New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-19
4 CALIFORNIA HOLIDAY.

Nv proclamation Of the Governor of the State,
lac, Saturday was observed AS legal holiday
in california in celebration Of the defeat OF the
Pacific Railroad Funding bill. This was rather
unusual demonstration Oh the part Of state
Executive over the action Of Congress in mat
ter Of Federal legislation. Obviously il was not
taken simply as a manifestation Of JOY over the
failure Of an effort 10 adjust upon :ermS mutual
~ satisfactory the relations between the Gov
eminent and It's embarrassed or inSOlvent debt
ors 70 any one al all conversant with the sub
je,r or who has observed the lines upon which
the discussion has been conducted IN the Cali
fOrna newspapers and ON the political stump. ii
is quite evident that the retOit ing Is not much
over the defeat Of this particular measure as II Is
over the fact that the action Of Congress. by Stav
ing off a settlement at this session. encourages
The hope that no settlement will ever he effected
except by foreclosure proceedings. ending IN the
Governments taking possession Of the roads and
operating them. In other words. the California
jublation is over the prospect Of the eventual
success Of ,he Popust programme for Govern
mcnt control and operation Of railroads. And
as they believe tina, the result Of such control
and. operation would be considerable reduc-
ton in freights and fares for the benefit of our
fellow -ctiZens IN California their joy is not IN
natural
But ii NAV not be entirely without pertinence
to suggest for the consideration Of our California
fellow ciZens that There are others. The
average Of selnshness may not be greater with
them than in mankind IN general: We do not by
any means intimate that 1t Is. But why should
the people of the whole country be taxed for the
sole benefit Of the people of California and the
ifc ote ~ no traV prs e.l
by the Inlon-Ceniral Pacific lines: The first
would involve an immediate outlay by the Gov
eminent OF an amount sufficient 10 take up
prior liens amounting to more than $6o,~o.ooo.
which sum would be put to risk in addition TO
The original investment, When il is taken into
account that the enterprise was fOsierpd and
subsidized by the Government in the first in
stance for the beneh chiefly Of the cOmmunl-
lies which are now asking the Government to
double lis benefac'ions in their behalf. doesn't
il seem on The whole like "cr0wding Inc mourn
crs": No secret is made by the advocates Of
Governmen, control of The fact that their only
motive is TO secure lower lates for their own
benefit. Tha, means nothing less than that the
roads. which are confessedly not able 10 meet
their obligations now shall BE- operated AZ still
gre1'"r loss ny me Government al the expense
Of the taxpayers Of the whole country. Would
this he fair 10 the taxpayers: Would il he fair
10 the competing lines which are far from profit
able 10 their owners in existing conditions 10
subject them 10 cat rates hy the Governments
controlled road>:
These are questions which The people Of Cali
fornia. and all others who look for millenna
prosperity under Government control and opera
lion Of railroads. may well consider somewhat
seriously The experiment which they are 50
eager 10 initiate. even il successful In reducing
Pacific Coast rates. would be OF no permanent
benefit TO them. bur would he disastrous Ia the
business interests OF the whole country.