The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-01-08
THE OLD BOARD GOES.
New Railroad Commissioners
Take Office.
BECkMAN'S PROTEST. FILED.
He Thinks a Recount Would Surely
Elect Him.
no NEW APPOINTMENTS YET MADE.
The Old Office Men Will Be Retained
fer the PreSent-Little Bust.
ness Done.

About the most important action of the
old Board of Railroad Commi ssi0ners since
its induction into Office occurred yesterday,
when 1t gave way tie the newly elected
board. There were many who anticipated
a lively row from the announced intention
OF Commissioner William b. ckman to con-
test the seat 10 which III. M. La Rue was
elected, but the interest was not sufficient
to draw out very large crowd.
The past year has not been one of great
achievement by the old b0ard-at least not
when it is viewed from the standp int of
the public. The meetings were infreQuent
and usually of but little import, it fire.
Quently being the case that quorum OF
the board failed to materializs when the
day Of meeting arrived.
There still hangs on the docket" sew
eral cases which will be turned over TO the
incoming board as legacies. They are
mostly cas- es in which The Southern Pacific
Company is charged with scrimnatiOn
or other unlawful acts. and which have
been up for hearing at various times, but
never satisfactorily settled.
When the old board met at Ii o'clock
yesterday morning all the preliminary ar
raugemeDts had been made for turning
over the business TO the members of its
successor. All that remained 10 be done
was to await the coming of the new men,
bers, who arrived at about ] O'Clock and
Immediately took their seats with but little
for 10 atty.
The members O; the old board retired,
when William Beckman gave the new or
ganiZati0n the following reasons why he
believes Mr.. La Rue should not be in.
stalled a. member
To the Honorable Board of Railroad Com.
specially but earnestly protest against the in.
stallatiOn OF the Hon. Il. M. La Rue 10 the
office OF Railroad Commissioner for the First
Railroad District OF California and against his
assumption OF the duties OF that Office upon the
following grounds:
THAI said Hon. Fl. NJ La Rue has never
been elected 10 said Office by majority or
plurality nf thu votes of The qualified electors
OF said First Railroad District; [2) that the
certificate of election Issued to HIM by the Sec.
retaly of State Is based upon false returns
fraudul' nly mad" by officers OF election, who
have certified 10 votes fraudulently cast and
TO returns which do not CORE city represent
the votes of the several precincts of said
districts; (3l that in said district the
have been counted against your protestant
and certified 10 as a part Of the returns OF said
election, and in said district votes which have
en- lawfully cast for your protestant have not
been counted for or credited to him in making
up The returns upon which said certificate of
election is based a. that the votes unlawfully
counted Tor ana CfpQlteQ 10 the SAID ii on. ii.
NJ. La Rue were sufficient to change The result
OF said election In favor OF protestant; To- that
the votes lawfully cast for your protestant and
not counted in his favor were sufficient, If they
had been counted or him, 10 have changed tn
result OF the election in his favor; (6) hat your
protest mt claims that he Is the lawfully
elected Railroad commissioner for said dis riot
and entitled 10 hold and exercise the duties OF
said office for the ensuing term.
Mr.. Beckman called the attention of the
board to the fact that, according to the
face Of the returns. as certified to by the
Secretary of State, Mr.. La Rue's total
vote was placed at 81, 527, while his own
was 1883 This, he went on TO state,
IA votes, and he felt satisfied recount
would result in his election by a plurality
OF thousands.
When w. r. Clark of Stockton appeared
at the roams of the board he found that
neither of bis fellow-members had We; ar
rived, but q few minutes later DR.. Stanton
aud Mr.. "A Rue arrived, and Mr.. Beck
man Immediately called attention to his
protest and indicated his wish that it be
filed.
MIR. La Rue, the member at whom the
protest is directed, iacularly remarked that
it was all right. Every one has right
to file protest." said ne.
But / want vote taken on my pro-
test said Mr.. Beckman.
necessary, 10 which Mr.. Bsckman re-
sponded that in this matter Mr.. La Rue
was not proper or compe ent Judge.
DR.. 5 anton here interposed with the re-
mark that be didn't see how they could
take any action until after they had organ
led, and then made motion that Mr.. La
Rue be made temporary chairman.
Mr.. Clark agreed TO this and it was then
concluded that Secretary Kelly. Bailiff
S afford and Stenographer Lombard should
continue in their positions until their sue
cessors should be appointed.
The present ation of Mr.. Beckman's pro-
test ELECTED but little comment. as its con-
tents were pretty fully understood before
the document was read.
1t is said that two reports have been
forwarded to the Legislatures majority
and minority opinion. The former is
merely the usual review of work that has
been acc mplshed. while the latter is
signed by Mr.. Rea. and, according 10 that
gentleman's statement, 1t contains some
mighty interesting reading.
An adjournment was taken until Tues
day at 2 o'clock. After the NEE ting the
new Commissioners stated that no under
standing had yet been arrived at as 10
new appointments.