The San Francisco call., 1898-05-01
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HE Railroad Commissioners will not do 'ther
 full duty to the State in the proposed investiga-
 ton of Southern Pacific accounts unless they serve subpoena duces tecurn upon MT. (. r. Hun tngton. The constitution expressly coners upon the board the power send for persons and papers, and in this inquiry 1t is absolutely necessary that Mir Huntington should be compelled to appear, when he appears, with his books. The Commissioners will be able to ascertain how much the corporation has paid out for newspaper silence until they get look at the accounts kept by its auditing and dis bursting officers
 One great point to be settled will be how much the Southern Pacific has from first to last paid the Ex- amner for its services in pretending to be an anti railroad organ while in fact 1t was subsidized at tache of the monopoly. If MT. Huntlngtons books have been kept Ill such manner as to cover up the transactions with this sheet the Commissioners may ascertain the truth by serving subpoena duces ecum upon Mr. Hearsts representative in this city It is true the constitution does not authorize the commis sion to regulate or fix newspaper rates of blackna. But we understand the power send for persons and papers extends to all questions germane to the sub feet of railroad charges It unlikely that the best evidence that can be obtained showing that the Southern Pacific has been wasting its money news papers will be found in the Examiners books.
 If rule is established by the Commissioners in the matter of showing books 1t may embarrass the own of other newspapers in this city. We assured that the Examiner the only local journal which has succeeded in breaking into the Southern Pacifc's treasury But this should not influence the Commis soners. They are bound to do their duty without reference the interests feelings of any class of blackmailers. Their duty to inspect the Examiners books plain It IS notorious fact that that journal had contract with the corporation for thirty months of advertising at $Iooo month. It is also charged that its proprietor held the corporation up other occasions for amounts aggregating SI5,ooo The Examiners books may be brought in to establish the fact that this was railroad money wasted. Ii that journal employ attorneys resist the subpoena duceS tecum all well and good; the duty of the Commis- sioners will have been performed.
 We do not think msstate public feeling when we say that there Is general desire for the showing of books all around. The people want to see Huntington's books Hearst's books and all other books which tend to explain why the Southern Pa ciic does not pay dividends to its stockholders We informed that if the officers of the First National Bank of this city subpenaed they will be able to give testimony concerning the Examiners contractual relations with the Southern Pacific It is said that they have in their possession interesting correspon dence upon the subject. They should be summoned to produce this correspondence and those entries in their books which show that the Examiners "adver- Using" contracts with the Southern Pacific Company were hypothecated with them for overdrats.
 The Railroad Commissioners must do their duty in this matter there will be vociferous demand to know the reason why they evade it.