The morning call., 1892-10-02
SHALL san FRANc1sco BE RUINED ?

The intelligent portion of the citizens OF
the United States are considering what
ought to be done with our railroads. Shall
they remain in the hands OF incorporated
companies, OF shall they be owned and
operated by the General Government or by
the individual States2 Our opinion is that
the different States ought to own them. The
objections 10 having the railroads managed
by the General Government are that
authority would be too much concentrated,
and that a party once in power, having
control Of the vast machinery OF the rail-
roads in the United States, would remain
there indefinitely. Were the ownership of
the railroads in the several States, such
an objection would not have much weight,
fOr the Inhabitants of each State would
take care OF their own interests, and the
clause IN the constitution which authorizes
the General Government to regulate CON-
meree between the States could be so exer-
eised as to produce harmonious action.
We are decidedly in favor Of our railroads
passing cut OF the hands Of corporations or
private individuals. for it has been shown
past doubt. that under such management
they must always be operated as ma
chimes. oppressive and intolerable when
IN The hands of designing or grasping men.
Again, our railroads are liable to pass under
the ownership of non-residents or foreign
eTs, who will have but little interest in the
country or States where they are located;
hence the object will generally be to obtain
as high rate for the transportation OF mer-
chandise and passengers as the country viii
possibly bear. This has been fully exem-
pifed IN California. In Europe, where the
state has owned the railroads. the system
has worked admirably. In Germany and in
Belgium there has been no complaint. but,
on the contrary, the charges for the trans
portati0n of freights and passengers are
very light. Why should not State owner
ship Of railroads work equally as we'll in the
United States? If IL were thought prefer
able, the Government need not run trains,
tut tley could be turned over 20 individuals
under Government regulations. We cannot
fad single valid objection to the owner
ship of railroads passing 10 the different
States.
Railroad management is now often in the
worst possible hands. In California. for in
stance, our railroads have been used TO ex-
tort not only excessive freights and fares,
but they have been used to corrupt the body
polite. the men who have managed them
have openly boosted that they would use
their means to eject men to Office who
would do their bidding. Thus corruption
has ruled supreme in this city and State fer
several years past, and until sensible people
have become convinced that there should De
complete change In the management OF
our railroads. Some twenty years ago an
effort was made In San Francisco in c0nnec-
ton with ST Louis to bRild railroad be-
tween the two cities. The plan was some
what crude, but had IL not been for certain
persons connected with the managers OF the
Central Pacific Railroad Company we be-
leYe the road would have been built.
You'd such project have been carried
Out San Francisco would not now be
struggling for an existence. She wenid
n-day be great and prosperous
city, virtually owning and controlling
railroad leading to the Eastern States. In
stead Of this. We have furnished the means
% build road for private persons. which is
ssed to our injury. We gave property
enough in Mission Bay to aid the company
essentially. and we have contributed Ia the
way 81 excessive freights and fares enough
- more than twice over build such road
y Tie Mississippi Valley. Then, In addi-
s0l 10 this. We have paid excessive taxes
suioreed By bosses whom railroad managers
tu' ~ power. First 1t was Carr. then Buck
~ new 1t is CTimmins, Kelly and CON-
ssAS' San Francisco has paid in the way
money taken from our citizens to CONF
,.a asA'e the bosses who have worked for the
"u company twice as mucn as IL "ouid