The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-13
SCORING OF A LOBBYIST.
The Attorney for the San Joa-
quin Line Takes Up the
CudgelS and Wins.
SCENE IN A CAPITAL HOTEL.
The Action of the Monopoly In Chok-
ing New Enterprises Set Forth
in Argument.

SACRAMENTO, March PA most dra-
matte encounter took place tonight in the
lobby of the Golden Eagle Hotel between
Colonel Preston, the attorney for the San
Joaquin Valley railroad and C. w. Cross,
the attorney for the Southern Pacific Com
pany.
The trouble occurred through Preston's
overhearing Cross say that the request of
the new road for terminal facilities was
one of the biggest steals on record.
Mr.. Preston at once took up the cudgels
for the company he represents, and for a
time it seemed as if the two learned but
excitable gentlemen would come TO blows.
Mr.. Cross was at first on the offensive.
His guards were beaten down by the argu-
ments of his opponent, however, and
eventually he became quite conciliatory.
The debate, which lasted over an hour
and half, filed the lobby of the hotel
with curious men and boys. Legislators,
hackmen, lawyers, drummers and bell
boys all elbowed each other to get near the
disputants.
For time it was impossible to enter
the hotel and the great crowd grew as
much excited as did the two lawyers
Cross admitted that the Southern Pacific
Idu SIIOuS 1ODDy WOIkluS 10 ueledb the
passage of the bill of the valley road
He admitted what the Assemblyman de-
MED on the floor of the House this morn
ing, that he had talked with Reid of
Trinity in the library about the bill. He
was also forced to admit that the argu-
ments prepared so carefully by the rail-
road lobby and rehearsed in the Assembly
were not well founded.
Mr.. Cross had been talking with party
of friends, and at last the subject of the
valley road came up.
THAT whole Mission Bay proposition in
one OF the biggest steals on record" an
nounced Mr.. Cross.
What's that?'' demanded Mr.. Preston,
| who was sitting near.
Cross repeated his statement, when Pres
ton hotly replied: IF it is so it is being
fought by band of the biggest thieves the
sun ever shone on. You say it is a steal,
sir, but nobody else seems to think so be-
sides the Southern Pacific and the large
lobby that's here who are paid to do So"
The two men glared at each other
angrily and a word would have caused
blow. Each had started from his seat and
their neighbors gathered about them, wait
ing eagerly for developments. Then Pres
| ton exclaimed:
What is your name2"
my name is Cross. What is yours7"
'My name is Preston"
The whole state of affairs then exhibited
itself to the two gentlemen. Neither was
willing to recede from his position, and
| battle royal ensued.
81 repeat my assertion, then" said Mr..
Preston. "The only men declaring this
proposition to be steal are the Southern
Pacific lobby of which you, sir, are the
head.
"We have all seen Byron Waters, ellis,
Martin and others drumming the argu-
ments of their employers into the ears of
the members of both houses, and we have
| all heard of your activity
Cross did not deny that the railroad
lobby was working against the valley road,
although Preston openly charged them
with trying to defeat the bill by delays.
He protested: "But there can be no doubt
that the bill is unconstitutional"
1T was left for the Southern Pacific to