The herald., 1895-01-09
A PROBLEM SOL WE'D.

|
that it Ia necessary to amend the consti-
tuition 70 enable counties to issue bonds
for shs purpose OF building railways.
Section Is of article XII OF the consti-
tuition provides that no county, city,
town. township, board OF education or
school district shall incur any indebted
neae or liability in any manner, or for
any purpose, exceeding in any year the
| income and revenue provided for it TOR
such year without the assent of two-
thirds of the qualified electors thereof
voting at an election to be held for that
purpose, nor unless, before or at the
time OF mourning such indebtedness,
provision shall be made for the colleo-
ton of An annual tax sufficient TO pay
the interest on such indebtedness as it
tails due, and also provision to coneti-
tute sinking fund Tor the payment of
the principal thereof on or before ma
turity, which shall not exceed forty
years from the time of contracting the
same.
Senator Mathews' bill 10 as followr:
An act to authorize the several counties of
this state to provide for the construction
and opera ion Of railroads within their
several counties, and to create bonded
indebtedness for that purpose
The people of the state of California repre-
sented in senate and assembly do enact as
follows:
SECTION L. The boards of supervisors of the
several counties of this state are hereby au-
thorized and empowered, if they deem it for
N ordinance
for the construction or purchase of a railroad,
or railroads, within the limits OF their re-
spective counties, and for the maintenance
and operation OF the same, and for that pur-
pose to issue bonds of the county therefor in
sums not less than ten and not more than one
thousand dollars each, and bearing rate of
interest not exceeding per cent per annum,
payable sem-annually, which bonds shall be
substantially in the form, and subject to the
provisions, so far as applicable, of the four
teenth subdivision OF section rs OF the "Act to
establish a uniform system of township and
county governments" But said ordinance
shall take effeet only upon the assent of two
thirds of the qualified electors OF each county,
voting at election to be held for that pur
pose and said ordinance shall, at the same
time, pr4vide for the collection of an annual
tax sufficient to pay the interest on such in
debt dness as it falls due, and to constitute
sinking fund for the payment of the principal
thereof on or before maturity, which shall not
exceed forty years from the time of issuing the
bonds, which sinking fund shall also be con-
stituted by the said ordinance.
SECTION 2. The boards OF supervisors OF the
several counties who may have constructed, or
may be about to construct, railroads joining
with each other and constituting Il CONTIGUOUS
line; may unite together for the purpose OF
jointly o eratng the same as continuous road,
either permanently OF for such term as they
agree upon, and for such purpose the said
boards OF supervisors are authorized to provide
by ordinance for written agreement 10 be ex-
ecuted by their several presidents and secre-
taries, providing for such joint operation and
prescribing how the same shall be carried out,
and the terms and conditions OF its mansg
! ment And thereupon the said counties shall
constitute a corporation for the purpose of
| operating said road under and according to the
| terms OF said agreement, and the directors of
| said corporation shall consist OF one or more
members of each board, to be determined by
| the said agreement, the number of directors
from each county to be, as nearly as possible
in proportion to the mileage in said county.
SECTION 3. The said railroads shall be held
and owned by the several counties to which
they belong by inalienable title, and shall be
! exempted from all taxation. Nor shall the
board of supervisors OF any county have the
power to sell, hypothecate, lease or otherwise
cucumber them.
L. will be readily observed that tbs
important matter OF this bill is con-
tanned in section 2, providing for corpo.
rate formation of the counties, by which
continuous lines many be constructed
through those counties. This is net
idea in legislation of this character, and
if acted upon hastens the consumma-
! ton OF state ownership OF railroads.
BY combination the counties can accom-
plish nore than by individual effort
and lessen to minimum the original
tax, while the profit of their operation
not only wipes ont the debt, but, as
county property, eventually secures to
the general fund an income proportion
ate 20 ths business of the road.
The plan is we'll digested. 1t has not
been put forward by visionaries and
theorists. 1t is not gallery play"
1t is measure that appeals directly to
the people, for it has been drawn in
hearty approval and support. II it be-
comes a law there will be no longer ne
cessity for railroad enterprise by pri-
vate corporations. The people will con-
troll the transportation business OF the
state.
What the Legislature will do with the
measure can only be surmissd. II they
are honest representatives OF the people
they will pass it without serious mutt
lation. The central idea OF the measure
lie government ownership as opposed to
corporate monopoly. 1t is a measure
which delivers the peoples business
into the peoples hands.
THE HERALD believes that the legisla
trre will deal honestly by the county
railroad bill and that it will become .
law. We boleve that the people OF Cal
iiornia are about to be emancipated
from the thraldon and oppression O
Huntington and his corporation. It il
the first glimmer OF dawn that hat
been long and anxiously awaited by tn,
people; it ID a declaration OF independ
enoe and a magma charss of popular
liberty.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ELEC.
TON.
how ~ har fvxl