The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-22
WATCHING THE RAILROADS
Efforts Will Be Made to Have the
Pacific Lines Pay Their
Debts.
Editor Rosewater Of the Omaha "Bee
Asks What This City Will Do
About the Matter.

Editor E. Rosewater of the Omaha Bee
in letter to Mayor Sutro intimates that
the people of his section of the country
will make a determined effort before the
Fifty-fourth Congress to prevent the re-
funding of the Indebtedness Of the trans
continental lines, and that he himself will
be in Washington to look after matters.
He thinks that concerted action should
be taken by the cities on the lines OF the
Pacific roads, and also by the States
traversed by them, to prevent the passage
of laws count en- ancing refunding schemes
that would legalize the present capitalize
ton of the road. The communication
reads as follows:
OMAHA, Nov. Is, 1895.
Hon. Ad0lph Sutro, Mayor, San Francisco
CaL-DEAR Sir: What if any action is contem-
plated by yourself and the citizens OF san
Francisco regarding the proposed settlement
OF the Pacific Railroad debt? You have dou BIT
less noted the recommendations made by the
Government directors OF the Union Pacfhc
Railroad and the scheme OF reorganization by
the Vanderbilt syndicate. 1t seems to me that
all the people west of the Missouri are vitality
concerned in the winding up OF the Union and
Central Pacific railroads. My position for the
last ten years has been that the mortgages
should be foreclosed and the roads sold 10 The
highest bidder and operated on an actual value
basis, under such restrictions as might be
deemed necessary Tor the protection OF the
patrons OF the road and the prevention OF eX-
cessive rates.
l consider any scheme of reorganization that
simply proposes the refundlng OF the present
colossal debt and continuance OF the excessive
exactions to pay fixed charges on fictitious
valuations as menace to the country traversed
by the Pacific roads. 1t seems TO me some
concerted action should be taken by the cities
on the line of the Pacific railroads, as well as
States traversed by the roads, TO impress upon
Congress the popular demand Tor relief and,
if possible, to prevent the passage OF any law
schemes that would legalize the fraudulent
capitalization OF the Pacific railroads.
expect 10 be in Washington soon after Con-
gress convenes, and would like to hear from
you at an early day. Very truly yours.
Z. RosEwATER.
Mayor Sutro said yesterday that while
other weighty matters had occupied his
attention for some time past he was GER
tainly intending to keep up his fight
road on any other than just and business
like basis.
II an glad to see Eastern people taking
so much interest in this matter he said !,
"and | trust that the people of this State
as well as those in all parts of the country
west OF the Mississippi, will become so
much interested In the matter and bring
so much pressure to bear on Congress thai
the members Will be compelled to take
cGgniZance of the popular demand and
bring the railroad to terms.
1.-THE emancipation of California depends
largely Oh the manner in which this most
im portant matter is handled, and we
should certainly exert every energy to
bring about settlement before the ad-
journment OF the next Congress"