The record-union., 1898-04-19
MR.. LA RUEs VIEW OF HIMSELF

measures, among which is found a
regulation of the rates of transporta-
ton on grain from interior points to
the seaboard This regulation of the
rates of transportation on grain pro-
vided for a reduction of about s per
cent on the rates existing at the time
the resolution was passed. Coupled
with this was a declaration on the
part of the Railroad Commission that
it would proceed at once to sweeping
horizontal reduction of % per cent. on
ali rates in force.
The conjunction of the grain rate
with the declaration Of intention to
reduce rates % per cent, whether rates
in some instances were already too
low or not, gave the railroads their
opportunity to enjoin the commission
from taking the action proposed. A
writ of injunction was issued out OF
the Circuit Court of the United States,
which resulted in suspending the &C
tion of the commission, and restraining
them from putting into effect both the
grain rate and the threatened hori-
zontal reduction. This proceeding has
had the effect of paralyzing the COM
mission. 1t has done nothing during
its term of office.
And now comes Mr.. La Rue to de-
clare that the railroad company ap-
preached him with a proposition TO
dismiss the proceeding and permit the
grain rates to go into effect provided
the commission would rescind the %
per cent reduction resolution. How
ever inconceivable to the common
understanding the statement may be,
Mr.. La Rue is quoted as saying that
he declined this proposition, and he
appeared to be so proud Of his declina-
ton that he is informing the yellow
Journals of his action in a most I'M
seemly and boastful manner. Just
what Mr.. La Rue has to be proud of
will not appear to the common sense
of the people Of this State.
The situation is capable Of very
clear rendering, and Invested Of all
confusing legal technicalities. it may
be presented as follows:
The Railroad Commission, of which
Mr. La Rue is President attempted to
do something in the line of it's duties.
The railroad company successfully re-
sisted in court all it had attempted to
do. After a deliberate judicial hear
ing, the court in the administration of
justice restrained the Railroad Com
mission from proceeding with its work.
Mr.. La Rue declares that the railroad
company offered to unite the hands
of the commission; to remove the jul
dicial manacles and accept a part Of
what had been accomplished if the
commission would rescind a resolution
to do something else. Mr.. La Rue's
boast that he refused to have his hands
loosened discloses q. peculiar confusion
of ideas in the mind of the Commits
.sioner
1t was supposed that Mr.. La Rue
would at least be in favor Of a lower
rate on grain from interior points to
the seaboard. According to his own
admission, this could have been ac-
compIished by simply resembling a
resolution to reduce all other rates %
per cent If the proposition of the
railroad company, which was certainly
liberal and fair, had been acceded to
by the commission, the grain rates
would have gone into effect at once,
and other regulations could have been
taken up again by the commission as
of original consideration; and other
propositions of regulation could have
been proceeded with. But Mr.. La Rue
appears to entertain the notion that
his action indicates the existence on
his part of a Jacksonian 1rmness. A
suit in court has arrested all regula-
ton. The railroad company offered
voluntarily to remove this legal OBJ
struction to further regulation and to
permit a part Of what had been pro-
posed to go into effect at once. The
boast Of Mr.. La Rue that he is deny
Ing to the people of California the i'm
mediate benefit of a reduced grain rate
would scarcely be accepted as a favor.
According to Mr.. La Rue's admission,
so much of the effort made by the
Railroad Commission to reduce rates
of transportation as related to the
transportation of grain would have
gone into effect at once. The suit be-
Ing dismissed, no legal obstruction
would bova avic+ed 70 tba Introduction
of further regulative measures. The
proposition which Mr.. La Rue boast
fully declares he refused would have
restored the status quo before the suit
was commenced. It cannot be pos
Eible that Mr.. La Rue supposes that
he has done something very wise, very
5udicious and especially very popular
by refusing to have the legal shackles
struck from the limbs of the commits
sion 1t would appear very harsh to
charge Mr.. La Rue with having re-
fused the proposition solely because it
proceeded from the railroad company.
We would hesitate to charge a gentle
man of his public experience and pre-
sumed ability with acting on the pre-
sumption that his popularity would
suffer if he accepted anything which
the railroad company might propose
We are 10th even to intimate that Mr..
La Rue was unable even to consider
the proposition solely on its merits,
but was misled into a most awkward,
inconsistent and uncomfortablepo position
before the public by embracing the