The morning call., 1895-02-03

heavy and diversified duties resting upon the
Legislature, then let municipal questions, en-
bracing the election of last year, be committed
to the municipality of San Francisco itself, TO
the Grand Jury now in session, and to the nom
partisan commission, provided for in the bill
submitted to the Legislature, ana, these mat
tiers being temporarily eliminated and disposed
of, let joint resolutions on the lines OF the
more comp extensive joint resolutions proposed
by this committee be forthwith adopted, d1-
recting an immediate legislative inquiry for the
purpose of rapidly gathering information into
any corrupt Influences, especially those OF the
railroad corporations, that, within the past
two years and down to the present time, have
affected the State government In its executive
and judicial departments, the committee 10
report on or before the end OF TINS month.
This course will narrow the issue for the pres
ent, so far as the Legislature is concerned, to
the most important range OF investigation tnat
can affect the State as whole, Will Involve
but little time or expense, Will secure 1nforma-
ton that will dispel or confirm the benef OF
the community in respect to inequality before
the law and the maladministrat1on OF State
offices, other than the legislative, ana, as
it appears to this committee, will respond TO q
practically unanimous public demand, ana
can only be opposed by those who are con
sciously guilty of practices that connlct Win
the fundamental rights of the people.
If the railroads can stiie inquiry into their
own methods and the results if any, that
touch litigation and official action, then let
this condition be made apparent that 1t
will at once be comprehended by every citizen
of every political faith. This, is the para
mount need of the times. and Will insure
equality and fairness to the new competing
railroad and to every class of our citizens.
This plan is not intended to supersede or IN
terfere with, and should not supersede or in
terfere with, the passage OF the measure
drafted by the Acknowledgement providing for
a non-partisan commission to conduct ana
finish the investigation during the recess OF
the Legislature, if that measure IS within the
constitution and laws and effective in its pro-
visions, but will constitute decided response
to a popular demand and to public need
Let our laboTs be brought to this point ana
few days viii determine whether they are to
be productive or ineffective. 1t is tull time TO
settle this question in the face OF the State and
of the country.
The address is signed by all the members
of the committee.
Mr. Highton says that II SUCH COM
mittee were appointed the committee
of eleven would place before it all the APP
propriate evidence it has received and
would render any assistance IN It's power.
eve want something practical, he said.
eve don't expect to make this commu-
nifty seraphic, and we have clrcumscrlbed
our efforts to the most important field.
at is current belief, at least, among the
people everywhere that the railroad does
exert wrongful and detrimental influence
in the directions we have mentioned. If it
is not so investigation can do no harm. Ii
it is so what is more important for the peo
pie to know? We want to see If an inves-
tigation of the railroad in the State is
really meant or not.
1--WE have sought to meet the views of
those who are talking about home rule.
We offer no opposition to the Waymire
bill, but we see strong feeling against
mixing State and city matters and we pre-
sent plan by which local abuses can be
left to the municipality"
The committee has taken no steps to
push its suggestion, but merely places it
thus before the public and the Legisla-
ture.