The San Francisco call., 1910-08-28

~~%~~~~~%%>%<% ton railroad assessments
The Santa Cruz convention
four members of the present board
Brown, Scott Collins and McEvaine. In four
- years this board nearly doubled the railway
sessments. The people, through direct primary,
have already turned down Scott and at this
writing the fate of Brown is unknown. McElvaine
saved himself by joining the league and Collins
luckily had opponent. How we'll have two
public servants been rewarded
A CASE OF HEREDITY
1t IS that the present state board of equaliza-
ton has deserved well of the commonwealth so far
as the assessment of railroads is concerned. They
should in justice have been continued in Office but
they have suffered by reason of their political gene
sis and affiliations 1t is true as my correspondent
writes, that they were an important part OF the
legacy bequeathed to the state by the Santa Cruz
convention, and therefore the rude justice of politics
has engulfed them in a common ruin along with
most OF the Office holders of like origin
All this constitutes somewhat odd and interest
ing episode of state politics 1t is sort of vicarous
punishment that visits on these officials the pains
that should have fallen on their predecessors whose
offense was scarlet. 1t is an interesting story that
leads up to these conditions.
A LONG WINDED SCANDAL
For something like decade I handled for one of
the morning papers in this city the annual assess
ment of the railroads. The slick way in which that
job put through year after year by a solid
majority of the state board constituted public
scandal. 1t was piece of barefaced and cynical
robbery committed by brute force. [ know that
I was successful in arousing public sentiment
the subject but the of the solid majority con
ident OF the power Of the railroad to keep them in
office, paid attention until suddenly, four years
ago. without notice ntmation, they executed an
astonishing right about face and established rea-
sonable basis of assessment, which they have since
adhered to with the results indicated by my
correspondent.
HERRIN CONSENTED
Why this radical reversal OF form came to pass
! do not know, but have my theory to explain
the facts. believe it was due to Alexander Brown
Mr.. Brown is a fair minded as well as broad minded
man. He is probably as close to Herrin as anybody
in California not the immediate staff OF the
Southern Pacific political bureau. Neither he nor
any Of his colleagues the board would have dared
run counter Herrin's wishes, although of course
the situation was not enjoyable, because they had
to take all the kicks coming for their dirty work.
In this situation it is my belief that Brown put
the matter up to Herrn and showed him the glaring
mpolicy OF persisting in daylight robbery for
which absolutely no sort of defense could be made
If Herrn had refused his consent it is certain that
the board would still have answered to the whip
but have no doubt that he made to see that
there is point beyond which public patience ceases
to be virtue. But the odor of their old misdeeds
still cngs to the board, and, although repentant,
they now suffer for their sins of the past.
OH BLESSED CORPUS
/ am in receipt of elaborate editorial sym
postum which has its direct and poignant signif-
canoe for California, if it might seem
superfluous in view of the facts. This is dis
cussion of the proposal to formulate an American
corpus juris, which, being translated, means COM
plete statement of the entire body of American law
The law magazine which inspired the discussion
expresses infantile wonder because the editorial
opinions on the subject unanimously in favor
1t is like expression of surprise that discussion
OF the ten commandments should be all one sided
The strange thing is that anybody knowing any