The record-union., 1895-10-31
10 MR.. LARUE AND MR.. STAN
TON.

TON
Gentlemen: For the sake of perspiouity,
the matters to which we desire your at
tention directed will be presented in the
form of q direct address to you. The
Attorney-General says he is ready to 60
on with the trial of the cause between
the Railroad Commission Of California
and the Southern Pacific Company. The
Issue at bar in that case is, Are the rates
of transportation which you have fixed
and which you threaten to establish just
and reasonable? Preliminary to this, how
ever, will be the question of the jurisdic
ton of the court to determine whether
your determination in matters of this
kind Is conclusively binding upon the
oonsoisnces of courts
The matter which is surprising to US
and to the people at large is that you ask
for further time. Have you not the
materials on which the Democratic Con-
vention which nominated you based its
platform? Did not that convention de-
clare that existing rates were unjust and
unreasonable? Did you not in the
presence of that convention-sach of you
the platform, and consent TO be pledged
that you would reduce these unreason-
ably high rates +? The question is now
pertinent, and in asking 1t we mean no
offense against your dignity as officers OF
the State or your probity as gentlemen?
Did you have the materials at that time
you approved the platform out Of which
to form a judgment concerning the just
ice or injustice Of the rates Of transporta-
ton then in force? If you did have the
materials. why are they not available
ample material out Of which you might
form the conclusions formulated In the
party platform and justify the pledge you
took, do you not stand convicted of the
practices of demagogues in a matter of
the highest concern affecting even the
rights of property and the natural justice
which should obtain between man and
man?
Later you met az a commission, and
you two gentlemen, Messrs. LsRue and
Stanton, by your votes, passed a resolu-
ton declaring that the rates OF transport
alton, when reduced % per cent. from
their existing status, would still be just
and reasonable. You had been in Office
then period OF nine months, and It is to
be presumed that you had given the
question thoughtful examination, and
that you knew whereof you were speak
Ing, and that the declaration of your in
tention to reduce % per cent. was based
upon natural justice, and upon your abil-
ity to show conclusively that the rates OF
transportation as established in this State
were too high by % per cent. Have you
not the materials you collected at that
time and which constituted the basis of
your action, at hand for use now in the
Circuit Court of the United States to
justify your declaration of intention to
reduce rates Is per cent. ? Again, the
question 10 not impairment when We ask
you If you should not stand convicted OF
demRgogism, of trifiing with a serious
matter. of pretending TO know that the
rates were too high when in reality you
did not know whether they were or not?
You viii therefore kindly pardon the
intrusion of these troublesome questions
upon your attention.
You perceive that the public was led to
believe that the convention which nomi-
fcient to warrant the declaration that
rates were too high. AS Commissioners,
your affirmation that they were too high
by % per cent. appeared to be sober
conclusion from hearing and determine
ton. But you will perceive that. when
you were called into court, where these
matters would undergo careful judicial
scrutiny, and calm. dispassionate judicial
judgment, you we're not ready for trial.
We think, and we also believe the public
will agree with US. that, since you de-
forcing reduction of Is per cent, your
declaration now that you are unprepared
to justify that act is conclusive evidence
that you had no materials upon which to
base that judgment. We are disposed to
think, and the public is disposed TO agree
with Us in that conclusion. that as 8 pair
of Democratic demagogues you had de-
termined to make the reduction in the in
terest of popularizing your party; that
you desired to force upon the railroad
systems of California an injustice in the
interest of electing Democrats to office
and securing Democratic supremacy In
this State.
This is serious charge, and one which