Daily Los Angeles herald., 1879-08-10

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district, moved to amend the bill by
striking out the word-, "Fresno,
Tulare and Kern werever they Oc.
Cured in it," The amendment was
defeated, Mr.. Pacheco voting
against it. Mr. Fowler then moved
to strike out "Kern county," but
this amendment was also defeated,
Mr.. Pacheco voting "No.n
1t was provided in this, and other
of these subsidy bills that the mat
ter of issuing these bonds should be
submitted to the vote of the people
of the respective counties.
In order to insure faithful ex-
preston of the sentiments of the ac-
tual residents and taxpayers of the
counties, and to prevent the coloniz-
ing of the counties for the purpose
of fraudulently carrying tho elect.
ions, Mr.. O'Connor, of Nevada
county, moved to amend the first
section by adding:
"Provlded, that no person shall
be entitled to vote at the elections
provided for In this Act who shall
not be a qualified voter of the coun-
ty in which he shall propose to
vote at tho time this Act shall be
approved"
But the cormorants knew that
with square election there would
be no chance for them to secure the
coveted coin from the peoples
pockets, and instructed their lack
eys in the Senate, including Mr..
Pacheco, to vote the amendment
down. which they did. It will be
we'll to note right here, that by
this vote Mr.. PachecO openly
avowed himself in favor of II fraud
ulent ballot by refusing to support
an amendment that wauld guard
the ballot-boX
The bill was then passed ir its
original form, Mr.. Pacheco voting
for it.
Fortunately for the counties con-
cerned, there was q power beyond
Pacheco and his co cOnspiratore,
who interposed his veto and saved
the counties from bankruptcy and
ruin. That the minds of the people
may be fully refreshed as to the
enormIties of these bills We quote
the powerful language of Governor
Haight's message to the Senate,
announcing the veto:
"rhe second of these bills whose
titles are given, provides that the
voters of StanisIaus, Merced. Fres.
no, Tulare and Kern counties, shalt
vote upon the proposition to donate
their bonds to the San Joaquin
Valley Railroad Company (or to
any other company first construct
ing a railroad through those conn-
ties,) at the rate Of six thousand
dollars per mile, except that in
Kern county the amount is limited
to four hundred aud eighty thous-
and dollars. aud in Stanislaus to
one hundred and eighty thousand
dollars.
"The assessed value of real and
personal property in Kern county
for 1859. according to the Control
fer's report, was one million one
hundred aud ninety-one thousand
eight hundred and ninety-iive dol
lars and eighty.three cents. of
which only four hundred and thlr-
ty-one thousand five hundred and
eighteen dollars and eight cents
were real estate. In other words,
the bill proposes to afford an op-
portunity for voters from abroad,
on thirty days residence, in the
present or expected employ OF the
corporotion, to cucumber the real
estate of that county to an amount
equal TO more than one hundred per
cent. of it's assessed value! The San
Joaquin Valley Railroad Com
pany is not a new and fee
bic association. 1t is upder-
stood to be, and doubtless is, the
Central Pacific Railroad Compa-
ny under another name-a corpora
tion of vast wealth, of franchises
such as are perhaps held by
no other corporation on the
continent, managed by gentle
men of great energy, enter
prise and business ability. The
total vote of Kern county at the
Judicial election in 1860, is given
as 23S, though at the Presidential
election $50 votes were polled. Is
it not plain that If the corporation
chose to make an effort the result
in such a county would be fore
gone conclusion without reference
to the wishes of the taXpay ers?
The same proportion of debt on the
whole State uuuid give us State
debt of more than one hundred and
fifty millions of dollars, and would
sink the State into hopeless bank
ruptcy.
"The same proportion of debt
which this bill proposes to place
upon Stanislaus County, would give
us State debt of about thirteen
millions. In Fresno, Merced and
Tulare counties, the number of
miles Is not given, and NO compar>
ison can be made. If there are SIX
ty miles in Tulare county, it would
impose debt of three hundred anu
sixty thousand dollars upon
county, the entire real estate OF
which is assessed In 1859 at three
hundred and sixty-five thousand
eight hundred aud twelve dollars.
The only thing required of the COM
pany is, that it shall build fifty
IN lies of railroad per annum, COM
menciDg after January 1st, A. ID.
1871, and counting the portion al
ready completed. There is no linn
itation in the bill upon the charges
for passengers or freight; no limit
alton of the encum brance upon
the counties to such amounts
as they could possibly pay
without EN- mbarrassment, and the
election is ordered in June, with
out giving the taxpayers the right
OF option as to whether they would,
or would not ask that the election
should be held. Men who never
paid a tax, and probably never
will, can vote away the property
of those who have accum ulated u
competency by their thrift and en-
terprise. The provisions for taxa
ton are stringent, and the interest
of the corporation effectualIy se-
cured; but not the same care is
! .. -" % a. '--s-'~~t~ O. ~ ~@0