Evening star., 1896-03-07
quin and Sacramento rivers is absolutely
at the mercy OF this concern.
Sam Francisco's DexnerSte Struxule.

quin and Sacramento rivers. is absolutely
at the mercy of this concern.
sam Franchises Desperate Strugxle.
San Francisco has for years earnestly
struggled to get relief from the CALLING
bonds of this railroad monopoly without
avail. Recently a number of it's citizens
have Joined with the farmers and the
towns located In the San Joaquin valley
in building a railroad from San Francisco
which viii practically parallel the South
ern Pacific for nearly three hundred miles
down that valley. The Southern Pacific
can easily and promptly do all the work
within reach of its lines with great profit
to itself, and yet let the farmer live: but 1t
mas eXtorted every cent the traffic viii
bear. This is the motto of that corpora
ton, and the farmer is left with nothing.
The railroad takes ALL Besides. in the ar
rogance of its power, 1t in many cases re-
fuses to move grain for months. knowing
that the freight cannot escape it.
The building of the San Joaquin Valley
what extent the cupidity and extortion of
tins corporation has driven the people.
Will this Congress be found supporting
the Southern Pacific in its extortions, MAX
while the farmers of California are strug-
Slng to save their homes from being sac
rifced to this government-endowed mo-
nopoly? I cannot believe It will.
connection with the building of this farm
ers' road is that every safeguard known
TO tue law is put. into its charter to pre-
vent the road falling under the control Of
the Southern Pacific. Among other things,
IT is provided that no director or stock
holder Of the Southern Pacific shall hold
any office In the Valley Railroad Company,
and the amount of stock that can be held
Dy any individual or corpora ton is limited.
Such is the detestation of the people of Cal
ifornia for the monopoly. They have seen
several other independent railroads partly
built in California, and all swallowed bod
lily 10y the Pacific cormorant
Their just Debts.
'Why shouldn't these corporations pay
their just debts, the same as any individ-
ual? Why should a special act be passed
by Congress to relieve few rich men and
estates from the payment Of their just
debts? 1t would be a rank piece of favor
itism. Look at the brazen propositions and
statements of those who are asking the
passage of this bill. Ii is known that these
few men and estates are enormously rich,
yet they say the road the government built
for them, and from which, 10y dishonest
methods and defrauding the government
and the people. they have amassed great
wealth, is now insolyent. Why shouldn't
1t be inSolvent after being subject for years
to the mercy and methods of these men?
The representative of the Cen.ral Pa
cific was asked, when before the committee
On Pacific roads a few days ago, if the road
would pay s25.OW.00 to the United States
provided the government would give IL the
balance of the debt which would amount
to over sJO.o0O,0W The reply vas that the
road could not do it-coud not pay one
third its debts. And yet here is proposed
refunding bill which extends the tim. .or
the payment of its debts for 100 years at
two per cent interest, while the govern-
ment must pay three per cent now tand #
the present financial policy of the govern
ftla,ta e--s
er will be forced TO pay ten per cent?. and
proposes to give this road as security for
the whole debt. Can eff ontery 60 far. her?
The official report of the Secretary of the
lnterior shows that, taken together, the
two roads-Central aud Urion-were in
tended to be one great through highway
for the use of the pee pie. which were butt
with the peoples money, now, under the
most adverse circumstances, with the
Southern Pacific diyerting all possible trade
from them, are paying q per cent upon the
entire amount that the government has
pad IN aiding and will pay if it takes pos
session of the roads. No reason exists why
the government should lose one penny OF
the debt due fio m these roads. except the
threatened passage of a refunding bill,
Whlch VIII, of course, nulct the people of
this country out of one hundred millions of
dollars for the sole benefit of a few million
aires. And yet, in view of the statements
that the roads are not worth half the debt
due the United States alone. the most des-
eioI Us are belnS made TO mold to
them through refundng bill. To this end
men and space in advertising columns of
papers from California to Maine are being
hlr-i I" contribute to the passage of this
bald-faced refunding steal The facts are
tEat these roads. under proper and hon
est management, are today as valuable as
ever. Their connections are established.
towns founded along the line the country
IN measure developed and the road cannot
be successfully paraileied.
Uv,
Let it be distinctly understood that no
action by Congress is necessary at this
time TO protect the interests of the govern
ment in respect to these roads. The fov-
ernment is fully authorized. under the law,
to collect its debt. to do all things neces-
sary to secure 1t. without further legisla-
ton. Any refunding act will be wholly in
the interests Of those parties who are try
ing to avoid the payment of their Just
debts.
only substantial effect it can have is to
continue, by the aid of the strong arm of
the government, this repreSsive railroad
monopoly that curses the people of Califor-
ma TO-DAY. 1t Will be shame indeed If
Congress shall uphold these men in their
nefarlous scheme. 1 cannot believe that
any Congressman who will inform Himself
upon the subject, with an open mind aud a
desire to do justice. VIII aid and abet this
wrong. am not the keeper of other mems
consciences. but AS for myself, should
vote for refunding bill, 1 could not 60
BACK and face the people vino sent me here
10 represent them: ! would know all the
rest of my life that 1 had committed a
crime against my own sense of justice,
against all the people Of the Pacific coast
ana against even those men who are writ
ing iettecs IN favor Of the refunding bill,
because they are not free agents, and
am.''