The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-30
ANTI-FUNDING MEMORIAL
All Three Reports to Be Woven
Into One Complete
Document.
THREE CLAUSES ARE OMITTED.
Friday Morning the Entire Petition
Will Be Submitted for the
Committees Ratification.

Friends of the anti-refunding agitation
and their name is legion on this coast-re-
gret exceedingly that a dissension has
arisen in the committee selected by the
State Anti Refunding Convention to draft
a memorial to Congress that shall repre-
sent the feeling of the people of California
on the measure now pending to refund the
Pacific railroads debt.
Nevertheless the dissension is there.
Nj Estee has disagreed with the re-
mainder or the committee-or the re-
mainder of the committee has disagreed
with Mr.. Estee. The report submitted by
Mr.. Estee, who is chairman of the COM
mittee, was, with the exception of three
paragraphs, unanimously endorsed by the
meeting of the whole committee held at
the Mayors office yesterday morning. 1t
is feared, however, that Mr.. Estee will
not agree to this mutilation, for though
the stricken paragraphs are brief in words
they are yet pregnant with meaning and
mark rather plainly the line of difference
between Mr.. Estee and the remainder of
the committee. The first of the para
graphs which are TO be eliminated from
Mr.. Estee's draft for memorial to Con-
gress is as follows:
One OF the reasons given for the organiza-
ton OF these corporations was that Mr.. Hunt
lngtOn and his associates might own and con-
troll bridges and ferries on the line OF the rail-
roads, like the bridge over the Colorado River
on the line OF the Southern Pacific Railroad
These bridges, although belonging to the rail-
road system, built by its money or credit and
forming q part thereof, are yet apparently
owned by G. p. Huntington and his associates
Think OF one corporation owning railroad
track on the land and another corporation
owning part of the same line and belonging
10 the same system, over all the main Drldges
ana ferries, and Imagine the rent Inc nrsU COM
pany would have TO pay if the second company
was unfriendly. What show would mort
gage creditor have against such omblna-
lion, and especially when the facts as 10 the
side ownership OF the bridges and ferries were
not thought OF or mentioned in the original
MORTGAGE? What would be the effect of q fore
closure OF mortgage on the main line under
such circumstances? At most the mortga gee
would only obtain pieces of railroad tracK-an
owner under mortgage sale made pursu ant
could not move train over the line OF the
Central Pacific Railroad. Huntington and his
associates in The Pacific Improvement Com
pany would still command the situation.
The second clause to be eliminated is
that which touches directly on the ques-
ton OF Government foreclosure. 1t reads
as follows:
Whatever difference of opinion may exist
among the people TO whether foreclosure OF
the Government mortgage on this property Is
the correct remedy, or whether such steps
should be taken as VIII secure TO the Govern
ment ownership OF a line OF railroad from the
Pacific to the Missouri River, there is but one
sentiment among our people on the PROPOSE
tons.
The reason for eliminating the foregoing
paragraph, as stated yesterday at the COM
mittee meeting III the Mayors office, was
that the memorial committee was espe-
cially instructed by the State convention
which gave it existence 10 draft memo
rial declaring, fret, against refundIng the
debt, and second, in favor of foreclosure
by the Government. 1t was unanimously
decided by the committee that to go con-
trary to these instructions would be to fail
in their duty OF representing the will of
the people of California. Mayor Davie of
Oakland, who originally signed Mr.. Estee' s
report and agreed with him on the point
OF not demanding the foreclosure, yester-
day voted with the rest of the committee
10 expunge this paragraph.
the third clause 10 be omitted reads as
follows:
We do not ask that the dead be arraigned at
the bar OF public opinion, or that worthy
women be sued, or that great university be
dismantled, but we do demand that the CHIEF
actor and most commanding figure in this
great fraud be brought to the bar of public
justice.
It was further voted by the committee
yesterday that Mr.. Estee's report, thus
AMENDED anu COuDleQ Win IIl6 uIdlIS SUD-
mitted by John L. Doyle and Henry E.
Highton, should be the authorized memo
rial OF the committee. And Henry E. High
ton was appointed to amalgamate the
.hree reports, weave them together in an
acceptable manner and submit the entire
document to the committee, thus con-
structed, to a final meeting of the commit
tee. which is to be held at the Mayors
Office Friday morning a. 10 o'clock.
Judge Gibson of Oakland, one of those
whose names were signed to the report
submitted by Mr.. Estee, declared to the
committee yesterday that he had not
authorized the signing of his name to an
individual report, but that he had only
authorized Mr.. EsUee to place his name to
any memorial that should be adopted by
the committee.
A. Caminetti and Marion Gibson, both
residing out of the City at some distance
were absent from the committee meeting
yesterday morning and could not there
fore be heard from on the question as tC
whether they had given Mr.. Estee consent
to sign their names to his individual re-
port.
Mr.. Estee was also absent from the
meeting. Those present were: Mayo,
Sutro, Mayor Davie, Henry Z. Highton
Judge z. NJ. Gibson and John 7. Doyle
being a clear majority, or five Of the eigh
committeeman.
All the documents that are to be wover
into the memorial are considered very
strong arguments and plain statements 0
the position taken on the question in
volved by the people of California, and i
is thought that the entire committee, will
the possible exception of Mr.. Estee, will
readily sign the completed memorial anC
heartily indorse it. 1t is not thought I'm
likely, either, that Mr.. Estee will also sig
the amended and amalgamated document
In that case the memorial will go to Con
eress with added strength and as express
ing the united sentiments of the eigh
men chosen to represent in this matter all
the people of California.