The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-05
A Gathering in the Mayors
Office to Discuss the Fund
ing Bill.
H. E. HIGHToN's SUGGESTION
metropolitan Temple on Saturday
Night Will Be the Scene OF
the Meeting.

Saturday evening to protest against TIE
enactment of the funding bill were taken
in Mavor Sutro's office at the new City
Hail where number of men prominent
in business and political circles had assem-
bled Yesterday in response to a call from
the Citv's chief executive. Among those
present we're: Mayor Sutro, Henry E.
Hiqhton. George X. Fitch, John NJ. Rey-
noids II. =. Hawks, George T. Gaden,
George W. Monteith, James H. Barry,
Colonel Thomas Barry, I. V. Gator and l.
J. Truman.
Mavor Sutro stated the object of the
meeting.
..This meeting has been called" ne said,
"as q preliminary step TO arouse the people
of our fair City to the dangers which
threaten US.
"A power has grown up in our midst
which has stolen our liberties and enslaved
US, and which threatens to perpetuate itself
for an indefinite period of time. That
power has grown more insolent and AFRO
CANT from year to year, and constitutes it.
self into tribunal which sits in Judgment
upon the fate of our fellow citizens who
have the hardihood to oppose it.
"So-called funding bills have been intro
duced in Congress and defeated in the last
two sessions. Congress has just met, and
we will in a few days see another funding
bill put in an appearance, OF what shape
and form we know not yet, but the object
of which will be to practically wipe out
the debt of the Pacific railroads.
"If such bill becomes law we might
as well don sackcloth and ashes and go
f,,-
TO come.
Now, what chances are there for the
passage of such a bill?
The people of this coast and of the
United States are opposed to it. They are
opposed to make present of eighty mil
lions OF dollars to these men who have
openly and defantIy robbed the Govern
ment. But there is supposed to be sack
in Westinghouse sack which may be de-
signed for bribery.
''Iti possible that this can be done.
III has been done before and may be
done again.
"The first thing to do for the lobbyist is
TO get control of the organization. A
Speaker may be elected who looks favor
ably on the railroads. II they have the
Speaker they may have the naming of the
Committee on the Pacific Railroads and
the Committee on Rules, and if they have
these they are a long way toward the &C
cOmplishment of their ends.
1T is true members will refuse to do
gross wrong Just before the Presidential
election. The political campaign viii not
be at fever heat until early in the summer.
and the lobby Will try to rush a bill
through Congress at the earliest moment.
What can VIC do to defeat it
1--WE can do great deal if we act
promptly and raise a small fund to defray
the printing expenses and those of agents
to be sent to Washington.
Il have twice helped to defeat the fund
ing bill by prompt and energetic action,
and we can do so again possibly II you all
stand by me.
"All the people are with US, and if we
act in concert we may win our liberties,
our fortunes and our honor from the future
rapacities of the octopus.
II have learned from private informa-
ton that powerful railroad lobby is now
at work in Washington, buttonholing
member as they appear for the session
just opened. They are trying to convince
the legislators that Eastern bondholders
are in favor of the funding bill, and unless
we watch carefully we shall see bill
passed giving the railroad 100 years at
per cent to pay its debts.
I'VE should hold mass-meeting to give
the people a chance to express their
no better place or time than Metropolitan
Temple on Saturday evening"
This suggestion seemed TO strike those
present favorabIy and was adopted. Many
other ideas were advanced to make the
meeting one that would give the entire
country full knowledge of the feelings of
San Franciscans on the subject of the rail-
road debt.
John NJ. Reynolds said that the Mayors
of all the prominent cities in the State
should be sent invitations to be present,
and that Mayor-elect Hubbard of Sacra-
mento who is believed to be anti-railroad,
should be given a special invitation.
George K. Fitch said that mass meeting
was the proper measure to give the people
an opportunity to vent their feelings. He
thought that a ringing call should be
issued and the matter should be given the
utmost publicity.
Mayor Sutro again took the floor.
There is growing movement through
out the country to limit the power of cor
porations,' he said, land to restrict the
corrupt methods by which their ends are
often gained. Political influence has
much to do with the latitude given them
and | believe that in 1900 we Will have a
President who will belong to neither of
the great political parties as they now
stand"
The opinion was expressed by several
l4dL pOIlLlCb SDOulU uOt NC dllOWtQ W tllI6I
into the movement under contemplation
and it was finally decided that at the mass
meeting no speaker should be allowed to
address the audience on any subject other
than the funding bill.
John NJ. Reynolds was elected secretary
OF the meeting and the following commit
tees were appointed:
On arrangements-JohnM NJ. Reynolds, George
7. Gaden and /. J. Truman.
On speakers-George K. Fitch, John NJ. Rey-
nolds and George T. Gaden.
Henry L. Highton spoke OF the diver
sions that had always arisen TO defeat
movement of this kind, and hoped that in
the present instance care would be taken
to keep out disturbing elements.
"a great mistake was made" he said,
"by the officials charged with the duty of
forcing the manipulators of the railroad TO
pay the Government its just dues. In
read OF bringing suit against the Stan
ford estate all of those who have fattened
and grown rich out of the railroads should
have been made codefendants in suit in
equity.
''All should have been brought together
before the highest tribunal in the land and
compelled to repay the money they have
stolen as trustees of the creditors OF the
one of whom is the Government