The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-09
MEMORIAL ADOPTED.
The Committee of Fifty Calls on
Congress to Defeat the Fund
ing Bill,

ing Bill.
The committee OF fifty met in the
Mayors Office yesterday forenoon and
unanimously adopted memorial to Con-
gress opposing the passage of the funding
bill by which an extension of fifty years
would be allowed the Central Pacific Rail-
road to pay its debts now due to the Gov
eminent. Plans were also outlined for
the speedy collection in California of the
$1,000 necessary to combat at Washington
c. P. Huntington's active and persistent
efforts in behalf of the bill. Mayor Sutro,
who presided at the meeting, expressing
himself in vigorous language upon the ne
cessity for effective and immediate opposi-
ton, was greeted with applause when he
declared, Il am an old man, but I'll go to
Washington myself and I'll bring them to
terms # the people will stand by me-"
To expedite the collection of funds w.
H. Coward, Oscar Lewis and Joseph
Britton were appointed a special COM
mittee with authority, if necessary, to en-
ploy energetic collectors. In connection
with this work Oscar Lewis moved that
the press of the City be asked to assist in
collecting the $4,000, and the motion was
carried unanimously.
Every member OF he committee of fifty
will be furnished a subscriptlon-book so
that each one may col ect 500 for the fund
and aid the subcommittee in raising the
whole amount.
What has been done already and what
remains TO be accomplished is expressed
in the words of Mayor Sutro, who, address,
ing the committee, said:
Twenty days ago we first met and organized
in this room the committee of fifty.
stated ct that time that the first step
should be the raising OF ways and means TO
send agents to Washington and TO defray print
ing and postal expenses.
We raised on the spot $500. We issued sub
scrlpuoI-books 10 number OF our members
but the result has been discouraging. for only
$500 additional has been subscribed since
We have been unable 10 send any agent To
Washington and practically are almost help
less, while Huntington has been at work day
and night 10 advance his nefsrious schemes
II we cannot raise any more money we can
not represent our cause properly and though
millions OF people are on our side, and but one
man on the other, We shall be beaten for that
one man is ready to spend enormous sums 10
gain his point, while the millions of citizens
arrayed against him cannot raise enough
money TO make even q show OF defense
shame upon the people of the State for
their indiference-ifty years more of slavery
awaits US; fifty years OF injustiee; fifty years OF
lnsoence, OF arrogance and eXtortion.
If you have the proper foresight and patriot
ism, each man on this committee should strive
to raise this fund to a sum which makes it pos
slbe TO make proper show OF resistance.
II you go into war. you do not choose fifty
generals to command your armies; you choose
one, ana DO not leave MIN without troops or
ammunition, but you fully equip him.
We have lost much valuable time, still we
may win yet, and / now again appeal to my
ielow-citizens TO stand in and do their duty as
honorable and patriotic men.
In opposing {. P. Huntington you are fight
ing q rhinoceros. You do not want to fight
MIN with kid gloves. You want big club to
knock him down.
am utterly disguised that this great State
has not already raised $4,000 We are a lot
OF towards that we do not rise up and beat this
man. We have case here OF highway rob
Ders ana We are afraid TO hight them. Here
we are lot Of slaves, lot OF fiunkies, under
the power of the octopus. Each man would
nave TO contribute only five cents
q make the fight all alone again and foot
the bills II / could spare the $4,000. but
can't spare it this year
We want one or two men in Washington TO
present The peoples side; men in addition TO
1ne regular representatives OF California.
mere are Just three things want to be able
70 maze the proper fight against the bin. The
nTst thlng Is money, the second thing is money
ana the hlrd thing is money.
The memorial as read to the committee
py secretary John McReynolds states the
peoples case in a plain, convincing argu-
ment, and is as follows:
To the United States Senate and House of Rep
TeseatdtsUeS: The undersigned citizens OF Cali
Iornls, respectfully represent that the people
OF TINS state are deeply interested in the settle
ment OF the debts due by the Central and
Ehlon Pacific railroad companies to the United
states for subsidy bonds issued to them, and
tney beg to be heard in opposition TO any
payment of said debts
our opposition TO such schemes is not
prompted by hostility TO the debtors, but by
lance. P~N P
l. 1t is shown in the report of the Pacific
Railway Commission that all the visible means
an ra, e fSi OF these companias have been
"IohgluAy appropriated TO their own use by