The herald., 1895-01-08

suficient TO pay the interest on such indebted
ness as 1t fails due, sud also provision to con
stitute a sinking fund Tor the paymen, of the
principal thereof on or before maturity, which
shall not excsed forty years from the time OF
contracting the same Any Indebtedness OF
liability incurred contrary to this provision
shall be void.
The bill provides all the require.
ments of this article. Each county
building a railroad will own it by in
alienable title. The earnings of the road
will 90 into the general fund. and in
time materially reduce taxation. The
road cannot be aold, leased or mort
gagged. and will become at once perfect
regulator OF freights and fares.
The boards of supervisnrs. elected by
the people and near ct hand and easy of
access, will be charged with the econom-
ical management.
Competent operators can be employed
chesply, and there can be no practical
difficulty in the arrangement OF details.
BENEFITS ASSURED.
The benefits to be derived are obvious
and numerous.
The bill will of course be opposed by
the monopoly and by those timid souls
who are 90 unressonably suspicious of
propositions looking to the ownership
by the people OF the great agencies of
modern commerce. As to the opposi-
ton OF the monopoly. that must be ex-
pected, and as to that of the timid and
conservative it really does not amount
TO much.
All the world knows that we are upon
the threhhold of radical and progressive
legislation in the direction of municipal
ownership of light. water. transporta-
tion and many other public necsssities.
State ownership OF railroads is not
even an untried experiment, an d it of
fsrs the only possible remedy for the
transportation ills from which we are
now suffering in this state.
1t will doubtless be urged that the
proposed bill il in conflict with section
81 OF article w of the constitution, but
Q careful reading OF the latter article
will show that such ia not the case.
Each county will own its railroad
and the mere privilege granted of enter
ing into Q contract with an adjoining
county for continuous operation will
not prevent the issue of bonds for build
ing and maintenance.
NOT IN CONFLICT
No credit 10 loaned or given to the
eounties % far % the joint or continuous
operation lie concerned. but only as in
the case Of q county road to build and
operate its own railroad.
OF one thing, however. we may rest
assured. No bill can ever be passed
which looks to breaking the power of
the Huntington tyranny which will not
be opposed and fought both in the legis-
lature and in the courts.
No possible harm can come from the
enactment Of this bill.
Let the legislature do its duty by re-
spending to the unanimous desire Of the
people for prompt legislation on this
subject, and the duty of the judicial de.
partmsnt will be . subject for subse-
quent consideration.
When the bill becomes law, come
superservicsable Citizen will doubtless
be found to test the legality of the bond
Issue. and the oonstitutionality Of the
law will be promptly determined.
If it ia unconstitutional. the opinion
of the supreme court will be OF value in
pointing out the necessary amendment.
and the day will be hastened when the
peopls of California will secure what
they unanimously demand-relief from
tho domination Of q corrupt and greedy
railroad corporation.