The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-01-17
THE MATTE VS. BILL.
The full text OF the bill introduced by
Senator Matthew'S is as follows:

An act to authorize the several counties of
this state to provide for the construction
and opera ion OF railroads within their
several counties and to crea:e q bonded
indebtedness for that purpose
The people of the state of California repre-
sented in senate and assembly, do enact as
follows:
SECTION 1. The boards of supervisors of the
several counties of this state are hereby au-
thorized and empowered, If they deem it for
the public interest, to provide by ordinance
for the construction or purchase OF railroad,
or railroads within the limits of their re-
spective counties, and for the maintena
and operation of the same, and for that pur-
pose to issue bonds of the county therefor in
sums not less than ton aud not more than one
thousand dollars each, and bearing rate of
interest not exceeding per cent per ann um,
payable semi-annually, which bonds snail be
substan tally in the form and subj ct to the
provisions. so far as applicable, of the four
tenth subd vision of section % of the "Act to
establish uniform system OF township and
county governments" But said ordinance
shall take effe't Only upon the assent OF two
thirds OF the qualified electors OF each county,
voting at an election to be held for that pur
pose. and said ordinance shall, at the same
time, pr wide for the collection OF an annual
tax sufficient to pay the interest on such in
debt -dnes' as it falls due and to constitute
sinking fund for the payment of the principal
thereof on or before maturity, which shall not
exceed forty years from the time of issuing the
bonds, which sinking fund shall also be con-
.stituted by the said ordinance.
|, SECTION 2 The boards OF supervisors OF the
several counties who may have cons .ructed, or
may be about to construct railroads joining
with each other and constituting CONTIGUOUS
line. may unite together for the purpose OF
jointly o jerating the same as n continuous road,
either permanently OF for such term as ihey
agree upon, and for such purpose the said
boards of supervisors are auth ,rized to provide
by ordinance for written agreement TO be ex-
ecuted by their several presidents and secre-
taries, providing for such joint operation and
prescribing how the same shall be FRIED out,
and the ter rs and conditions OF its man ge-
ment And thereupon the said counties shall
constitute a corporation for the purpose of
operating said road under and according to the
terms OF $ id agreement, and the directors OF
said corporation shall consist of one or more
members of each board, to be determined by
the said agreement, the number OF directors
from each county to be, AS nearly as possible,
in proportion to the mileage in said county.
SECTION g. The said railroads shall be held
and owned by the several counties to which
they belong by inalienabe title. and shall be
exempted from all taxation. Nor shall the
board of supervisors OF any county have the
power to sell, hypothecate. lease or otherwise
cucumber them
The convention that will meet today
at the chamber OF commerce might.
with profit. discuss tina feasibility and
practicability OF the msasurs. II it is
decided that Senator Mathews plan is
good one and can be operated for the
benefit oil the psople, steps should be
taken TO Aid ito adoption by the legisla-
ture. This bill will be vigorously OBJ
posed by an uuscrnpulous Southern Pa
cific cbby. and IL will require strenuous
and intelligent sffort on the part of the
friends Of the people to push it through.