The record-union., 1897-03-14

great that in the total absence OF any
restrictions it might lead to serious in
references with public rights or pri-
vate property. The authority which it
gives to grant franchises to construct
roads for ''horseless vehicles" might
be construed to include street railroads
or steam railroads.
The law relating to street railroads
now requires that they shall be pro-
PEELED only by electricity. cable or horse
power; the road must be built as nearly
as possible in the middle of the street,
the width of the track is limited, the
grantee must keep in repair certain
portions of the street, maximum rate
of fare is fixed, and other important re-
strictions are imposed. This bill con-
tains none of these important provis-
ions, and if enacted, would be the latest
legislative expression on the subject,
and might be construed to sanction the
granting of fifty year franchise of
the most important city of the State.
An elevated railroad might be charter
ed to operate on Spring street in Los
Angeles or Market street in San Fran
cisco before the very windows of their
greatest buildings, costing vast sums of
purposes for which they were built,
would be destroyed, and all this upon
such regulations, restrictions and linn
itations" only as the governing body
might provide.
But assuming that the only power
that this Act would be construed to
convey would be to authorize fran
chises for pathways upon the public
streets, or elevated roads for bicycles,
or similar vehicles, there should be
some condition or restriction upon the
exercise of this serious authority over
the streets of the city or the property
of the inhabitants. No petition of prop
erty holders is demanded nor is the
consent of the persons before the front
of whose houses the trestle or road is
to. be. rum, required. No proper pro-
vision is made for the sale of the fran
chise, the conditions upon which it
shall be held, or by what acts. if any.
forfeited. 1t might be granted as
mere gratuity to a company, who would
charge a toll for it's use. Valuable
property might thus be disfigured. it's
use by its owner possibly restricted
light excluded, quiet disturbed and pri-
vacy invaded, and such owner would
have no voice in the matter nor is any,
provision made to compensate him for
the damage he has suffered So great
power should not be so freely granted
but should be surrounded by such safe
guards as would amply protect the val
liable interests which might be affected
by it's exercise.
JAMES H. BUDD, Governor.
March Is. 1897.
INVESTIGATION EXPENSES.
Prices 9S4, making an appropriation
to pay for expenses incurred by A. c. r.
5, appointing joint committee to in
vestigate the affairs of the State Print
ing Office, was read the second time
and reported back favorably from Com
mittee of the Whole. 1t was placed
on the special file
FOR MONDAY MORNING.
A communication was read from, the
Speakers desk from the local commit
tee OF mail clerks, stating that a party
of delegates from the United States
Railway Mail Service Benevolent Asso-
citation would visit Sacramento Monday
morning en- route to the annual con-
vention to open in San Francisco on
Tuesday. The committee asked the use
of the Assembly Chamber from 9
o. clock to 9:45 Monday morning to re-
'ceive their guests. On motion of Den
merry it was unanimously accorded.
PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
Power of San Francisco arose to