The morning call., 1893-03-13
IN THE ASSEMBLY.

The action Of the Assembly on the re-
assessment bill should be a reasonable
assurance that it will reconsider the vote
by which the Golden Gate Park bill was
passed. The reassessment bill is scarcely
more important to the Southern Pacific
Company than the park bill. The former
would save tha; company $500, coo in
taxes, but the latter viii give the company
a foOthold in the park and a monopoly of
the travel TO it,, the pccuniRry value OF
which cannot be accurately estimated.
But the worst feature Of the park bill IS not
the monopoly of travel it Will enable the
company to obtain and hold, but the power
it places in the hands of the Park Commits
siOners TO lease acre plats for term Of ten
years. What kind of sn establishment may
not be conducted under that privilege?
The park may be converted from q pleasure
ground to a kind of Industrial aud COM
mercial mari. The Park Comm ssioners
say that this privilege would enable them
to add to the convenience and pleasure Of
visitors TO the park. They could regulate
hack hire if the owners had to come t.
them for the privilege of entering the park.
They could provide amusements which are
not prOducible while the park is conducted
on Eon-commercial principles. They coud
GO many other things that the people do not
want TO have done. There has been no public
demand for such a change in the character
Of the park as IS proposed. No one except
those who expect to profit by it want the
jostle and excitement of business within the
park inelosure. The people want TO keep
1t as it IS now, the one place within the city
limits where women and children may 60
unattended without fear of molestation or
n
sioners may not intend to abuse the powers
that this bill eonfers upon them. 1t is
safer, however, not TO give any commission
too much discretion in the exercise of power.
There is no excuse for this park bill
The park is doing very we'll under the
present laws. 1t is becoming more and
more popular resort. On pleasant days
when there is no band at the music-staud
thousands Of visitors wander here aud there
in search of rest and health. The police
regulations are good. The absence OF IN
ruly young people of either sex has often
been remarked. There is DO chance TO
make any money at the park, or to have
what O certain class call fun. There is
sunshine, the dor of flowers, the ozone of
the sea atmosphere, the green turf and the
unequaled landscape view. But the park
bill proposes to turn all this into a shop
where all sorts Of business and games may
be carried on. The force behind this park
bill is pointed out In the protest of c. d.
Salield addressed to the Senate while the
bill was in that body. Mr.. Salfeld says:
One effect this new bin viii surely have and
tnat is that 1t viii perpeIuate for term of ten
long years the valuable leases now held by the
Southern Pacific Railroad Company, Tor which
Il pays little or nothing.
1t will besides give TO the Southern cor
poration an almost complete monopoly OF
all travel to the ocean beach via the Golden
Gate Park at an extra expense of ten cents
for every passenger carried there and back.
Tie bill will also deprive Richmond and
South Side districts of this city Of FIVE
cent fare to and from this city, for no other
street railway Will care, nor can afford, to
build out TO the ocean beach for years 10
come, knowing that 1t Is In the power of
the Park Commission to deprive il of park
traffic, whereas the Southern Pacific Com
pany will continue to enjoy its valuable
privilege Of having not one but several
depots right 10 the park, and its track
crossing this popular pleasure resort at its
eastern as well as its western extremity.
If the Assembly desires TO make a con-
sisient record it will reconsider lis vote OIL
the park bill