The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-01
THE TRAFFIC SCHEDULE.
The Nevada County Narrow Gauge and
the Donahue Road Oppose 1t.

SACRAMENTO Jan. 31-The Senate Com
mi!tee on Constitutional Amendments met
again this evening TO lear further testimony
for and against the traffic amendment which
is proposed to be introduced in the Legis-
laIure.
J. F. Kidder, president and chief engi-
Deer of the Nevada County narrow-gauge
road, read a statement giving the receipts
and disbursements of the company for sew
eral years past and reciting the difficulties
under which it labors to keep up the road.
Some years the road had been operated at a
loss. Among other enterprises the company
tried the experiment of making an excursion
rate between Grass Valley and Nevada City.
When the experiment had been abandoned
it was fou nd that tile earnings of the road
had been So 90 per day and the expenses
were over S11.
Kidder declared against Leeds idea that
timber lasted longer in California than in
Kansas and Iowa. At any rate it did net
apply to Nevada County. where ties last but
three years and are then unfit for frew God.
He took Leeds to task for proposing an
amendment 10 the constitution which bank
rupts the small railroads. He thought there
ought TO be some other way TO reach the
Southern Pacific.
j. f. Bergn, pTesid ent of the Donahue
road. appeared with a written statement
which he read. He said his road would be
affected dlsastrously by the Traffic Associa-
ton amendment He said that no law could
be passed which would reduce the charges
of the Southern Pacific without running the
twenty-nine small railroads of the State.
He showed what the financial condition of
his road was, and stated the profits for last
year TO be but $4,000. If the Leeds amend
ment was adopted the company would lose
at the present rate Of earnings over $40, 900
year.
Waldo Waterman, representing the San
Diego and Cuyamaca railroad. and Grove
L. johnson, representing the Yisals rail-
road, also spoke. The latter made power
lui argument against the cOnstitutOnality
Of the proposed act, and cOntended that ii
the Legislature gave the Railroad Commits
sion the necessary power to enforce its
findings that board would operate 10 the
satisfaction of the people.
The Joint Committee on Commerce and
Navigation discussed Carlson's bill making
an appropriation Of 5000, 900 for the COM
peti0n of the deep-water harbOr at San
Diego. but deferred action.
The Joint COMMITTEES on Irrigation lis
tened tonight to arguments on the substi-
tute measure presented by Attorneys Long
and Maxwell for Seymour's bill providing
tor the 1isorganizatlOn of irrigation
districts. Most of the arguments were in
opposition to the prop siti0n.
The substitute bill was finally rejected
and the bill introduced in the Assembly by
Carlson, and subsequently in the Senate by
Seymour will be recommended for adoption
as amended. 1t provides for the calling of
elections on the question Of designating
irrigation districts on petitions signed by
fifty or a majority Of the property-o wners
in the district. Sucn propositions shall not
be submitted to the people oftener than
once in year, and before the disincorpora-
ton ali outstanding Indebtedness must be
paid up. and all property bought in for
delinquent assessments shall revert to the
original owners.
TIE Assembly Judiciary Committee will
report favorably ON SchlesiDger's bill
making It uGla wfu to refuse admission to
places of amusement This bill was de-
signed as applicable to the recent legal
complications in San Francisco relative to
admission to the Bay District track. The
committee will also report favorably the
bill compelling savings banks to make
sworn statements as to the business
transacted. and OKeefe's bill taking the
appointment Of grand jurors out of the
hands of Boards Of Supervisors and placing
it in the power OF the Superior courts.
The Committee on Elections, which was
to take up the election contest of Decouf-
tieux VS.. MCGOWAN, did not meet for lack