Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-09-07
THE SAN FRANCISCO ELECTION.

sonal attacks are planned and made; how
character has been assaulted; the reputa-
ton of years besieged; the private ends OF
personal interest made the chief element
in the contest, and the whole community
set by the ears upon the question of the
control of private property by others than
It's owners. For it is clear that this is the
chief factor in the San Francisco election
Of to.day-which party, what men shall
exercise the royal right to treat with the
corporation that supplies the people with
wa.er. In such a condition of affairs
it is no wonder that 1t has
been hot campaign, bitter
personal fight. The election is TO deter
mine, nominally, who shall control the mu-
nicipal Government-it is in fact to decide
what band of men shall exercise the power
to fix the water rates, and going on all
fours with this, the right to parley with
the water company; for what unexpressed
purposes and ends i is not our intention
now to consider.
The political forces are the Republicans
with straight ticket the Democrats with
ticket in part given over to the remnant of
the Workingmen's party; Kearney follow
ing with mixed ticket, the majority how
ever of the names being those on the Re
publican ticket and lastly, Greenback-
ers, " " Citizens, 8" Taxpayers and Reform
ers" tickets, each hoping by the luck and
chance of popular whim to get some grip
upon the rim of the reservoir whence flows
the water-and the money. They have
the one aim, the control Of the rate fixing
power for water supplied by the Spring
Valley Water Company. The Constitution
of the commonwealth declares that the
local Legislature of San Francisco shall
fix these rates annually Thus the Or
ganic and fundamental instrument on
which rests the State organization
drags the Spring Valley corporation into
the political fight at San Francisco, and
compels that company to make battle in
defense. Around this focus clusters all
there is in the election at San Francisco to-
day 1t is the main spring and motor
of all the machinery of the new local gov
eminent about to be established there.
The contest is simply a gigantic auction, in
which number of parties bid for popular
support upon the promise of each to fix the
lowest water rate, and it remains to be
seen whether the lowest bidder will win,
or whether the power of the corporation
affected will be so felt at the ballot-box as
to give the award to the representatives Of
a higher rate. While it is true that the
candidates of one party have refused to
underbid in this auction, their adherents
and followers declare this refusal to
be of itself guarantee Of the fact
that they are indeed the lowest
bidders. It is rot the question to.
day in San Francisco so much of personal
fitness of candidates, as it is who shall be
authorized to treat with the great cor
poration, or who promises to come closest
to confscation Of its property without alb
solute seizure of it.
To the student of political economy the
situation suggests the thought that if the
property OF a corporation is private prop
erty, it has value as such only so long as il
has earning capacity. If the right of the
municipality to control the earning ca
pacity, by fixing the maximum of its in
come. is conceded, then the right TO. con-
izcate the property must also be admitted.
Confscation is insepatable from the power to
limit the earnings of property. Take away
the capacity to earn, and there goes with it
the essential element OF property. A dollar
in silver, or its equivalent in property, has
value to the holder only when invested
with the power by use to reproduce itself,
in whole or in part. II. as is being done
to-day in San Francisco, one party may
bid for votes on the pledge to fix given
water rate, and another party may bid Tor
votes on the pledge to fix a lower rate, the
first may underbid at lesser figure still,
and, a .tortiori, one may yet come to the
front agreeing to fix only nominal rate, or
indeed compel service at purely mythical
figure, and thus work practical confiscation;
for it must be remembered that the Con-
stisution which gives the power gives it abb
solutely, and without limit, and however
apparently absurd the conclusion reached,
it is attained by the cold logic of the Con-
stitution itself.
We can expect of an organized body of
men nothing better than of the men as in
dividuals. 1t is, therefore, no surprise
that the Spring Valley water corporation
enters into the San Francisco contest to
win for itself the highest possible rate.
That is natural. Men, as individuals, in
similar situation, will do likewise, and, Ike
the corporation, use the weapons the gods
afford, corrupt the press, manipulate the
parties, buy the votes if they can. It is
no answer to these views to respond that
the corporation in question is worthy of
punishment. Whatever its sins, however
heinous its deeds, the principle discussed
is not thereby affected, nor can the water
company in reason, and with human nature,
constituted as it is, be expected to with
hold its hands or its purse when its prop.
erty is beset. 1t follows that in San
Francisco there must periodically recur
the fight of to-day the water corporation
must annually spread board, an enforced
host for greedy political guests this
is the latest development of our system of
self government. Bat let nc one despond );
great vices work out their own remedies,
and the time viii come when the hideous
doctrine being to-day exemplifed by the
San Francisco campaign will sting itself to
death, and in the great course and march
of events work its own destruction.
WHAT OTHER RULE?
Judge Blake, in speech reported yes.
terday in the Bay papers, said "Water
rates ought to be made as low as they