The herald., 1895-01-08
TEXT OF THE MEASURE.
Each County Will Own by Inalien-
able Title.
Taxation VIII Re Rsducsd Mstcria:1ys
The Only Plan That SCANS to
ORer Any Hope TO the
shipper.


Senator Mathews OF Los Angeles
viii! INTRODUCES the following bill ~
soon as the file ia called in the legis-
lnture:
An Act to authorize the several counties OF this
state to provide for tho construction and
operation of railroads within their several
counties, and TO create bonded indebted
ness for that purpose.
The people OF tho state of California, repre-
senled in senate and assembly. do enact -
follows:
SECTION L. The boards of supervisors of the
several counties OF tnss state are hereby author
lied and empowered, il they deem 1t for the
public interest, to provide by ordinance for the
construction or purchase of a railroad. or rail-
roads, within the limits of their respective
counties. and for the maintenance and opera
Iiop OF the same, and for that purpose to issue
bonds of the county therefor in sums not less
than ten and not more than one thousand dol
lars each, and bearing rate OF interest not
exceeding per cent per annum, payable semi
annually, which bonds shall be substantially
in thu form. and subject 90. the provisions, so
far as applicable, OF the fourteenth subdivision
of section rs OF the .Act TO establish uniform
system of township and county governments"
But said ordinance shall take effect only u pom
the assent of two.thrds OF the qualified cleo
tors of each county, voting at an election to DO
held for that purpose. and said ordinance shall.
at the same time, provide Tor the collection OF
an annual tax sufficient to pay the interest on
such indebtedness as it fallB due, and to con-
stitute y sinking fund for the payment of the
principal thereof on or before maturity, which
shall not exceed forty years from tho time OF
issuing the bonds, viii CHI sinking fund shall
also he constituted by the said ordinance.
SECTION 2 The boards OF supervisors Of the
several counties who may have contributed, or
may be about to construct railroads joining
with each other and constituting a continuous
line, NAV unite together for the purpose OF
jointly operating the sans continuous
road, either permanently OF ior gu term a.
they may agree upon, anu for such plrpose the
said boards OF supervisors AUTHORIZED to
provide by ordinance for written agreement
to be executed by their several presidents and
secretaries, providing for such joint operation
and prescribing how the SAM ebnll be carried
out aud the terms and conditions of its man
agement. And thereupon The said counties
shall constitute corporation for thu purpose OF
operating said road under and according to the
.erms OF said agreement and the directors OF
said corporation shall consist of one more
members f each board, to be determined by
the said agreement. the mum her of directors
from each county to be. MS nearly ms possible.
In proportion to the m leags in said county.
SECTION g. The said railroads shall be he'd
and owned By tho several counties 10 which
they belong by inalienabie title, and sh Ill DO
| exempted from all taxation. Nor shalt the
board of supervisors Of any county have the
power to sell, hypothscate, lease or otherwise
! cucumber them.
| THE RAILROAD TAX.
THE HERALD iudorses thia msasure a.
one which seems to offer thu hope OF .
speedy and efactual release to the ship
pers and producers of California from
the inordinate and UNDESIRABLE tax im-
poaed upon them by the railroad mo.
nopoly.
1t has been hitherto supposed that
constitutional amendment would be-
necessary before any atep looking to
the construction and operation by the
people of a railroad owned by them
could hs taken. To do this would res
quire long time, and time IL very inn
poYtsnt element In the problem con-
fronting the ovcrburdensd industries Of
this ata.o.
If, therefore, any bill can be passed
which will enable the people to under
take their commercial enfrsnchiasment
without unnecessary delay, it will be
hailed with universal approval. Such
bill THE HERALD believes ID the one
printed this morning.
THE HERALD does not believe any me-
ceasity for constitutional amendment
exists.
THE EXISTING LAW.
Section IS Of article XII OF the stata
constitution resds ns follows:
Section IS. No county, city, town. township.
hoard of education or school district shall In
Cur INV ind ,btedness or liability, in any man
ner, or for any purpose, exceeding in any year
the income and revenue provided for il for
such year without THE ASSENT OF Two
THIRDS OF TaR QUALIFIED ELECT0RH
THEREOF, voting at nm election 70 DO held
for that purpose. nor unless before or at the
time OF incurring such indebtedness. provision
shall DO msde for the CO lection Of snnual -