The morning call., 1895-02-03
A NEW NQUElTlOA.
Plan to Look Into Railroad
Corruption.
REAL And QUICK ACTION.
The Committee Of Eleven Presents a
Substitute.
Ii SAYS "DO SOMETHING OR QUIT"
An Address Asking an Investigation That
Will Let This City Take
Care of Itself.

HcW Ildu ny WHICH lQe Legislature Inlay
investigate public corruption through a
joint committee, and its plan was en-
bodied in a long and strong address to the
public and to the Legislature.
The subcommittee on the Legislature,
consisting of Henry E. Highton, Joseph
Leggett and A. w. Thompson, presented
to that body some days ago a broad con-
current resolution providing for a joint
committee of seven to investigate the cleo
ton frauds and the alleged corruption in
the Police and Fire departments of San
Francisco, and in the legislative, executive
and judicial branches of the State Govern
ment. The resolution has not been heard
of at Sacramento since. In the meantime
the Waymire bill has come to the front,
together with a rapidly growing opposition
to State interference in local affairs, and
sentiment in favor of letting San Francisco
take care of itself.
This strong evident public sentiment has
changed the ideas of the committee of
eleven as to what is best and most prac-
tlcabie. 1t now proposes JOINT COM
mittee which shall confine itself to a sharp
and comparatively brief investigation of
the oft-repeated charges that the Southern
Pacific Company corrupts and controls by
various means the judicial and executive
officers of the State. A specific investlga-
ton of the corrupting influences OF the
railroad is proposed. The committee
takes its hands off local affairs and lets the
Waymire bill take care of itself, though it
suggests doubt of the constitutionallty OF
| that measure.
The committee says in effect that if
something besides talking is not done it is
ready to quit, and that the most important
thing to be investigated by the Legisla-
ture is the ways of the railroad with State
officials and the courts. The plan does
not ask the Legislature to investigate the
relations of the railroad company to itself.
The address, which was written by
Henry Z. Highton, recites the appoint
ment of the committee at the mass meet
ing held January II and the formulation
| of its plan of investigating abuses in State
and municipal affairs. The address pro-
ceeds to say:
No investigation can be of substantial or
permanent benefit to the State that does not
| include the actual disclosure of illegitimate
and fraudulent influence, If it exists, by the
railroad managers and representatives and by
all other persons in the administration OF the
law and in the management of public affairs
| by the three departments of the State Govern
ment, legislative, executive and judicial.
| Such an investigation, circbmscribed but
| pointed and complete, is practicable, and can
| be made effective, through concentration and
action, within reasonable limits, but prompt,
| searching and real
| The present movement toward the construc-
| ton of q genuine competing railroad in the
| San Joaquin Valley, and the corresponding
| evidences of enterprise in other directions are
warmly appreciated by this committee as of
great and durable value to the public:
| 1fnow the press and all citizens who desire
| to promote the important interests OF the peO-
| pie and to reduce all monopolies to equality
before the law and in the administration OF
| public affairs, viii heartily and potentially
| back this committee, provincialism and
corruption can be eradicated, or, at least, re-
! duced, and the municipality and the State re-
fl.nf do i'm f
TEN of government, equally and honestly ad-
| miniStered.
But, unless genuinely and firmly backed, our
! efforts will disappear in the papers we have
| formulated, and, while good has already been
accomplished, and more benefit undoubtedly
viii result, from the reforming agencies en-
| gagged in various directions, and, notably from
| the construction OF new charter for san
| Francisco, the chief necessity of the times will
be overlooked and the principal corruptionists
| will escape
The address takes whack at Legislative
y-dallying and at the railroad opposi-
| ton to investigations as follows:
Time has rapidly passed since January II,
| 1895, and down to the present minute. While
| there has been much talk of investigation, and,
on important lines, much preliminary sklr-
| mishing has been done, not q practical or de-
finite step has been taken toward the puriti-
| cation of the law and of the administration OF
| the public business in any of the departments
| of the State or municipal government. The
| Legislative session is well advanced.
/
committee, so far as we have been able to learn,
| have not even been introduced into the Assem-
| bly,. The original Senate resolution against
the funding bill was inadequate and did not
| represent the opinions and the wants OF the
| people The bill, for a non-partlsan commits
sion prepared by the Attorney will
necessarily pass through the stages OF legiSla-
| ton, will be retarded in every way that rail
road ingenuity can devise, and by the time tits
adopted (f it should be adopted) and approved
| by the Governor, the investigation for which it
/ is to provide will be thrown over the session.
This is undoubtedly what the railroad cor
ruptionists and other leading corruptionists
| hope and expect What we desire and what
| we understand the public to desire is a broad
and incisive inquiry, not necessarily to be
| completed before the Legislature adjourns; but
! to be prosecuted to definite and speedy ends,
and report, sustained by facts to be submit
ted in time for that legislative or other action,
| for which it is unsafe to wait.
The duties resting upon the members of this
| committee exact from them time, labor and
money, and are by no means to be coveted, but
| if they can be performed in such way as to
| elicit truth, which will either dlss1pate or JUS
/ tify the fears and the belief of the public, and
which will bring about the very moderate re-
! forms essential to justice under the law, to
4 honesty, efficiency and economy in official
| conduct, and to the restoration to each indi-
vidual citizen of his fundamental rights under
| the American system, no sacrifice OF labor
would be too great. Ii, however, they have to
| be discharged under an obstructive weight of
apathy and indifference, as respects the special
| branches of the popular movement in which
|
posed investigation is to end in smoke, then
| the work had better be abandoned or trans
| ferred to more competent hands and this COM
hittee relieved from further responsibility.
at has become imperative that we bring
our deliberations to head and either pro-
coed or STOP" observes the committee with
emphasis
| We propose to ascertain now and here,
! finally, so far as this committee is concerned,
| whether no the popular movement we have
| been appointed to represent is to be continued
| to any extent through this committee, and II 1t
| is then we request that we be substantially
| backed by the press and by all good citizens,
| who understand our programme, in our de-
| mands for immediate and decided action, as
| follows:
| Ia The introduction into the Assembly OF the
| Joint resolutions taken TO Sacramento by our
| subcommittee on legislation.
| o. The adoption of those or of similar reso-
| lutions by both houses OF the Legislature, ana
the selection of the joint committee under
them by the two houses themselves, and outof
/ their best material.
| (c) The organization of the joint committee
| and the prosecution of their work without de-
| lay relaxation.
/ la The submission of a report, including the
/ testimony taken, to the Legislature, at least
two weeks before its adjournment.
This is repetition of the first plan, but
| it is followed by the new plan, which is