The San Francisco call., 1896-01-23

cause it can transport its supplies and troops
much more easily than formerly. But conced-
Ing something TO unreasonable preference in
that belief the railroad magnate is willing to
pay up if he gets time enough and at a less
rate OF interest-say 100 years, more or less,
at per cent. But railroads do no mint
Ing. They do not turn out $50 pieces directly.
services are performed for the public and in
compensation they receive money. When Mr..
huntington says that he viii pay in 100 years
II he gets chance he does not mean that in that
time he will convert his present property and
that OF his late partners into cash and liquid
ate. Nothing Is. perhaps, further from his
mind. He viii hang on to all he has got. He
simply means that he viii assess the people of
States with whom he deals and make them pay.
The bottom question in the funding business
which is now the theme of discussion is
whether Mr. Huntington and his late partners
shall pay the $4,000, 600 in question or be
given chance 10 make the people of these
States, especially OF California, do so.
But these people have paid this debt
once already. The money contributed
by them intercepted in its passage
to the treasury of the United States by Mr..
Huntington and his partners and converted to
their own use. 1t is more than mere coinci-
dence that their united fortunes, at the lowest
calculation, almost equal in amount the sum
| due the Government. Paying Mr.. Hunting
| tons debts once is bad enough, but TO be
called upon to do it twice is more than flesh
and blood can stand. In producing these re-
suits paradox has been worked ont which is
the most interes ting that ever puzzled the
public: 1t is the making OF colossal fortunes
out of an enterprise which is confessediy
bankrupt. But the processes were simple
enough when they came 10 be understood
When you can contract with yourself. be seller
and buyer at one and the same time, make
the law and interpret 1t to suit yourself, almost
any result can be produced.
1t will thus be seen that this proposed fund.-
ing bill has an enormous Significance for ms
1t means the shifting to California OF at least
fifty millions OF the debt due the Government
by the whole-souled Huntington and his dead
associates, leaving the remainder to be wrung
out OF Nevada and Utah. Three generations
OF US will be loaded down with this enormous
Obligation. II we should attempt in any Way
to lessen the burden Mr. Huntington will rush
TO the courts to make them declare that no
matter what happens he must have rates suffi-
cient to meet his bonded Indebtedness and his
running expenses. Fifty millions is a good
round sum- Ii any one should go before the
people to induce them to saddle themselves
with this burden for the benefit of small
clique OF railroad operators he would be voted
insane. But Mr. huntington proposes to do it
without asking their leave. Considering the
bad faith which he and his dead asso-
ciates have already shown, it would be
a stretch of unwarranted benevolence to
give him time to convert the property
he has to meet the Government demands
But instead of that to give him and his assigns
hundred or any other number of years TO
tax the people OF this coast is simply prepos-
ferrous. 1t is almost unthinkable to suppose
that be should have the audscity to attempt
1t. II the money he obtained to build the Gen.
tral Pacific was borrowed from private capital
isis he would have been closed out when the
first default was made in interest. But he
has curious creditors to deal with. The
creditors are only the representatives of the
people. They have no money of their own to
lend TO any one. Mr.. Huntington has often,
therefore, ready listeners. He has admitted
on his testimony before the Pattison COM
mission that he pays peoole 10 EEK
plain" his case, whether they be members
OF Congress or not His agent at Wash
ington, on a former occasion he ad.
mitted mad salary from him of
$40, 600 year and $50, 900 for con tingencies.
Dick Franchet, former member of Congress,
held the office on the occasion of the Goat
Island grab. He kept open house for members
OF Congress, in which wine flowed as rivulets
The legislators who could only be approached
by their stomach held high carnival there
And when all fails recourse is had to the
Federal judiciary, which in these days has be-
come the refuge OF distressed corporations.
At pinch Il can now condemn a man first and
try him afterward. 1t seems to be taking up a
position between the oppressed people and the
new feudalism. Jefferson once called it the
thief of jurisdiction, and time seems to be
verifying the correctness of the. horoscope
which he cast. N. G. UPTON
Berkeley, January %, 1896.