Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-01-11
TRANSPORTATION.


Three years have now elapsed since the people
soemnly expressed their views upon the subject of
the regulation Of fares and freishts and delegated
to a Commission chosen under the new organic law
the authority to execute their expressed will. For
years the demand for the regulation OF fares and
freghts and the prevention Of discrimination has
been elniyersa but every movement looking to-
ward the accomplishment of such wish has been
attended by defeat 1t is to be deeply regretted
that the retiring Railroad Commission has entirely
neglected and refused during the term for which its
members were elected to take any positive steps
toward enforcing the powers conferred upon it by
the Constitution and the laws All hope OF relief
from the Commission has thus far been deferred.
1t is to be earnestly hoped that the incoming Com
mission will prove to be composed Ct men Of suf
ficent courage and sagacty TO meet this issue in
spirit Of fairness; to deal justly by the transporta
tion conpauits and candidly by the people. / wish
it be distinctly understood that all the power and
influence Of the Executive Department tf the Gov
ernment will be cheerfully exercised on behalf Of
the Commission to bring the issue between the peo-
pie and the transportation compat les to final and
satisfactory termination. The question of the regu-
ulation of fares and freights is the great living
issue OF the day, and no postponemznt Of its
solution 10 future time will prove
satisfactory either to the people OF this state
or the Union. The question Of the power OF
the State to fix and regulate the charges for fares
and freight, upon transportation lines within the
State has passed beyond the line OF legitimate a. gu
meDt, though even now, after the decisions of the
Court of last resort, there are those managers of
transport tation lines who hold and publicly ayow rs
their convictions that transportation lines built and
equipped at the public expense by public autherity
for the public use the exclusive propet ty f the
managers aud stockholders and they It'll ackrowl.
edge no right in the public which conflicts with
thelc alleged right CT sole ownership. As to the
policy Of enforcing the power of the State to regu-
late fares and reghts there cannot since the result
of the late election, he further doubt While the
Executive has desire or Intention to attempt to
Interfere with the functions Of any other depart
ment, except such power is given I'd required
Of HIM to see that the laws are faithfully executed
and that the duties OF each Office are properlv per
formed, yet it may not out Of place in thus con.
ec.ion to state that in my opinion it is the lmper.
ative duty of the rghtful authority Immediately
tlke all proper and necessary steps toward the az.
c)mplishment OF the mission for which they were
placed in power, and ascertain once for ALL whether
the Con ttntion and Laws to be obeyed by ALL or
whSther the creatures OF the law superior to it
tbs SUNDAY Law.
Sumptuary laws are, and ever have been, opposed
to democratic teaching, and find no support among
liberal minded people. For many years Sections
299, 800 and 30l Of the Penal Code, commonly called
the Sunday Law, have been on our stature books
Under slightly varying forms this law has been in
existence in this State during the major portion of
the past quarter OF a century. Now aud then spas
modic efforts have been made to enforce II. but
without success In every contest before the Courts
the condition Of public opinion has been shown by
the fact that the law has been practically placed on
VIAL, anu hos inc particular uelehaa0t at the bar
In cases where the testimony addn ed has been con.
elusive that the alleged ofense has been committed
iuries have almost uniformly refused to conyict-a
state OF facts never before observed with reference
to any other porti Of our criminal jurisprudence
Such is the condition of the sections above cited
L. is unwise TO cumbcr the statute books with an
enact nent which experience has proven cannot be en-
forced The result at the late election is an emphatic
Endorsement Of the attitude of the now douiinan,
party on tins important subject and duty in the
premises Is perfectly clesr We all concede tnat
those sections cf our Codes which provide for c.
tain holidays and nonju iicia days are essential to
happiness and health. The repeal Of the ssSlnday
Law VIII IN no wise interfere with tho perma
nency effect CT cur civil legislation in the mater
Of day OF rest. Nor Is there any disposition tc
disturb those penal epactments which ara intended
10 prot sct religious asssmblages from all unseeml,
interference. The right to worship free from hin