The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-26
MAYOR SUTRO AND
THE LITTLE JOKER.
The DANGER THAT THREATENS
THIS CITY IN A NEWLY
PASSED LAW.
MEANS A MILLION A YEAR.
How THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC COM
PANY WOULD TAX THE
PUBLIC ANEW.

Mayor Sutro has written and addressed
the following letter to the citizens of San
Francisco:
To the Public: 1t is extraordinary 10 witness
the apathy OF the general public in affairs that
vitally affect its interests. 1t is only aroused
10 realization of the danger after the mischief
is done.
If the citizens of San Francisco knew the
danger that is threatening they would raise
the alarm and assemble in public halls to pro-
d test against tax amounting to more than
9I,OoO,OOO per annum which the men, women
and children will be made to pay into the
treasury OF the Southern Pacific of Kentucky
Assembly bill 702, which courageous Senator
Blggy publicly denounced on the floor of the
State Senate as corrupt measure of the octo-
pus, was rushed through the Senate and
through the Assembly whilehe was gone TO San
Francisco to perform the sad duty OF placing
his dead sister in the grave.
A gentleman employed by me to watch legis-
iaIon at sacramento reported at the time as
follows:
Bill 1902 as amended by the Senate, had sufi-
Client opposing votes beat it, but the officers OF
the Senate delayed the announcement of the vote
for at least twenty minutes to allow a Senator 10
make thorough canvass in order to get two votes
winch passed the bill. OF all the Infamous pro-
ceedings ever witnessed this the worst. The
| bill was Immediately rushed TO the Assembly
few moments before the adjournment for lunch.
then teIegraphed you in substance as above. After
lunch fastened back to the Assembly, but the
| moment the House called to order the bill was
sprung, ana the same farce was enacted as in the
Senate. The clerk, though repeatedly called TO
announce the vote, delayed it until the combine"
could get around and by threats and otherwise
compel at least twelve Assemblymen to change
their votes, which resulted in the passage of the
bill.
The octopus lobby spread the report that the
bill, as amended in the Senate, was shorn of
all mischievous tendencies especially as it
| permitted the McCoppin act to stand. But it
| took good care to push the amended bill
through both houses with vigor that plainly
showed Fourth and Townsend street was deeply
interested in its passage.
Now let US analyZe the bill. 1t changes the
| Civil Code in three ways.
First-It leaves out the word CONSECUTIVE
where it refers to five blocks on the same
street, which two different street railroads may
| jointly occupy.
second-It allows a speed of twelve miles an
hour, instead of eight, as now provided.
Third-''The rates of fares on the cars must
not exceed cents for one fare for any distance
under three miles"
| The first two clauses, as of minor importance,
will not discnss, but the third, if enacted into
a law, would be calamity TO the prosperity of
San Francisco
The octopus, in attempting to pass an in
sld1ous law, usually manages to hide the true
object by unimportant provisions, as in this
case: 1.-THE cars must be of the most approved
construction for the comfort and convenience
OF passengers, and provided with brakes to
stop the same when required thus giving the
impression that the bill is greatly in the in
terest OF the public, while the Joker" worth
millions of dollars, comes in a few innocent
words-a five ~ cent fare for any distance not
less than three miles.
The McCoppin act, now part OF the Civil
CODE, provides that no street railroad company
"shall be allowed TO charge or collect d higher
rate of fare than five ~ cents for each pas
senger per trip OF any distance in one dfrec-
ton, either going or coming, along any part
of the whole length Of the road or its connec-
tons"
If bill 1902 in spite of the fact that it de-
clares the McCoppin act still in force, becomes
law, its provisions will supersede all previous
legislation.
So it is held by good lawyers, and their
opinion is in accord with Chancellor Kent, who
uses the following language;
But it may be remarked, upon this case of FitZ-
gibbon, that proviso repugnant to the purview OF
the statute renders it equally nugatory and void as
a repugnant saving clause and it is difficult to see
why the act should be destroyed by the one and not
clause, when inconsistent with the body OF the act
should not both then be equally rejected.
1t will then be readily seen that this last act
will prevail, and 5-cent fare may be collected
for each three miles. 1t will do away with all
transfers; it will enable the octopus to again
charge two fares to the ocean and for any
distance over three miles, and thereby fleece
our people out OF more than $1,oOO,OOO ad-
d1tlonal to what we are now paying into the
Market-street combine
Do you know what that means? 1t means
the retarding of the growth of San Francisco:
it means the depreciation of real estate; it
means worse 1mpoyerishment of our people,
especially the working classes, who even now
are trOdden in the dust.
This bill is in the hands of the Governor,
who, have no doubt, will veto it. Such pres
sure, however, is being brought to bear upon
him through the octopus directly, and even
more indirectly, that he might yet be misled
Two ex- Mayors OF San Francisco went specially
to Sacramento to urge the Governor to sign this
bill, both gentlemen honorable and ignorant
that they were acting ambassadors for the
octopus, when they urged the necessity of this
measure becoming law in the interest of the
bondholders OF the Los Angeles electric road,
who, in order to protect themselves thought
the word CONSECUTIVE" should be stricken
from the code.
Let every man and woman, whether &C.
quainted with the Governor or not, telegraph
Immediately TO him to veto this iniquitous
measure and save our fair city from a greater
calamity than has ever before befallen it. Yours
respectfully. ADoLPH SUTRo
San Francisco, March %, 1895.