The San Francisco call., 1897-02-20
Confidence in the Present Rail.
road-Rate FixerS Is
Expressed.
So the Attempt to Abolish the State
Boord Is Defeated by
c oSe Vote.

~ was ICdCuSO on the LIE 1OldHu u1dU6 q
vigorous speech against it. He knew, he
said, that the commission had been
charged with never having mplished
anything in the line OF their duty for the
beneht of the people, and there was prob
ably much truth in the charge, but the
people this time had Commissioners who
ara standing by the interests of the peo-
pie, and he believed that in the future it
would be possible 10 get officers who may
do as well. They had met with great dif-
ficuity in enforcing their action on ac-
count of the action of the courts. While
the commission had not been altogether a
success, the gentlemen who upheld the
resolution had suggested nothing better.
The obstacles which stood in the way of
the people controlling the railroads had
been met one by one and gradually over
come, and it was but a liter of time
when the solution of the problem will be
obtained.
Gutter congratulated the gentleman
from Ventura on the fact that his bump
of hope was as large as it was. For seven
teen years that commission had existed,
and ell the benefit derived from it by the
State had been in the payment Of $500 900
for the support of the commission. Now
they propose 10 come into this Legislature
with bill for $50, 900, for a starter. Ex-
perience had shown that the commission
was ornamental, not useful. The resolu-
tion proposed to give to the people an op-
portunity to say whether that commission
should be continued or not.
Il had supposed from his speech of YES
terday," added Mr.. Cutter, that the gen.
Il
but it seems that to-day he is not. l
would not submit 10 the people an amend
ment that l knew they would vote down
by large majority, but IL is my duty to
allow the people to vote for such an or
ganic law as they wish. l think that tie
people do desire to abolish this commits
slon."
Bridgford (Fusionist) said that the reso-
luton was o general proposition to take
away all restraint from the railroad COM
pany. That would be the result if the
proposition were submitted to the people
and carried. Past experience had taught
that 1t was absolutely necessary that there
should be some governing body; some
power that controlled. The State had at
tempted 10 control the railroad company
by commission, and it was true that they
had not been as successful as had been
hoped. He could show where the COM
mission had done some good, and that
was when the freight on wheat from
Colusa by way OF Knights Landing, re-
shipped on boats to Vallejo, was 81 80, and
at the same time the freight from Wood
land to Vallejo. much shorter distance,
wa So.
The commission regulated that condi-
tion OF things and the town of Woodland
had protlted largely by that action OF the
Railroad Commissioners
''Wlu the gentleman tell me-" asked
Cutter, "how it is that if the Railroad
Com mission effected such a saving there
they didn't effect like one in the valley
Of the San Joaquin? Was it not some
thing outside OF the commission that had
helped the San Joaquin Valley2"
Brldgford replied that nothing could be
regulated com pletely by law. There were
laws against murder and theft, but muir
der and THEFT went on.
Caminetti, who afterward silently sto lie
away from the Tollcall, remarked that the
commission was not responsible for the
decision of the courts. OF late wears the
people had been bordering upon a Gov
eminent made by decisions of the United
States courts. 1--WE have entered into a
Government by Injunction" he added,
'and that was the trouble that could not
be remedied under the constitution.
The powers given 10 the Railroad Com
mission were ample to meet the ISSUE bu [
In past years the majority of that power
has never been willing until to-day to do
their duty, which the people expected
them to do. Now that we have a power
willing to carry out the wishes of tn e
people, we find that power enioined by
the courts OF the United States. Let us
arm the commission with all the authority
that We have a right to confer upon
them. Then, and not until we have
tried such legislation, will it be time to
consider the question of abolishing the
com mission or not"
Cutter came 10 the front again. "The
gentleman has no evidence" he said
that the people don't want the COM
mission, and now he refuses to allow the
people to say whether they want them or
not. He is in the same position he was in
the State Printing Office matter"
There has been no petition" said
CamiEetti.
Dennery failed to find a solitary argu-
ment against submitting the question to
the people. If they were to make their
argument before the people, there might
be some justice in the statement IF we
pass this amendment, it will not abolish
the ommission. As the people have
created this com mission, they should be
allowed to say whether it should be per-
petuated or not"
Belshaw of Contra Costa said that if
seemed 10 him from the argument that
the people are In favor OF atoils hing the
commission, and that the gentlemen On
the other side are afraid to submit ii to
the people, for fear that they would aboI-
ish it. The decision of Judge McKenna
was that they were an illegal body and
had no power. If that was so the com
mission should be abolished.
Shanahan said that in times past he had
voted 10 abolish the commission, because
he believed that there was no hope TO be
looked Tor from that direction 1t had
cost the people $3.50 0O0 That was a heavy
tax and If no good could come out of it il
oueht to be oIshed. Now that we
have a commission that is doing its duty
to the people it is no time to abolish il"
So far as Judge Mckenna's decision was
concerned 1t snould be remembered that
the Commissioners appealed to the Su-
preme Court of the United States.
Dibble SAID that up to this time he had
always voted against the abolition of the
Railroad Commission and he propose d to
continue to do so. He believed that the
management of railroad freights and fares
could not be saf Iy trusted to the Legisla-
ture in sixty days session. 1t was
matter that should receive the most care
full consideration. The commission had
worked well since the adoption of the new
constitution up to the present time. If
an amendment was to be suggested il
should be to elect the Railroad Commits