach hn argument by iis fallacious un- t erpinning furlishe. iho elements for its 1 VII over throw, ond is an injury to the cause , hch is attempted to be espoused. Clear
 MT. GOrham is not a succo ss as a logician hat1ver measure of fame he may have ac- Iirod ia other capacities. |