Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-05-14
eEsERAL sToNTMAN's UaFITNEss FOR
HIS OFFICE.

recent meeting of the Railroad Commits
sioners is of character to require more
than passing notice, for it constitutes
really startling proof OF the utter unftness
! of its author for the duties OF the respon.
sible office he holds. There are no doubt
many people who use their reflective powers
so little az to imagine that a farrago
OF wanton aspersions, baseless accusa-
tions, reckless insinuations, and mali.
violent misrepresentation is altogether
| justified as long the object OF
the attack is q railroad corporation. But
| it is not with such persons that we have
any concern. Our arguments are addressed
to the intelligent and thoughtful, who rec.
ognize the necessity of just and fair deal
ing on the part of the State towards all
with whom it is brought in contact, and
who perceive clearly the improperly of
pronounced and boldly expressed bias on the
part of judicial officers towards the inter-
ests with which they have to deal. To
| these we address ourselves, and with the
distinct purpose of demonstrating that,
Judged out of his own mouth, General
Stoneman is wholly unfit to hold the office
of Railroad Commissioner.
The Railroad Commission, as created by
the new Constitution, was the most power
full tribunal, and the most irresponsible, on
the continent of North America 1t was
vested with executive, Judicial and legis-
lative powers. 1t was subject to no super
vision. Its DEGREES were inappealable.
Whatever it decided upon was declared
in advance by the Constitution to
be conclusively just and reasonable.
In fact it was endowed with powers so
large that if they had been put into the
hands of incorporate, malignant or hasty
men, the whole railroad system of Califor-
MIA might easily have been crippled or even
paralyzed, in very short time. 1t was
the more necessary to intrust such func-
tions to men of approved Judgment and
conservative tendencies. It was the more
necessary for whoever filed the offices to
act conservatively. And this appears to
! have been the conclusion of the present
Commissioners, if We may Judge from the
resolutions which they recently adopted
unanimously, and according to which they
pledged themselves that in determining
rates the Board would "have regard to the
"equities between shippers and carriers,
"and the protection of private property
Invested in transportation enterprises"
and would consider all the elements prop
erly entering into such problems, and
would give the railroads "full and ample
opportunity to appear and be heard, by
counsel or otherwise, to the end that
the Judgment may be equitable and its
conclusions just and reasonable. To
these resolutions General Stoneman
subscribed unhesitatingly. We now pro-
pose to show in what spirit he has acted
up to them.
Some weeks ago the reporter of the San
Francisco Cal interviewed Commissioner
OCcIStCIAiSl Ol LiiC oCblOn Va Vic BOaiOy GIu
Mr.. Beerstecher told the reporter many
things, among others that General Stone
man had approached him and attempted to
enlist him In a crusade against the rail
roads, by holding out to him the hope OF
popular favor and reward. According to
! Mr.. Beerstecher General Stoneman had said
that Beerstecher and he could get any
thing they wanted, if they would unite
| to harrass and crush the railroads. That is
the attitude in which General Stoneman
appears under Mr. Beerstechers represent
atoms. The statement he has just made to
the Board was intended to reply to and re
| flute this representation, but as we shall
show it really only confirms the essential
points of Mr.. Beerstecher's account. That
account represents General Stoneman as
malignant enemy of the railroads instead
OF as an impartial fair minded and honor
able judge. And almost every sentence of
his own statement confirms and fortiies
this view of him, and intensifes the ex-
hibition of uncontrolled malice and reck-
less hatred towards the corporations which
he has endeavored to deny.
Be it remembered in the first instance
that General Stoneman's quarrel, if he had
any, was with his colleague, Mr.. Beer
stecher, and that it grew out of what ne
himself had proposed to that colleague.
But though this is the fact, no sooner does
he enter upon his statement than he begins
to swerve from the pursuit Of his avowed
object, for the purpose Of abusing the rail.
road, and in every instance this abuse is
introduced by assumptions of the most I'M
warrantable kind, and insinuations which
are without shadow of justification.
Here is a man occupying judicial Office,
yet going deliberately out of his way to
defame and Willy and load with improved
accusations, the very parties upon whose
acts he is called to pass. We are not
exaggerating the character of General
Stonemans representations. 1t would be
very difficult to do that. For example; he
cannot refer to his dispute with his col
league without dragging in a statement
about "curbing the exactions of the rail-
"road monopoly that is to-day not only
"exacting the last dollar from the produc-
"ing classes, but holds in state of
bondage, either directly or indirectly,
almost every business interest in the
State" Is this judicial? Isit relevant?
General Stonemau is perfectly well aware
that it is not even true that in fact it is
the loosest. most irresponsible kind of
stump -falsehood; that it is the sort OF
reckless defamation to be looked for from
men of the Kearney stripe. Yet he,
Railroad Commissioner, and voluntarily