The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-15
Mr.. HUNTINGTON'S VISIT.

Now that c. P. Huntington may visit
San Francisco without fear of arrest, it may
be interesting and instructive for him to
know, from a source other than his agents
and sycophants, what are the matters
which might profitably receive his atten-
ton. There are many of these, but there
are few of special importance to which
his notice should be drawn. 1t may or
may not be his desire to adjust them in
such a manner as to bring about better
feeling between his railroad and the pub
lic, and he may or may not be willing to
regard any interests other than those of
the Southern Pacific Company. In any
event it is well for him to know what is 60
ing on.
One of the most pressing of recent oc-
currences is the scandalous zeal displayed
BY eight members of the San Francisco Board
of Supervisors in the interest of the Market
street Railway Company, which is the
most important of all the branch concerns
of the Southern Pacific. Not only has this
company been Selling streets without any
color of right or law, thereby rousing the
bitter animosity of the people, but it has
so conducted itself as to shock and outrage
tons which it is generally believed to have
established with what is derisively called
the Solid Eight of the board. These off,
GERS, in their manifest zeal to serve IN
terests for which Mr.. Huntington is re-
spoDsible, have openly defed and abro-
gated the laws in order to grant special
favors of great value for Mr.. Huntington's
benefit. In that pursuit they have given
and propose to give to the Market-street
Railway Company franchises for streetcar
lines illegally, and, it is generally believed,
corruptly, and in that pursuit have so
scandalized and outraged the sense of
decency of the community as to become
objects of attack, through the courts, by
the Grand Jury and by bodies of citizens
of the highest class organized to drive cor
ruption out of the City and send as many
scoundrels as possible to the penitentiary.
That is one matter for Mr.. Huntington's
consideration.
Another is the extraordinary action of
the Democratic majority OF the Rail-
road Commission. These gentlemen were
pledged before the election to reduce
freights within the State at least % per
cent, to reduce freight classifcations at
least half, and to institute such other re-
forms as might be proper. They have
failed to do so, with the inevitable result
of rousing the indignation of the public
and pointing threatening and angry fin
ger at the long history of the Southern
Pacific as the director of the conduct of
public officers. This is malodorous scam
dial, and it reflects directly upon the in
tegrity apd honorable name OF the South
ern Pacific Company's president. to say
nothing of the serious bearing it may have
on the welfare of the State.
Still another matter is the proposed
action of the State to GUST the Southern
Pacific from the possession of the Mission
Bay tide lands, which, it is asserted, are
held by that company under an unjust
and illegal tenure, and therefore to the
great prejudice of the State and City.
Doubtless Mr.. Huntington can devise
some plan for restoring these valuable
lands to their rightful owners, the people.
Abandonment and surrender of claim
would probably be the simplest, as that
would save the heavy expense of litiga-
ton.
There are many other matters of less
grave nature. One is the belief that the
Market-street Railway Company aban-
doned its electric road south of the park
for the purpose of harassing Mr.. Sutro and
preventing the State from accepting his
handsome gift of thirty acres of valuable
land for the Affiliated Colleges. That
matter has a very mean and contemplate
look, and is deserving of Mr. Huntington's
notice.