The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-07-30
TO PARALYzE THE COURTS.
thoughtful Comment on Manager
Leeds Platform.
[stockton Daily independent, July 26th.l

LeeGS' Platform.
stockton Daily Independent, July 26th.7
Mr.. Leeds, the busy manager of the
San Francisco Traffic Association. has
formulated Il platform to which he de-
mandS that every legislative candidate of
every party in every district III the state
shall subscribe, or the Traffic Association
viii oppose his election. The platform
contains great many words, but its eS-
sence is that the Constitution be so
amended as to abolish the present Rail
way Commission and place the regula-
ton of transportation, including the rates
of freight and fares, in the hands of the
Legislature, TO prevent the courts inter
fering with anything the Legislatures
may do in exercising that power. and to
have the amendment submitted at once
so that the same Legislature may pass the
bill so regulating transportation. This
platform Mr.. Leeds would have legis-
lators prefer to all other pledges and give
the business it dictates preference TO
everything else.
The platform should be entitled a
scheme to turn the Legislature of Cali
fOrnia into cinch factory. Bad as the
present state of affairs is, Mr.. Leeds
plan, II 1t were adopted, would make it
worse. The substance of this was before
the Democratic Convention at Fresno
when Stephen a. White showed how it
would promote corruption. but his words
did not prevail with that body, which
virtually threw itself into the arms of
Mr.. Leeds combine. If such an amend
ment is submitted by any Legislature it
ought to be beaten because a corrupt
Legislature would only use the power
granted to it to blacl1mail railroad and
steamboat companies without benefiting
the people. 1t would be a bid for the
most corrupt men to seek election to the
Legislature and standing temptation to
men Of weak morals within that BODY
to exercise the power corruptly. 1t
would render it necessary for railroad
companies to keep lobbyists with sacks
in sacramento during the session Of
every Legislature, and would be a con-
slant source of corruption. 1t has been
freely said for years that the railroad and
telegraph companies were not to blame
for using money to influence Legisla
lures. AS long as "einch" bills are pro-
posed, the corporations that are threat
ened will try to defend themselves with
the means at their command.
With all the experience of California
pointing to such result, and with a leg
islative scandal still before the San Fran
cisco courts, it Is astounding that SO intel
ligent body as the San Francisco Traffic
Association could approve a scheme so
demoraliZing and so promotve of brib-
cry. The committee has approved Leeds
platform and has issued it in the form Of
a letter to the public. It is SO astounding
in its proposition to paralyze the courts
that if the proposed amendment be
adopted and the Legislature pass any law
depriving the courts of power to pass
upon its acts, the law would promptly be
pronounced void. The Constitution
would have to undergo a complete re-
modelling and the Legislature would have
to be made supreme TO effect the purpose.
When that is done California VIII cease
to be republican in its form of govern
ment and will have become an oIigarchy.