Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-11-15
sInsaA1 aroNEmAs
His Resignation as Railroad Commits
stoner-what Governor Perkins says.
Isaa Francisco Chronicle, November Hill

raised whether, being on the retired list of
the army, he could draw his pension as
Federal officer and at the came time per-
form State service az Executive As the
best answer TO this question the General
resigned. From motives nos SO directly
attributable to a doubt as TO the validity
OF dual service, General Stoneman has re.
signed from the Railroad Commission.
Public interest being aroused as to the
cause OF thus action, a representative of
the Chronicle called yesterday on Governor
Perkins, and held with him the following
conversation on the subject
THE QUESTION OF SUCCESSION.
Have You any objection, asked the
reporter, "to giving for publication an
idea of the appointment you will make,
OF the policy that will govern your action
IN the matter
"As General Grant once said, replied
the Governor, & have no policy to assert
agsiGs. the declaged will OF the people. l
40 no. deal in mysteries or secresies, and
nave no concealment to make from the
people, whose servant l am. | have en-
deavored to be always candid throughout
NY Administration, and outspeken regard
ing aii matters affecting the public inter
eats. What is the particular thing you
wish TO know"
:" Particularly, then" said the reporter,
" wish to know who will be appointed TO
succeed General Stoneman as Railroad
Commissioner ?"
1.-The resignation of General Stone.
nan, said the Governor, with some DELHI
Grafton, "was received on the 18th instant,
conditioned to take effect on the 18th in.
slant. That date is within six weeks of
the close of his official term. The time is
30 very short that to my mind the question
Of appointing his successor is one involv.
ing serious complications. In the first
place, 1t is rot easy TO make a selection
that will give satisfaction to the people
II the next place, | have found it gerer-
ally difficult to obtain the consent of men
o. the highest qualities, qualifications and
chaTacter-Tnen such as would be given
charge OF extraordinary trusts In private
business affsi-E-:o serve in appointed po-
EltjOns upon comu. issiops. | have found
them, it il .rGe but they do not go in
Grovss, and ! apprehend that it would rot
be easy to find one willing to undertake
the very Responsible duties OF this office for
.hc period OF Elk weeks only-even if the
appointment could bs made Immediately
Il the time for which the appointment
Togid hold good we're a year, or even six
gentleman TO accept il whose name would
be . sufficient guarantee to the public that
ne would do his duty faithfully but I'M
der the circumstances en- free to confess
that the class who would seek the appoint
EnenJ would not be acceptable TO ME"
a. Whom 90 you allude to as possessing
such high qualities - it was asked.
! did not mention his name was the
FeytV, ACCOMPANIED by : emile
" The appointee would draw salary for
: month and half. would he not "
. Z the creation of 4 rich Office were the
sole object had 10 view in forming the
Commission, the fact might influence my
-action but as it is, the salary question Is
worth considering only as one OF the az
fractions TO the class who seek position
only for the profit it affords
The PRIVILEGE OF DELAY
81 Il is obvious" the Governor went on,
That no man could ACCEPT the position
and wieid one-third of the great powers
vested In that Commission conscientiously,
wisely and !adiciously without the prepar-
atOry advantage of previous service on the
Board. The only two men who have had
guch experience are Mr.. Tustle and Mr.
Doyle, aud neither OF them is a resident of
the district and besides, as l have already
said, by the time a selection could be made
there would remaia but four or five weeks
Of the unexpired term. No man could de.
teEIaine in that brief time a line of policy ;
and certainly the time is too short for any
one with well. defined policy already in
ms mind to carry it into effect. It seems
TO ne that The true work OF the Commits
sion would be retarded rather than ad.
vanced by any such episode in its history"
{" Is q chief magistrate at liberty 70 allow
any such vacancy TO remain untitled? Do
NOT the Constitution and the laws say that
ne shall appoint to fill vacancy?"
Certainly, such is the law. But the
Executive is not required to act in any
case within airy specified time If the in
tereEts of the State require delay ! think
ne may properly exercise it."
Mr.. Foote has been elected in the dis.
sriot wherein the vacancy occurs by the
resignation Of General StOnemau, " said the
reporter, suEgestively.
g That is true" the Governor asserted;
60 bat Mr.. Foote has already indicated that
bis policy will rot be in accord with the
one which has controlled the present
Board and since ne will take his office by
election within few weeks, q full Demo.
cratic Board having been elected, it is only
natural to suppose that he would prefer TO
take his seat simultaneously with those
assoc iates who are to serve with him dur.
ing his fall term, and who will be held to
account to the people for their action. The
fact that Mr.. Foote is a Democrat does not
influence me in determining not to attempt
to persuade him 10 accept the appointment
On the contrary it would influence me the
other way upon the principle which / have
AWAY believed in, that the minority polit.
zeal party should be represented. There
IS today ? Democrat up5n every State
Commission, with the single exception OF
the Board OF State Prison Directors. II
the case of that Board the appointment
was rendered TO several distinguished
Democrats, and was declined because tbs
Constitution prohibits the letting of cen.
Vics labor by contract, and they expressed
doubt about ihe success Of the jate works u
NOT IN THE GENERALS CONFIDENCE
''Why did General S:oneman at this late
hour resign !" asked tie reporter, yentur.
ing upon Il leading question.
'FWhile the relations between General
Stoneman and myself are cordial, aaid the
Governor in reply, "and entertain
toward him tia: high regard due to dis.
tinguished soldier Of the Republic, am at
the same tina not suffi Gently in his conf.
denca TO be made the repository of his req
sons for resigning at this time 1t should
be remembered, however that he has been
elected to the highest office within the gift
of the people CT this State and perhaps a
sense of delicacy may have suggested this
acticn Besides, General Stoneman has
publicly proclaimed his disspproval of the
course and policy of the present Board.
He has been elected Governor, and the
sominees OF the party that elected him
aave been elected also, and will constitute
The new Board OF Commissioners. Gen
eral Ssoneman's action may be interpreted
IS an appeal from The present Railroad
Commissioners TO the incoming Board,
which will be organized in few weeks"
"Then you second the appeal from the
existing Board to the incoming one of Rail
road Commissioners"
81 am not disposed to sit in judgment
upon the course of the Beard, replied the
Governor, cautiously. the Railroad Com
missioners are elected by the people, and
are vested by the supreme will of the PEG.
pie, expressed in the fundamental law, with
powers so comprehensive that they virtu-