The record-union., 1897-03-19

of capital invested in the transporta-
ton interests of this State.
The question which naturally arises
is: Have the transportation interests
of the country taken harm by this new
and highly commendable policy? We
have watched the progress of leglsla-
ton during this session with intense in
terest, because it presented this new
and strange spectacle Of the absence of
all external influence through the in
strumentality OF a lobby force repre-
senting the railroads. We have
watched the legislation proposed and
passed because to our minds a most in
teresting experiment was in process;
one which would demonstrate whether
the people of California could be trust
ed to preserve by a high sense of JUS
tice, or destroy by venal hostility the
transportation companies of the COM
monwealth. The Legislature has but
as we are able to discern, or have heard
intimated from any source, the railroad
companies stand unframed by the
higher and better policy of attending
to the business of transportation of the
people while their representatives in
the Legislature attended to the business
Of making, amending and modifying
law
We cali the attention Of his excel
lency, the Governor, to the statements
herein made, and ask whether or not a
legal holiday could not be declared in
celebration of this triumphant return to
normal conditions. We call the atten-
ton of our journalistic contemporaries
to the fact that no railroad lobby has
been in Sacramento this winter, and
that there is no evidence anywhere
that the railroads have exerted any in
huence upon the course of legislation
which would direct it into given chan
course.
If any one possesses evidence that the
statement of the absence of a railroad
lobby from Sacramento this winter is
not justified by the facts, we would be
glad indeed to see that evidence pre-
scented. We are indulging that high
qualification which all patriotic minds
should feel, that at last normal rela-
ton between the law making power
and the instrumentalities of transpor
tation which serve production in this
State has been established. Vigilant
watchfulness for the appearance of this
lobby influence has been disappointed,
and we at least are perfectly sincere in
the belief that no railroad lobby influ
ence has been exerted on the course of
legislation.
California has now reason to congrat-
condition. 1t may be accepted as the
beginning of growth. 1t has an i'm
portance commercially of inestimable
value. 1t has bearing upon the in
dustrial development of the State which
cannot be over estimated
CommoDwealths are founded upon
the forces underlying civilized exist
ence. Public and private morality is
the great evolutionary force of modern
civilization. Without it, the resources
of a commonwealth remain undevel-
oped. Honesty in legislation, the pur-
ity Of the courts, and the morality of
the citizenship of a State are the be-
ginning and end of commercial and in
dUStrial development.
While congratulating the people of
the State of California upon the mat
tiers herein presented, the railroad COM
panies are also to be congratulated,
while they are commended The value
of all property resides in the security of
its ownership, and that security of own
ership can exist only where civic viz
tues abound.