The morning call., 1891-01-08
ALONG THE RAIL.
An Effort to Abolish the Railway
Commission.
1t Is Said That the Board Is an Unnecessary
Expense to the State and Vested With
Too Much Authority.

1t has been known for some months
| past that strenuous effort would be made
at this session of the Legislature to enact a
constitutional amendment aboiishing the
Railway Commission.
In the event of the proposed amendment
meeting with a strong opposition, its pro-
moters will introduce a bill limiting the
| powers OF the commission to such a degree
as to virtually abrogate all power concerning
the regulation of fyeights and fares, the very
purpose for which the commission was or
ganized, under an act approved April 10, 1880.
There are two objections to the commits
sion as at present maintained, the principal
one being the almost unlimited power con-
ferred by the Constitution in the matter of
establishing rates for transportation COM
panles, power, 1t is claimed, without pre-
eedent IN the history of legislation in other
States.
The second objection is the high salaries
paid members of the board, who are re-
CURED to devote only a small portion of their
time TO official duties.
SALARIES PAID.
Inc salary OF each Commissioner is $4,000
per annum. The Secretary of the board
receives S2400. and the baiiff $500 per an
mum. The act makes provision for the ser
vices OF a Stenographer, bnt does not specify
the amount OF compensation. Section 2
concludes as follows:
Said Board OF Railroad Commissioners shall
be allowed 500 per month for Office rent, and
500 pr month for fuel, lights, postage, eX-
pressaGe, subscriptions 10 publications upon the
subject OF transportation. and other Incidental
expenses 10 be paid by the State; provided, that
all moneys remaining uneXpended al the eNpira-
lion OF each fiscal year shall be returned % The
state treasury. SAID board is further authorized
TO expend not TO exceed 800 for Office fnrnitnTe
and mixtures, 10 be paid by the State. The State
shall furnsli said board with all necessary
sta, no, ana printing upon acquisitions signed
py tue PRESIDENT OF said board.
POWERS CONFERRED.
As an example of the power vested by the
Constitution III this commission in the mat
ter of Issuing legal proce SEES, Section is
quoted:
The process issued by said board shall extend
TO all parts OF the State. Tue board shall have
power 10 Issue wrlts OF summons and of subpoena
III IKE manner as courts of record. The sum
mons snail direct the defendant TO appear aud
answer within nlteen days from The day OF ser
wee. lie necessary process issued by the
DOaId may be served IN any county IN this Stale
by the Dalliff OF the board, or by any person au-
tnoilLed 10 serve process OF courts OF record.
A MISTAKE.
Several well-known business men who
deal extensively with transportation COM
panleS IN and out of the State of California
We're Interviewed yesterday on this subject
Ihey We're all OF the opinion that the abOl-
lshment CT the commission or the abrogation
OF any powers conferred by the act of 1880
would be sad mistake and work general
haIdshlp 10 the people OF the State.
The press dispatches give no information
as yet concerning the action of the Western
States Passenger Association in the matter
OF disseminating the issuance of unlimited
tickets over roads west of Chicago.
General Passenger Agent Goodman of the
Southern Pacific said yesterday that if I'M
limited tickets were cut off by the trans
continental decision, the order would be
qualified by provision authorizing the is
suance OF thirty or sixty day tickets, thus
giving the passenger the benefit of a long
Stop-oyer and exemptlng travellers who
found 1t necessary to tarry en- route from
paying local rates.
PERSONAL.
W. 81. Mills. Land Agent of the Central
Pacific has gone to Sacramento.
Colonel Creed Raymond is still tarrying
in London.
II. A. johnson, Freight Agent of the
Union Pacific, is in Los Angeles
Z. I. Crane of the Vanderbilt went M 70 |
SACRAMENTO yesterday.
W. II. Snedaker of the Rio Grande West. |
ern leaves tonight for trip north.
Carroll Hutcnins of the RAYMOND and |
WhitcOmb Excursion Agency Will arrive
here on the 18th inst. from Boston and re-
open the Office OF this combination for spring |
travel.
w. ID. Sanborn, General Pacific Coast
Agent, and G. l.. Gage, Freight Agent of tina
burlington, Will arrive tonight from the
East O"i 'ne
C. r. Alberger, Travelling Passenger Agent
of the Denver and Rio Grande Western, lett |
last evening for the north.