Daily Los Angeles herald., 1881-05-13
SAGE COUNSEL TO THE CORPORA
TIONS.

reltef from tuo cOst VI TuuuIuS tuo
numerous special cars. carrying
here and there favored individuals
in princely style. Let the railroad
com bination dismiss also, or reduce
the pay, of the army of lawyers,
writers, detectives and lobbyists,
and the millions exacted by these
cormorants remain as profits to the
producer. Surely we have ceased
to be a republican people ii we con.
tinue to allow ourselves to be taxed
on the transportation of our pro-
ductions In order to support class
of men whose very existence is a
drain on society.
BEERSTECHER's PREvARICATIoNS
EXPOSED.
On my return last February.
from Washington City, where l
had been attending q meeting Of
the Board of Indian Commission.
ers, of which [ am n member. we
met on the road, the daily papers of
San Francisco containing what
purported to be a majority report
of the Board of Railroad Commis-
sioners of this State, and the COM
ments and opinions OF the press
thereon. AS every one is aware,
this report met with the very gem
eral condemnation of the people
throughout the State. The dissat-
isfaction of the Legislature, then in
session, was outspokep. The au-
thor of the report. as we'll he might
be, was very much exercised at the
unfavorable criticisms. Many of
my friends were clamorous for a
minority report from myself, and
some were indignant at my not
making one. A few days after my
return had completed my resolu-
tion, fixing the passenger rates for
first and second-class passengers
over all the railroads in the State,
and presented it to my associate,
Commissioned Beerstecher. for his
consideration. We had fair,
frank and friendly interview, In
which 1 told him, substantially,
that. in my opinion, the people
cared very little for our reports;
what they wanted were acts, re-
suits, not promises; that l had
given the subject of fares much
careful consideration; that l
thought the plan proposed was fair
to the people and just to the rail-
roads, and that l conscientiously
believed its adoption and enforce
ment would cause an Increase in
travel, which would more than
compensate for the decrease in
rates. l told him that the adoption
of the resolution would warrant me
in not making q minority report,
which would only result in my
making o little cheap capital at the
expense Of my brother Commls-
sioners. told him, also, that he
had ths best opportunity of any
young man In the State to make
an enviable reputation for himself,
and one which did not often hap
pen twice in any one mans life.
time. I did tell him that If he
would stand by The people they
would stand by him mot "us'') u,
and that they would reward him
(not "us'') with any Office he (not
"we") might desire.
| W d5 w thoO
be thought the resolution was
right, aui saw nothing in it he
could not endorse, aud would vote
for its adoption; and, to use his ex-
act language, in which l cannot be
mistaken, II think the people have
rIgfits, and do not intend to go
about this town with the finger Of
scorn pointed at me-" He even
went 30 far, il order, l presumed
then, to convince me of his good
faith, as to ask me TO select the at.
torney for the Com mission, and he
would give him his vote, where
upon l spoke to an eminent lawyer
that very day and asked him to
take the matter into consideration.
/ think, though l am not very pos
tive, that mentioned the name Of
the attorney to him. l thought
then, and think still, considering
the Importance of the matter, that
I was more than justified in using
every honorable means at my dis
posal to secure the adoption and eG-
forcement of the resolution fixing
passenger rates.
THE CASE IN A NUTSHELL.
1t will be seen from the "inter-
view" that Commissioner Beer
stecher and myself differ radically
in the policy to be pursued. He
believes in doing nothing which
will bring Oh q lawsuit, whereas l
believe in vigorous and persist
Iax In
Certainly if the Constitution con-
templated purely peace policy it
would not have directed us to go to
the Courts to enforce our decisions,
nor would the Legislature have
furnished US with fund to fee at.
torneys. have stated repeatedly
that in all probability we should
have to go into the Courts to en-
force any decisions made, and
presumed it would take time to car.
ry them into effect. President
Stanford told US very frankly and
plainly that he would not obey us,
and l presumed he meant what he
said. But is this Commission to
be deferred from the performance
of its duties by any such threat?l
l have also often remarked that
the first thing to be decided WAS as
to the possibility of subordinating
railroad corporations to control,
and until that question was settled
and decided We of course were pow
erless to do anything, and that 1
was in favor of having the question
settled at the very earliest possible
period, and that we should avail
ourselves Of every means placed at
our disposal to carry out the law;
but when Mr.. Beerstecher couples
these and similar remarks with the
demagogic ideas he attributes to
me, he must know that he is doing
me very great intentional injus.
tice.
Mr.. Beerstecher asserts upon his
word asa Commissioner that "the
savings to the farmers and produc.
ers of this State this yearu will ag.