The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-09-29
THOSE INTERVIEWS.
How People are MisIed and Then
Misrepresented.
False Impressions Created Even When
Citizens are Correctly Reported,
Which is Rare.

For some reason best known to itself
our evening contemporary, the Bee, has
entered upon an active crusade against
j. II. Henry and the Central Street Rail-
way Company and is using whatever in
huence it has, if any, in an attempt to de-
stroy their property or force them into a
position where they would either be
compelled to sell out to a more favored
company or operate their lines at rum
Gus disadvantage. In its contest it is
using every trick and device known TO
the business, and does not hesitate to
openly misrepresent the situation and
distort facts in such way as TO deceive
and mislead its readers.
In the first place it declared that If the
Board of Trustees granted the G-street
franchise to the Central Electric Com
pany it would shut out the Folsom Water
Power Company from bringing its power
to this city. This assertion naturally
startled everybody, as no one could be
found who would want to do anything to
prevent Sacramento from getting the
benefit of the power from the great dam
at Folsom, to which we have all looked
with longing for many years. But
Messrs. Livermore and Gallatin, repre-
senting the Folsom Water Power Com
pany, when asked in this office if a fail
ure to get street-car franchise would
prevent them bringing their power to
this city, promptly answered that 1t would
not Still the Bee harps upon the shut
ting out of the Folsom Water Power
Company"
Then it continues to talk about the APP
plication of the Folsom Water Power
Company for franchise for competing
line, when it knows perfectly well that
the Folsom Water Power Company with
drew its application for franchise for a
competing line last Monday, and that
Albert Gallatin and Horatio =. Liver
more, personally, put in an application
Tor franchise for system which is in
no sense a competing line, but which is
generally regarded as simply ''cinch' on
the Central Company.
1t published an alleged interview with
a citizen, who says that on Sunday
Trustee promised him to vote for the
franchise asked for by the Folsom Water
Power Company, and on Monday voted
to give another franchise to Henry, and
the enlightened citizen is so indignant
that he wants to call an Indignation meet
ing. The Bee knew, if the citizen did
not, that the application made by the
Folsom Water Power Company had been
withdrawn before the board met, and
that the Trustee could not have voted for
1t if he wanted to.
The published interviews show plainly
the unfair style in which the questions
are put to the interviewed citizens, and
yet out OF a score OF interviews published
not one gives reason why the G-street
franchise should not be given to the Cen
tral Company, except the fear that it
viii shut out the Folsom Water Power
Company" Here is sample:
George o. Hayford, real estate and insur-
Rnce-I would be lust to Mr. Henry but
. a ~ of tI,a
City SO important an enterprise as the Folsom
Water Power Company.
Mr.. Hayford was probably told by the
reporter that if the G-street franchise
was granted to Mr.. Henry it meant ''the
shutting out OF the Folsom Water Power
Company and the loss to this city of
millions Of dollars"
This and score of similar ''interviews''
are prefaced by long TRADE against the
Trustees, full of Misrepresentation
viii an intelligent public be deceived by
such a gauZy attempt to manufacture
public opinion out of nothing? And
will Board of Trustees be turned from
its duty by such ridiculous showing?
Ii people on q street who have signed
the petition for the Central Company
franchise are misled by these tricks and
induced to petition the board to reverse
Its decision, the Trustees, who are not de-
celved, should pay no attention to them.
They have done their duty and they
ought to stand by it.
If we were submitting a question to
the people on this subject it would be
something like this:
Should not the Trustees so adjust street
railway franchises in the future as to in
sure good service and competing lines.
without giving undue and Unnecessary
advantages to one company over another,
and in that way protect invested capital,
while encouraging additional enterprises?
Who would answer mo p,