The record-union., 1894-05-14
EXPOSE THE GUILTY.


Trustee Devine has, in official session
of the board. declared that the votes
counted at the late water election in favor
of the east-side water were never cast for
it. He has repeatedly charged that fraud
was practiced, and intimated that there
was Job in the water matter to rob the
city.
1t is the sworn duty of this Trustee TO
specify his charges. to put them into
shape for investigation, to reveal to the
prosecuting officers of the city the facts
on which bis charges are based. and to
aid to bring the truth to light, if it is hid
den, and the guilty to punishment if any
one is guilty. IF he has knowledge Of
any such fact it belongs to the city, and
is not his to conceal.
In this, as in all other matters of pub
lie concern, where fraud upon the people.
tampering with the ballot-box and brib-
ing public administrators are charged.
there should be no concealments. If
Trustee Devine is possessed of the knowl-
edge he declares he has and fails to make
it known to the proper officials and de-
must stand before the public as having
stated that which is incapable of proof
1t is the easiest thing imaginable to
charge crime and offense, to make ones
suspicious take on, in words, the form of
verify, but it is a widely different thing
to establish as fact that which never ex-
listed. We believe the water election was
honestly conducted; that the voters voted
freely and without coercion or interfer-
ference; that the ballots were honestly
counted and the actual result lawfully
announced.
The RECoRD-UNIoN favored the east
side water experiment; it was influenced
only by conviction of the wisdom of the
plan and the belief that it was in the
best interests of the whole people. 1t
still so believes. 1t holds that the threat
ened action of the Trustees is in violation
of and an insult to the expressed will of a
majority of the voters who went to the
polls at that election. 1t believes that the
proposition for the east-side clear water
is the best ever made to any city; that it
deprives the municipality of not single
right or privilege and secures to it adj
vantages it can in no other way so well
gain. It believes that the threatened
defeat of the plan, as indicated by the
action of the Trustees. will be black eye
for Sacramento.
1t believes, further, that the contractors
are anxious to have the contract abro-
gated, because it is so favorable to Sacra-
mento. and that it is their purpose fur
ther, if the Trustees make misstep, to
sue the city to recover the amount OF the
expenses incurred to date in sinking the
experimental wells.
The RECORD UNION believes the city
should hold these contractors to the letter
and the spirit of the contract But if the
410St0C6 OO14OfO bl4ab LnO NdIOA AON plO-
sented is not up to the required standard,
and that they have sufficient reason for
refusing to accept it and to disprove Pro-
lessor Rising's report, reasons that can be
established beyond doubt in court of
law, they should demand of the con-
tractors that they sink other wells and
present other samples.
The whole truth is that there has been
and is determined effort and scheme on
the part of few to break down the con-
tract the city now has, defeat the ex-
pressed will of the voters and leave the
people in the position that has brought so
much reproach upon the city and is a
chief cause of complaint throughout the
country against it.
Let those who charge corruption,
chicane, purchase, bribery and election
frauds upon the friends of clear water
come forward with their proofs. IF they
are so high-minded and public-spirited
as they claim to be, if they are so jealous
for the good of the people, let them come
out from behind the mask of indefinite
charges and give the citizens of Sacra-
mento the specific reasons for their alle-
cations, present the evidence upon which
they base them, and there is no public
influence that viii do more than the
RECORD UNION TO aid them in bringing
the guilty to punishment and exposing
corruption and double-dealing.