The San Francisco call., 1896-12-30

gear Public schools were closed, Supervisors,
Legislators and executive officers bribed, In
functions defed, and all this under the pre-.
tense of ascertaining the constituiionallty OF
an enactment procured by themselves ana
passed for their benefit.
Goaded by provocations such as those here
adverted to-and they are but specimen cases
TO which similar ones are of constant occur
rence-the people of California have long
looked forward to the expiration OF the charter
OF the Central Pacific road for delivery from
this body OF iniquity, at least tor their emil,
dren, and on their behalf we respectfully ana
earnestly entreat Congress not to pass any act
which will continue down 70 the coming gen.
Grafton any part of the offense, outrage and
oppression which we have endured from this
iniquitous combination now called the
Southern Pacific Company. Deprived OF the
management and power to continue to plum
der the Central Pacific road, it can hardly faIl'
to go TO pieces and relax Its grasp on the Yltals
OF our Sta tie.
1t may almost be said that all the known
operations of the Pacific Railroad manage,
ment in this State are saturated with fraud
anu dishonesty which recur at every turn OF
their proceedings.
Enough has been said to show the need OF
thorough investigation by the Government OF
the relations of the Central Pacific Company
TO the parties who have SO long held it in their
grasp, and the enforcement of its just claims
against them. This done, it vii be found that
so far from being insolvent, the company can
easily be recognized as great trunk line TO the
Pacific Coast competing fairly with all others,
ana on the OASIS OF SOlVeDcy ana noneSI lndH-
agement, manifestly to the advantage OF the
Government as a creditor and of its own stock
holders. In any event, The proI erty, If it has
TO be sold, can be then offered with knowledge
of what it consists and what It's earning ca
pacity is-things at present absolutely un-
known to any one but the southern Pacihc
combination, who have for so many years past
managed its affairs 10 its own destruction.
II must not be forgotten TO extend the pay
ment or refund this de bit as proposed is prac-
tically to sell the road to its present manage
ment on credit of hundred years, taking
their promise to pay in small installments.
Congress does not nor does any OF its men,
bers, or any executive officer of the United
States, or, indeed, anybody, know what prop
ertv you are selling. No inventory OF 1t
exists, and this Ignorance shuts off all COM
petitive bidding.
We believe that all the desired ends can be
obtained by means of a foreclosure OF the
Government lien on the road. For this pur-
pose. as the property lies in several different
States complete jurisdiction should be con-
ferred on some one of the courts of the United
States, and the ordinary powers of the court
enlarged so as to enable it to ascertain and re-
dress, IN the foreclosure suit, all frauds prac-
ticed on the company or its shareholders by
the management or by their tools confed-
crates, and the application of any moneys re-
covered from such parties 10 the sinking fund
in the Uniled States treasury. We therefore
respectfully pray Congress 10 instruct its ap-
propriate committees 10 prepare and report
bill 10 that effect