The San Francisco call., 1896-05-13
A CLEAR RESOLUTION.

With but two dissenting votes the State
Convention of Boards of Supervisors OF
California has passed a resolution pro-
testing against the passage of a railroad
refunding bill by Congress. A significant
feature OF the matter is that this subject
was not embraced in the call for the cof-
vention, and that although an effort was
made to shut it out on that ground the
convention decided that it had right to
assume the privilege of expressing its
opinion.
The value of such an opinion from
such source must not be underval-
ued. County Supervisors, more clearly
than any other public officers, represent
the producing classes, the men of Drawn
and character who regard politics as a
means to worthy end and who constitute
the backbone of prosperity and sound
public sentiment. They are directly con-
cerned with public affairs bearing on the
fundamental principles of the general
welfare. In California they fully under
stand the railroad question, having no
delusions, cherishing no ejudices and
serving no private or political interest as
a class. The men whom they elect as
Supervisors are strictly representative of
them and are selected with great care.
These boards are composed of men repre-
senting all parties. In every phase of
broad question they reflect the opinions
held by the sober intelligence and earnest
patriotism of the State.
For such gathering of public officers to
pass such resolution as that which was
adopted at San Jose last Monday is the
most significant of all tie indie ations
which have appeared to make known
wishes of the people of California. 1t was
as follows:
WHEREAS, A bill is now before Congress to
refund the debts Of the deiaulting Govern
ment-aided overland railways; and whereas,
the enactment of the bill will work hardship
on the State of California and on the territory
tributary TO said railways.
ResolUed, That the boards of County Super
visors OF the State OF California in convention
assembled strongly protest against the enact
ment of said refunding bill. and request all
members of the Fifty-fourth Congress friendly
to the Pacific Coast to vote against it. What
ever may be their opinions as to the policy of
permitting the Government to own and oper-
ate railways, there should be no difference OF
opinion as to the impartial treatment of COR
porations or citizens in our courts of law. To
recognize by legislation that there is one law
for the poor and another for the rich is to in
vite anarchy and bloodshed. The courts
should be permitted to settle the question in
accordance with the law, and it does not follow
that foreclosure must be followed by Govern
ment operation of the railways thus ACQUIRED.
On the contrary, it is evident that they can be
sold or leased to far better advantage than as
now operated, both to the United States Gov
ernment and to the people who are dependent
upon them for transportation.
Resolved, That attested copies of this resolu-
ton be sent to the President OF the United
States and to the California delegation in the
Fifty-fourth Congress.
1t will be interesting to note how Mr..
Huntington will attempt to explain this
resolution on the ground already taken by
him that only a few professional agitators
and irresponsible newspapers" in Cahfor-
mia offer any objection to the scheme
which would give him complete domina-
ton over the welfare of California for
century to come. The farmers of this
State, who are strictly represented by the
Boards of Supervisors, know too we'll what
that would mean. They can Judge future
burdens by those which they have been
compelled to bear in the past. The digni-
fed tone of the resolution and its manly
reasons for declining to raise the issue of
Government ownership deprive funding
advocates of every possible excuse to
charge professional agitators'' with its
inspiration.