Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-04-01
will THEY STAND BY Irp

On the 9th day Of February, 1883, the
Legislature then being in session, the
RECORD UNION editorially, under the
heading above given, said
"The Congress of the United States, on
the lst day of July, 1862. passed an Act
entitled "Au Act to aid the construction
of a railroad and telegraph line from the
Missouri river to the Pacific ocean, and to
secure to the Government the use of the
same for postal, military and other pur-
poses" By this Act the Union Pacific
Railroad Company is authorized to CONSOLE
date and merge its powers with the Cen.
trail Pacific Railroad Company upon such
terms and conditions as the relative corpo.
rations may at any time agree, and under
such corporate name as they may adopt.
In the same Act it is provided that the
United States shall at all times have the
use of the road for the transportation of
mails, troops and munitions of war, sup.
plies and public stores and that the same
shall always be operated as one continuous
line. Congress also reserved the right,
under certain conditions, to fix the rates of
freights and fares. The question as to the
effect which these provisions of the Act of
1862 have upon the right of the State to
regulate and control the Central Pacific
Railroad has been one much discussed, and
upon which there has been wide differ
ence of opinion.
1.-The Democratic Legislature of this
State, not upon the npur of the moment,
but after full discussion and upon solemn
dehberation, seems to have solved the
problem. Both branches of the Legisla-
ture of this State have adopted the follow
ing preamble to the resolutions against
consolidating the southern roads
Whereas, there is now pending in the
Congress OF the United States bill for
the purpose of allowing the Southern Pa
ci6c Railroad to consolidate and merge its
powers with any other company or compa.
MES; AND WHEREAS, THE DIRECT EFFECT
OF SUCH \ BILL BECOMING LAW WOULD BE
TO CHANGE SAID SOUTHERN Pacific RAIL
ROAD FROM \ STATE INTO a FEDERAL COR.
PoRATIoN AND TO EXEMPT SAID SOUTHERN
PACIFIC RAILROAD FROM STATE CONTROL
and whereas, the effect of such law
would be disastrous to the best interests
of the State of California therefore be it
resolved, etc.
Leading Democrats from all parts OF
the State have been present, and have pro.
NOTED the passage of the preamble and
resolutions, Among the prominent Demo
Gratis, rot members of the Legislature, who
have been present and advocated such
adoption, were ex Governor Irwin, David
S. Terry, Congressman-elect Budd, and
others. The E.CGminer also takes the same
position. Among the Democratic jour.
mails which opposed the preamble was the
Oakland Times. 1t claimed that the pre-
amble violated the principles of the party.
In view of the premises, and OF all the
facts, it may be confidently asserted that
the dominant party approves the action o:
its representatives in the Legislature,
Whatever effect this decision of that body
may have in the future, we do not under.
take to say. That the responsibility OF
committing the State to doctrine which
may in the end deprive it of all control
over the Southern and Central Pacific
Railroads rests upon the Democratic party
| cannot be denied"