The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-11-04
LOS ANGELES HERALD SUNDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 4 1894

squeezing them for another century, In
consideration of which they would do IL
the future what they had failed to do in
the past. and that is, they would deduct
enough out OF the exorbitant profits
they would wiring from California ia
discharge their government obligations
This proposition was so outrageous thai
it was not considered possible that il
would receive serious attention from an
quarter. In this, however, we UNDER
estimated the persistence of MIR. @. p.
Huntington. The matter has become q
living and vital iasue. La the first
place the election OF United States
senator IN 1890. offered to the people OIL
this etate an opportunity OF sending 10
the senate man who would act fairly
and impartially as between them and the
fraudulent directors OF the several Pa.
cine railroads, in the adjustment of this
question. Whom did our Republican
friends select? Losking over the names
OF the great leaders OF their party and
men who are above suspicion and
selfish or corrupt methods, they
chose, to sit as juror in his
own case, and to pass upon QUESTION:
involving his own interests and his owl
honesty, and that of his copartners, as
well as questions involving his and their
fortunes-the president of the Central
Pacific Railroad company, Mr.. Leland
Stanford. From that time to this it has
been realized by every one in the etate
OF California that the people of this state
would be called on to speak in vigorous
terms upon this question before it could
be justly determined. At the last ses-
sion of congress and in its closing days O
bill was reported known as the Reilly
bill, which proposed to extend the time
OF payment for 80 years at per cent. 1t
is to be said concerning this bin that it
was almost unanimously reported, and
was concurred in by most OF the eastern
members OF the committee, irrespective
OF politics. 1t was, however, tied up in
the mouse and practically defeated by
the vigorous opposition OF the Democrat.
ic representative from the Fourth dis
trict of California, Hon. James q. Ma.
guire. MIR. Estee is both dlsingenuous
and unfair In stating that he is opposed
to the Reilly bill, which he cherao-
terzes as Democratic bill. He
certainly knew, as did every
member OF the Republican cons
vention at Sacramento, that while
the bill had not been reported at that
time; some such bill. or some bill treat
ing upon the question of the railroad in
debtedness to the government must
necessarily be reported. Notwithstand-
ing this fact the Republican convention
at Sacramento absolutely ignored ali
reference to the railroad Indebtedness.
The reason for this may perhaps be
found in the fact that large number at
least Of the delegates to that convention
went there upon free railroad passas.
and that the convention itself was DOM
mated and controlled by a corrupt ring.
and the sentiments of it's honest men,
bers, particularly from the country,
suppressed and disregarded by the cor
rupt political boss, who has secured con.
troll Of the Republican organization in
this state, and nominated the whole
ticket, and who ia now directing the
canvass in it's behalf. This man, him.
self of a tainted record, is as notorious
ly the servant and tool of the Southern
Pacific Railroad company as though he
wore its livery. As result of the con-
struction and ownership OF the two
lines to which | have referred, by Mr..
Huntington and his associates, the pro-
ducers OF the state OF California have
been taxed for a generation upon fioti.
tlUub anu Wabeteu ChDlthls amounting TO
more than $3.50. 0U0, 900.
In other words, when the producers OF
this state desire to ship anything over
this transcontinental line. they are re-
CURED to pay freight rates which will
not only be sufficient to enable the own
ers to receive fair return upon their
investment, but to enable them to pay
interes. and declare dividends upon
hor do op.l etO hiob oh talx
fictitious and represent pure water"
In the case of the Southern Pacific rail-
road, they built the road for less than
and subsequently Issued to themselves
1914 100000 of capital stock, and during
this last year of 1894, when most of the
been PROSTATE, they have not only paid
the bonds which represent the actual
coat of construction of the road, but
they have declared their usual divi.
dend OF 4 per cent upon their
$94 100000 OF capital stock. 1t
is for this reason that grossly outrageous
charges are made by them for freight
transportation. As an orange grower
am somewhat familiar with their exorb.
liant charges upon that product. Two
years ago l paid S240 an acre freight
upon every acre of oranges produced,
and the average rate paid by the orange
orchardsts in the San Gabriel valley
during that year was nearly $500 an acre.
j. A. Graves OF Alhambrs, who has an
eight-acre orange grove near Alhambra,
paid $640 an acre in freight, which can
be verified by anyone who will examine
hia fraioht hiila Whan wa demaud rQ.
lief from such charges and show to the
railroad freight agents that they are alb
eolutely destructive. we are met by the
assertion that the Southern Pacific COM
pany ia entitled to receive fair interest
testify untrue and grossly outrageous.
The people of this state would be
perfectly willing to pay them rates
which would enable them to receive
fair interest upon the actual value of
their investment. but when anything
further than this is demanded. it be-
comes robbery. The Democratic con.
vention, when 10 met, did not dodge or
evade this question. 1t unanimously
sdopted plank in its platform by which
it pledged each OF its candidates for
that il elected he would vote
not only against the so.called Reilly bill
should it atill be pending. but against
egsinet any other bill which proposed
to extend the time of payment of the
Pacific railroad debss; that he would
vote in favor of all legielation necessary
to arm tho government with the legal
power to foreclose its lien and bid in
tie Central and Union Pacific railroads.
and 10 maintain and operate them