The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-10-27
THE ATTITUDE OF THE RAILROAD.


Mr. c. p. Huntington inaugurated his as |
sumption of Office with the announcement |
that, whereas his predecessor had used the
money and influence of the railroad Tor his
personal advantage, the institution was now
going ont of politics to stay. Less than two
years have elapsed since then and now we
find Mr.. Huntington the central figure in
political conflict between corruption on one
side and reform on the other. He is the
power behind Kelly and Crimmns And
lie is believed to be the hacker Of Nike lie
Young. 1t Is the money OF his railroad,
which is 'out of politics, that gives the So
called boss Republican ticket fighting
chance at the election. II the company
should draw its purse strings the Crimmins
and Kelly ticket would not have ghost OF
a show.
The CALL pIesumes that as individuals
the owners of the Southern Pacific have the
same right as other people to be in or out
of politics as they choose. But as admins.
traitors of the leading transportation COM
pany of the State they nave n right TO use
the money taken out Of the peoples pocket
for fares and freight to corrupt voters at
elections. That is too clean proposition TO
need proof In Europe it has always been
held that the collection OF taxes to be USED
in the expressing of taxpayers justified
revolution. So here the collection through
arbitrary railroad tariffs of sums OF money
| to be used in corrupting voters and
| defeating beneficial legislation lustlties rad
| ical measures to abate the nuisance. No
! such practice prevails in any State but Call
fornia. There was time when the railroads
of Illinois, Iowa, Kansas. Nebraska. WIS
consin and Minnesota devoted portion OF
their earnings to buying Legislatures. But
in every case the crime led to punishment.
Railroad fares and freights were regulated
by law, aud stringent enactments compelled
| the companies TO concentrate their exclusive
attention upon their proper business Oh car
Tying persons and property. In the case oil
many companies the penalty proved expen-
! sive.
II Mr.. Huntington should succeed In buy
ing the election Of Legislature to his
liking lie may have secured for his company
two years. respite. But two years Is not an
endless period. and during that time pGblic
indignation against corruption and railroad
rapaeity will settle and ferment SO that IN
1894-iust when the subsidy bonds begin 10
mature-the ant!-railrOad fury will be hotter
than il is now. On the other hand, II the
to accomplish its purpose and Legislature
should be elected which is not in sympathy
with the present Republican bosses the
Southern Pacific would find itself in an awk-
ward preGcament 1t would stand con-
victed in public opinion Of having used Its
money and its influence to defeat the rea-
sOnabie will of the people. Its claims LOT
fOrbearance would not command much at
tention from the Legislature. That BODY
would sternly require the corporation TO paw
its back taxes. Ii would pass constltu-
tiOnal amendment ab0lishing the Railroad
| Commission, ana when the amendment was
ratified it would probably meet in extra SEES
sion to establish a uniform tariff OF freights
and fares, in line with the tariff in force In
Kansas.
It's hard TO see what the railroad would
gain in either alternative. 1t was, IN the
opinion of The CALL. an unwise step on
the part OF the railroad to make Nh. Stan
| ford Senator. Il was drawing popular
| lightning in dangerous proximity TO the
| high explosives at Fourth and Townsend.
II was another mistake to reflect Mr..
! Stanford after he had filled his first
| term, because the reelection produced
the false impression that the people ap-
proved the policy Of the corporation. And
it is still graver mistake for the company
to take part at the present moment, IN the
pending political contest and to take part
on the wrong side. The people Of Califor-
MIA are earnestly bent on suppressing polit-
ical corruption. In that endeavor there are
no parties. All decent men are as one ON
the question. The only opponents Of the
agitation besides such creatures as Grim
Minis and Kelly and De Young are the meu
who own and control the Southern Pacific
Is IL wise, is it polite to place the corpora
ton in such an attitude? Is ii cOnsonan
with common-sense to express the opinion
in so many words that the people of Cali
fornia can be bought?