The San Francisco call., 1908-07-04

A-YeS.
Q.-That it was useless to buck
against the Herrin system?
Against the Herrin system-you
can't do it.
Q.-Now, who is behind Mr. Herrin?
A-Why, Mr.. Hartmann; and behind
him, 1 understand, there Is Rockefel-
ler-the allied moneyed interests.
Q.-Now, in regard TO the United
States senator's. Are they also elected
| in this way?
A--Sometimes they are appointed.
Governor Markham appointed one dur
ing my time.
Q.-Well, thought you were going
to say that they were appointed by Mr..
Hartman at his Office here.
A.-Well. Governor Markham gave
them the ertihcate-Governor Mark
ham gave Mr.. Perkins his certificate.
And when you've got an honest gov
ernor it don't cost anything, and when
you haven't IL costs money sometimes.
Q.-Who pays the money?
A.-Well, the railroad generally pays
it,
Q-Has the railroad commission any
real power, Mr.. Rea? Do they exer-
else any power at all?
RAILROAD COMMISSION
RENDERED POWERLESS
A.-No. sir, the railroad commission
at the present time exercises no pow
er At the time the railroad commits
sion was made a part of the state con-
stitution there was a joker put into
the bill, or into the constitutional
amendment. which made the commits
sion amenable to the Legislature 1t
put them in the power of the legisla-
ture-for instance, that they could be
removed for incompetency or venality
by the legislature. And so the COM
mission was in this unenviabIe posi-
tion: that a legislature that is con-
trolled by the railroad company could
always remove them from Office.
Q-And the legislatures have al
ways been controlled by the railroad
company?
Avery legislature hasn't. no; but
nearly every legislature in this state
has been controlled by the Southern
Pacific railroad company since I have
been in politics. think every one Of
them has.
Q.-Therefore. the railroad commits
sion is absolutely under the control Of
the railroad company?
Aft you get an independent rail-
road commission, they can be i'm
peached by the legislature; and If you
have got republican railroad commits
sion you generally have republican
legislature. and it is always amenable
Q.-You were a member of the rail-
road commission, We're not you, Mr..
Rea?
A-Yes, sir. I have the dishonor Of
being the only person who was ever
elected twice upon the railroad COM
mated both times as an independent
candidate, but was supported both
times by the railroad company.
Q.-With your knowledge?
A.-With my knowledge and consent
Q.-Your consent was necessary,
then, was 1t?
HERRIN DEGENERATED
INTO A HIGHBINDER
Al will say with my knowledge
and approval. 1 was very fond Of some
of the people connected with the rail-
road. In feat, 1 liked Mr.. Huntin gton
and Mr.. Crocker-ColoneI Fred Crocker
and Senator Stanford, and 1 was al
ways very fond of Mr.. Herrin. but he
has degenerated in the last eight or
ten years into a highbinder, as is evi-
denced in his dealing with me.
Ole doesn't keep his words
that what you mean by "highbinder" +?
Ale entered into an arranxemeut
with me and then afterward tried tn
rob me out of 100000. He HASN'T got
away with 1t yet, but maybe he will
iater-We VIII see. But Il was born un-
der the oak trees that sheltered
Tfburcio Vasquez in his boyhood, and
knew him well, and was educated never
to squeaI when L Svas stood up on the
highway, but, III 1 wasn't able to defend
myself, to give up my money and ua.~
ON. The education that L received i'm
my boyhOod clings TO me still; and AZ
a highwayman like William F.. Herrtn
thinks he can start In by a trick ana
ron me out OF my money and keep IL
and get away with II, why, he IL en-
titled to tiff he can keen ft-fu.t
much as Vasquez was, and lust n.