The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-06
RAILROAD INFLUENCE.

Congressman Mcguire of California
makes some astounding assertions in an
interview telegraphed from Washington
and appearing in yesterdays CALL. In
brief he says that the presence in Wash
ington of strong railroad lobby, amply
provided with money, is notorious fact;
that the Pacific railroad committees III
both the Senate and the House were
packed in the interest of the railroads /;
that in part consideration OF this packing
railroad influence was generously pledged
to forward political ambitions; that be-
yond doubt the railroad committees of
both houses will report favorably on a
funding bill; that the conspiracy extends
even to the defeat of appropriations for the
improvement of our rivers and harbors
and to the selection of Santa Monica IN
stead of San Pedro as the southern harbor
to receive an appropriation.
But Mr.. Mcguire offers grain of COM
fort. He declares that the railroad has
overdone the work, created scandal and
turned suspicious eyes upon the supporters
of its schemes. He says that strong fight
against the refunding will be made on the
floor of each house, and that the usual
presumption of the honesty and thorough
ness of committees will not operate in this
instance. These committees" he de-
clares, ''will have no such prestige. they
are already branded as the spawn of con-
spiracy, in favor OF railroad interests and
against public interests" These are strong
words. He points out the further signifi-
cant fact that the committees having
charge of the Nicaragua Canal matter are
understood to be predisposed against it,
and that the members who compose them
are for the most part members of the other
committees which are taking care of rail-
| road interests.
Keeping in view the fact that Mr.. Ma
guire is a Democrat and therefore not
| likely to say kind things of the Repub-
lican organization in Congress-, it is still
easy to believe that the railroads are des-
| perate, and it is obvious that the most
earnest work will have to be done to coun-
teract their efforts at Washington. Never
before has there been so strong pressure
! against them as now, and the interests in
volved are exceedingly important. The
defeat of a funding measure would mean
the loss OF the Central and Union Pacific
roads to their present owners and possibly
Government control of them and regula-
ton of overland transportation. The pas
sage of the Nicaragua Canal bill would
measurably break the monopoly of over
| land and isthmian transportation. APP
preparations for our rivers would intro
duce competition in inland transportation.
The selection of Santa Monica in place of
San Pedro for harbor would give to the
Southern California terminus of the
Southern Pacific as complete monopoly
of trans-Pacitic traffic as it enjoys at San
Francisco.
The interests of the people are directly
opposed to those Of the railroad in every
one of these matters and are of the most
important character. The greatest urgency
rests upon the people of California to en-
ploy all honest means to assist and sup
port the champions of popular rights at
Washington. As all these matters are
more vital to California than any other
State, the fight which we make should be
the hardest.