The herald., 1894-11-05
CLEARING THE DECKS.

or con8tructively, between them Tor the
state campaign of 1894. Since congress-
men, as well as state officers, are to be
chosen, the range of discussion has COW
cred the entire field OF controversy
between the chief political organiza.
tions, save upon the silver coinage ques-
tion, concerning which there has been
little debate because OF practical unan-
unity regarding it in the state plat
forms.
What are the state issues? They
turn upon the demand for an honest
and economical administration OF the
state government, the reduction OF
taxes, the elimination of superhuous
officials and expensive commissions,
a just assessment of railroad property
and prompt collection Of taxes on the
sams. by a vigorous prosecution in all
instances Of default, and an equitable
reduction OF fares and freights by legis.
lative enactment.
In the nature of the case none OF the
parties has dared openly to take the
negative upon these propositions. They
are all obviously for the common veal;
but one of the parties has ignored most
OF them in its platform, and it is prop
erly put upon the defensive. Both the
Democratic and Populisr organizations
have arrsigned the Republican state
ticket as machine made" That the
convention which nominated Mr.. Estee
and his associates was dominated and
completely controlled by the most dis
reputable of bosses, Daniel NJ. Burns,
in cooperation with Christopher Buck
ley, whose career ia notoriously infa-
nous, is not denied by the Republican
press, and is. indeed. so universally &C
knowledged that there is no contro.
against the nominations made by the
Democrats and Populists has not been
attempted by the Republican press. be-
cause the charge would not be credited
for a moment by anybody. They ere
snti-southern Pacific candidates, NOM
mated upon anti-railroad platforms by
anti-railrosd conventions. There is no
pretsnse that this was true Of the Re-
publican convention, nor is true of it's
candidates. Mr.. Estee, forced by the
xigencies o! his canvass, was driven to
go outside of his party's platform in Or
der to make overtures to the anti-rail-
road sentiment which is entertained by
thousands of honest Republicans.
To hI;oaro af 1l 4
dress ourselves. To them we are war
ranted in saying that if they vote the
Sacramento ticket they must do 80 with
full knowledge that it ia one not die.
tated by the honest majority OF their
party, but one made up by ideal"
among unscrupulous rascals who expect
to reap personal and pecunisry advan-
tage from the election of the candidates
named. They cannot hope for reduc-
ton OF state taxes, because it is con-
tended by Mr.. Estee that the state gov
eminent has been economically admin
istered. They cannot hope that there
will be curtailmsnt of superfuous Of
fcials, because Boss Burns has promised
all of them tina. they shall be retained
in their jobs, and Estee will be obliged
to carry out his henchman's pledgea.
George A. knight will still draw his
$4,000 salary as legal advisor for
the state board of health-a prepcster-
ous sinecure. The high-salaried and
unnecessary state commissioner of i'm
migration and the ornamental but OK
pensive forestry commission will be re.
tained-and all the rest of them. The
circumstances attending the nomina-
tion oil the Republican state ticket
absolutely preclude the entertainment
OF rational hope that superfuous offic-
ials will be dispensed with and an op-
portunity afforded for a reduction OF
taxes. Burns and Buckley are engaged
politically ''for what there is in it.
Their rewards must come from the sal
aries and perquisites which attach to
public office. Their control OF the party
machine is based upon their ability to
pass around in generous quantities to
the faithful the pie OF public patronage.
Therefore they must have offices and
plenty OF them. This is one OF the most
exorbitantly taxed and expensively con.
Quoted states in the union, and it will
continue such until business methods
are invoked and applied to every detail
Of state government. To the latter the
Democratic state ticket is pledged, the
Republican ticket Is not.
Regarding the subject Of an equitable
assessment and speedy collection OF
railroad taxes the Republican platform
is as silent as though the people of CAL
ifornia had not been battling for nearly
a quarter of a century with q dishonest
corporation. The proper assessment
and collection Of these taxes is a matter
of supreme Importance to every individ-
ual in California. The expenees of the
state will have to DO paid. II the rail-
roads ahirk their part it means that
some other people less able to meet the
obligation will have to do 80. The rail-
roads enjoy great special privilege.
They are allowed to traverse the domain
of the people. 1t is privilege of inn
mense value. made 30 by thrift, inteli-
gence and industry of the people who
have DEVELOPED the country through
which the franchises extend. The cor
porations should be made to pay taxes
commemorate WITH the value OF the
MONOPOLY thus given them and thev