The record-union., 1893-03-01
TO ABOLISH THE COMMISSION.
The Absurdity of the Traffic Associa-
ton Measure Shown Up.

The Assembly yesterday, by an almost
unanimous vote, decided to abolish the
Railroad Commission, as provided in
Constitutional Amendent No. 4, of which
Mr.. Shanahan is the author.
The Godchaux amendment, which not
only proposes to abolish the commission,
but also to insert in the State Constitu-
ton conglomeration of unintelligible
ngures and tables, preceded Amendment
No. on the file.
The title of the Traffic Association
measure, which was introduced in the
Assembly by Mr.. Godchaux, was no
sooner read than Mr.. Duckworth gained
the floor and made a logical, violent as
sault upon the amendment.
81 am opposed to the adoption of the
resolution" said Mr.. Duckworth, ''for
the following reasons:
"tirst-As a result of the revolutionary
agitation that has convulsed this State
during the year last past, the theory of
regulating freights and fares through the
agency of the Railroad Commission has
been clouded in the public mind to such
degree that to-day, in the minds of some
OF our citizens, the principle of the regu-
lation of transportation charges by and
through a Railroad Commission is syn
onymous with the corrupt supremacy of
the Southern Pacific Company in every
department of our Government.
Now, as matter of fact, the records of
the Railway Commissioners show that,
with but few unimportant exceptions,
every decision rendered by them as arbi-
traitors between the carriers and shippers
of our State has been adverse to the giant
corporation against which the poisoned
arrows OF every
MAGGoTY WOULD-BE STATESMAN
Andi reformer are now and for some
time past have been aimed. The persis-
tency With which this warfare has been
carried on-largely through the exertions
OF persons whose past history is closely
connected with the theory that there are
such things possible as being caved down
bank-has resulted in completely
clouding and befogging the issue before
the people.
I'VE are asked to forget, in the first
place, that from the admission of Califor-
MIA into the Union until 1879, the regula-
ton Of treights and fares rested wholly
with the Legislature, and that after all
these years Of actual trial that system was
condemned and the Railroad Commits
sion was created to cure the ills that af-
tlicted our people.
1T is charged that because the Rail
road Commissioners heretofore elected by
the people have not engaged in eating
railroad ties and driving away every
cent of capital from the State, it is neces-
sary to abolish system, which accord
ing to the very friends of the Godchaux
amendment has
NEVER HAD A FAIR TRIAL.
IT, as has been repeatedly asserted on
this floor, in the public press and on the
rostrum. the Southern Pacific Company
has always succeeded in entrapping a
majority of the Railroad Commissioners,
and in using the machinery of the board
for the oppression OF the people, does the
remedy lie in abolishing the commission?
Presuming that every Railroad Commits
sioner ever elected in California has been
subservient to the Southern Pacific Com
pany, does it necessarily follow that the
people of this great State should admit
their inability to grapple with the ques-
ton OF freights and fares and acknowl-
edge their hopelessness by wiping out of
existence the system that gives them alb
solute control of the question il they will
but be alive to their own best inter-
ests. L"
Mr.. Duckworth got no further A point
of order was raised that he was not
speaking to the question, which was sus-
tanned. Mr.. Barlow had introduced
substitute for the Godchaux amendment
several days since, when Mr.. Duckworth
was absent, which the file of the Assem-
bly, did not show, consequently he was
misled.
TAKEN UP OUT OF ORDER.
Mr.. Shanahan moved that Constitu-
tional Amendment No. be given consid-
Grafton prior to Amendment No. IA. of
later introduction in the Assembly. He
argued that the Godchaux amendment
should be divided. If the Traffic Asso-
citation wants the Railroad Commission
abolished they should not attach dead
weight to the resolution which will kill
the whole amendment. He maintained
that no member of the Assembly signed
the Traffic Association pledge to embrace
in the Constitution the schedule of
freights and fares proposed. Mr.. Shana-
han said he regretted that the members
of the Assembly were so tied up with the
Traffic Association that they could not
vote according to their convictions. and
properly represent their constituents.
Although he did not sign any pledge to
support the GodchauX amendment in its
present form, he would resolve against
his own convictions and give the Traffic
Association the benefit of the doubt.
Mr.. Afford maintained that there was
no good reason why Shanahan's amend
ment should be given precedence over
OodchauX's, which appeared first on tie
file. lie explained the Traffic Associa-
ton measure, and claimed it went further
than the Democratic platform demanded
concerning railroad matters. Colonel
Barry, the Traffic Association lobbyist,
was referred to i'll the course of debate.
MADE HIM DYsPEPTIC.
Mr.. Lynch said so much reference to
the Traffic Association and Colonel Barry
made him sick. He moved that the gem
tleman be allowed to instruct the Assem-
bly, as to how it should vote.
The previous question was moved, and
it was decided to give Shanahan's amend
ment consideration before Godchaux's.
There was no debate on the Shanahan
amendment, and it was adopted by vote
of 64 ayes to noes.
Barlow then took the floor and ex-
planned his substitute, which he wanted
adopted to take the place of the God
chaux amendment. 1t provides, he said,
that railroad companies shall be allowed
to make only eight per cent. per annum,
based on their aotIal va1ua sETba cod