Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-08-09
THE COMING CONFERENCE.

will be one Of the most important convoca-
lions ever held in this State. Whatever
ats results, the immense importance of the
subjects it will have in hand cannot for
moment be doubted. What is to be hoped
for is calm debate and very patient DELHI
Grafton. The main questions to be con-
sidered are, whether the threatened diver
sion of the through traffic by rail to and
from California and Oregon and the with
drawal of a large part of San Francisco's
Asiatic trade are likely to be realized, and
If so, what steps should be taken to meet
the threat and avert the danger. The one
chief question TO be determined by the
commercial representatives of the Ameri-
can Pacific coast is, "Shall foreign port
and. foreign line of transportation on our
north be built up at the expense of the
commerce of the Pacific States, without
protest on their part or effort to protect
themselves against a diversion of Ameri-
can traffic from American lines, over which
1t should pass, according to the natural
laws of trade?" 1t is to be debated
whether this is fair competition between
friendly nations, in which one Power puts
Its shoulder beneath private enterprise, and
SO enormously subsidies it and exempts it
from the usual charge of operating ex-
penses that it can underclt its rival of the
other nation beyond hope of the latter
meeting it. 1t is to be considered, also,
whether the restrictions that our Govern
ment places upon the business of trans
porting merchandise are wise and advisa-
able. The interstate commerce law will
be a topic of debate of the most interesting
character, and we do not think we mistake
IN the forecast, when we predict that the
commercial Judgment of the Pacific coast
will be that il is failure, not only in not
accomplishing the promise made for it, but
that it has been hindrance to trade and
an impeachment to the free operation of
those commercial laws that are the results
OF ages of experience, and which cannot be
INSTRUCTED in their operation without ma
terlal disarrangement of the business
affairs of the community that undertakes
The regulation"
The San Francisco Ala California, re-
marking upon these attempts to regulate in
violation OF allexperience in the business of
carrying goods for hire, well says:
II might last as well be understood at the be.
ginning of the discussion thai these things are
the result OF an attempt by Congress to run the
are caused by legislative interference in mat
tiers where the judicial power was already ade-
Quote for the enforcement OF the common law of
common carriers, which is entirely sufficient
10: the protection of shippers.
8ad referring again and more directly
TO the Interstate Commerce Act our con-
temporary adds:
Its fourth clause hiss diverted commerce and
thrown all New England into an alliance vita
Csuada against the commerce of California and
Oregon This has been accomplished by pro-
hibiting any difference between the wholesale
and retail transaction In transportation. The
long haul is transportation by wholesale
the short haul is by retail. Difference in charge
is forbidden by this detective and dangerous
law, so that trunk lines must give up their local
or through business. How would any merchant
IN this city like a law that would compel him
90 sell single yard of dry goods at the same
ages of the same goods? How would our com
,ne zee relish tie statutory abolition of all differ
eoce between wholesale and retail trade2
There is not merchant here that would not be
In nc i've revolt against 1t in twenty. four hours
Which is blunt way of putting the
question, but one altogether defensible and
sound The whole country west of the
Rocky mountains will look upon the APP
preaching conference, therefore, with the
Iiyeliest interest and will expect from it
plain and outspoken utteranees regarding
the crippling process that we have applied
90 the transportation agencies of the day,
aud especially concerning the commercial
conquest that British influences are sat-
tempting in this country, through the as
sistance they receive from our own laws.
-- -
FOLLOWING the New York law as il
was, our Codes provide for the selection of
jurors to serve in the Justices and Police
Courts by the caprice or the convenience
of the Constable or baiIif. That is to say.
that official goes upon the street and sum
mons from the first be meets, or worse still.
If he is interested in the case. as he is
liable to be, even though so remotely as
the recovery of his fees he selects men
who viii more than likely favor the side
that he desires should win. Still worse.
perhaps, isthe selection of the professional
Juryman-the fellow who is always con-
veniently in the way of venire, and
who manages to exc out pecarious liveii-
hood by serving his country, but himself
most, as juror. How New York has
seen the error of this system and has
wisely abandoned it. She has discovered
what it is wondrcus strange was not seen
long ago, that the choosing of jury for
frialof causes in inferior Courts is mas
ter just as important to the litigants in
those Courts as is the trial OF causes 10 the