The herald., 1895-01-27
THE FRESNO RAILROAD.

II there are those who do not want Q
road built into the San Joaquin valley
from this city let them say 90. and what
ever their reasons may be let them be
stated frankly. Osptious and splenstic
objections count for nothing in the argu-
ment Of any proposition. Anybody can
make objections, even II they cannot
argue.
The Mathews bill proposes way to
build q road to Fresno, and whether it
Is constitutional or not 10 o present
question for the lawyers in the legisla-
turs. and, If ii passes, q question for the
courts afterwards. Its prscticability
will be passed upon when the people
come to vote. II the proposition is ever
submitted to them. The matter, in
both aspects, can be disposed Of without
very much expense or trouble.
Allusion to CT perisncss in Kansas and
elsewhere, as reasons why the bill
should not pass, are not pertinent to
the issue. Precedent, to be OF value, must
be in a case identical or similar as to
facts to the one under discussion. None
of the cases in Kansas. or in any other
states, are at all like the one presented
by the Mathews bill.
Twenty-Five years ago and for several
subsequent years there was mania Tor
railroads on ths part OF the people.
They were willing to do anything or
give anything to get them. Railway
projectors and builders took advantage
OF the crazs aud demanded liberal lsgis-
lation and pecuniary aid. The people
themselves clamored for roads through
sections and to points that gave very
little prospect OF business. The idea
was if there was railroad, business
would grow up like Jacks bean. To WINS
and counties voted bonds. not in con-
sidsration of an interest in the road. but
as a donation or subsidy to q corpora
ton. They donated literally. frequently
and foolishly. Hope and expectations
overcsme Judgment. OF course undsr
such circumstances the people were
taxed to pay the bonds which were re-
ceived by the corporations nominally,
and pocketed by the projectors and
builders. Many roads thus aided are OF
little value to the owners or the people.
All this turned out badly and causes
complaint and denuncistion. Roads
thus aided were built to make money in
construction and not for the benefit OF
the public or of those who bought the
bonds and paid cash for them.
The Mathews bill does not follow such
a precedent; on the contrary, it is "a far
away from is as it 10 possible to be. In
tho first place. it does not contemplate
a corporation for private gain, but q oor-
porstion to do business solely and ex-
olusively for the public benefit. The
bonds voted are not to be donation or
subsidy, nor for the purpose of inducing
the putting in OF money az an invest
ment for profit. 1t is simply way pro-
vided whore the people can use their
credit in acquiring property for their
own convenience and use. Nor is there
to be taxation to pay principal or in
terest on the bonds voted and issued,
unless the earnings OF the road are in
sufficient. after paying operating ex-
penses, to meet the bonded liability.
The road is not to bs built to put money
into the pockets OF projectors or CON-
tractors, but it is to bs built aud opsr-
ated economically, aud whom the bonds
are paid off the cost OF transportation
will be no more chan the expense OF
operation and maintenance. That is as
cheap 90 transportation can be had.
1t is said there will be jobs and politi-
cal legerdemain in connection with
building and operating. 1t may be 80,
but we think the people will have inter-
est enough in the matter to take pretty
good care OF their own interests. II they
are to be defrauded at all it will be OIL
short duration. We hope the country
is sufficiently aroused to pu
put an end to jobbery and po-
liticsl mischief, not only in this, but in
every other matter OF government. 1
the bill passes, the first step will be tc
vote the bonds. and if the people thinh
they are incompetent to select the prop
or persons to manage building aud oper
ating the road, they will vote down the
bonds. We think they are competent
to guard their own interests.