Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-05-12
WHOLE NO. 1O,319.
RAILWAYS AND POLITICS.
The Demagogy of Our Extra Session
Clearly Understood at the East.
[Chicago Herald, May 5th.


[Chicago Herald, May 5th.l
Some time ago n special session OF the
California Legislature was convened Tor
the avowed purpose of enacting radical
laws for the government of the railway
corporations of the State. This action was
had not so much in accordance with popu-
lar demand as at the behcSt of party
clique which controlled the Governor of
the State, who thought they saw chance,
by pandcring to the supposed antj-railway
sentiment of the people, TO advance their
own political fortunes As is usual when
no higher or lottier purpose than personal
and party SeltiShncSS governs mems actions,
their schemes have failed The extra seS-
sion was called and has met for more
than month. Ii was seen from the start
that, though the need of more perfect rail-
way legislation was great, and SO recog-
nized, there was no popular demand for
such extreme measures as those sought by
the faction egging 1t ON. The test question
came up on what is known rs the Barry
bill, one of The most sweeping measures
ever drafted to govern a corporation. The
bill absolutely DESTROYED all right ot indi-
vidual property in the railways of the State.
1t started out with preamble that the rail
ways We're the property OF the State, and
that their management and control was
public trust. Ii provided that the
I Trustees of tins property-to wit: It's
/ stockholders owners managers and
/ dircctorS-should forfeit all right to
/ operate within the State, forfeit
! their trusts and holdings and become liable
/ to prosecution and damages if they failed
/ in any of the following requirements
/ First, if they suffered Determinations in
/ freightS over their roads second. if they
failed To keep the track and structures in
efficient repair; third, If they accepted a
/ charter from any other Government State or
sovereignty fourth. if they failed to COM
/ ply with fare and freight schedules fixed by
/ the Railroad commissioners. Under the pu-
/ itical war-whoop of the clique which had
demanded the legislation i'm the hope there
/ by of catching the Granger and anti-mouop-
! DIV influence on behalf of the leader u, the
I clique, VINO wants To 20 to the nitCdStItcs
/ Senate. the lower branch of the Legislature
passed the bill as ii was drawn. BU, the
Senate listened To the conservative voice of
the people and, though largely Democratic
il refused to grant such radical measures
against the railway companies. ID has
amended the bill So that its extreme pro-
! visions arc cut out. Particularly did it
knock out the first and third sections, rs
I above which prohibited diScrimipatl0us IN
/ tariff OF operation under charter from an
other State. If the House accept the amend
mentS the bill will be harmless and if it
do not consent the Legislature viii adjourn
without further action, for it is clear that
the Senate will not resort to the extreme
measures demanded.
II is not believed that the railroad conf
{ paniCs took amy special measures TO secure
this result. Ii was rather the effect of re-
/ dictionary sentiment in the State which is
+ disposed to act more fairly with the roads
and less i'm the interests of clamorouS poll
/ ticians. The people, too, are becoming
/ aware that the constant and tircsome TRADE
I of imprdCtiCableS, OticC-SeekerS railway
Cranks and selfish politicians against rail-
ways and their management is having an
( evil effect in that il has tended to iniurc
/ the business of the State and impair its
prosperity II has checked railway build
/ ing, prevented extensions, delayed improve
mentS that were TO have been made NJ great
/ expense and ctteCtually discouraged foreign
/ railway corporations from seeking entrance
to the State. The Atlantic and Pacific, for
instance, would perhaps be building into
+ California to-day if it were not for the hos
tile attitude of California press, politicians
and Legislators 10 every form of railway en-
I terprisc. This hostility has been carefully
nursed and kept alive for no other purpose
/ than to favor the ambition of politicians
/ who are seeking by intlammatory appeals
/ to the ignorant and unthinking masses, to
/ control their votes. This whole extra ses-
/ sion business was forced upon Governor
/ Stuneman, who is himself an anti-railway
! fanatic in order to foster the ambition of
! George Hearst, an ignorant coarse, but
very rich miner, who wants To succeed
/ Farley in the United States Senate While
/ the railway people may need great deal
( of regulation by law, CalifornianS generally
must rejoice that the Hearst Stoneman
| scheme has failed of success.