Year: 1874

nina mas gained an impression that GER
tain great grievances are to be redressed
and that certain influences alone can be
relied on to that end, it sometimes places
the demagogues by whom this state OF af-
fairs has been brought about in a very
awkward dilemma. Such is, in a great
measure, the condition in which some of
the extremists in the Legislature now find
themselves, together with those papers
through whose constant din the present
excited state Of popular feeling in refer
ence to railroad matters has been brought
to fever heat. Politicians upon the
stump, who are intent only upon an cleo
tion, without caring much by what inf1u-
ences it can be secured, and papers which
advocate the side Of questions which
promises to bring the greatest additions to
their subscription lists, are very different
creatures from men who are called upon
in their list of public duties to give dis
passionate opinion upon the merits of the
question at issue. Public opinion in this
State, has been reused into an expression
of hostility to the Central Pacific Rail
road Company, and the legislature now
in session, is expected to pass measures
by which the power Of the company to
discriminate unjustly against persons and
places will be taken away, and by which
a radical reduction will be effected in the
rates of fare and freight; yet it j. vo,y
doubtful if that body can, Il ter an impair
tial investigation, frame an act that will
satisfy the expectations raised. To right
wrongs and reotify abuses where neither
wrongs nor abuses exist, is beyond the
power of any body of men, however we'll
disposed.


The San Francisco Chamber of Com
merce at n meeting in November ap-
pointed committee of five TO consider
the Railroad question in all its bearings.
They were to report at a special meeting
to be held in December, with view to
legislative action in the premises. As
complaints of discrimination had been
made against the company, every effort
was made by the committee to elicit def
mite charges, but in only two instances
were complaints made. The more i'm
port0nt findings Of the committee are
briefly summed up by our Sacramento
correspondent The view Of the subject
taken by the Chamber does not meet the
approval Of the Union and bulletin, nor
do we think the action of any public
body will, which does not have for its OBJ
ject incorporating hostility to the
railway company. Bnt it is the view,
nevertheless, which will have to be taken
by the legislature, unless its members
arc carried away by desire to pander to
popular feeling even ifit conhicted with
their oaths Of Office as legislators. 1t is
the view which was taken at the session
two years ago, when the Assembly Com
mittee on Corporations, in its desire to
learn all the facts, summoned Anthony,
Morrill,, Days, Luttrell, Larkin, Free
man and others, who were taking active
measures in favor Of a reduction of rates,
before it, only to find out that they knew
nothing whatever Of the extortions, ex-
actions, determinations and oppressive
rates Of which such wholesale complaint
had been made. So it will be this year,
unless the members Of the committee
(Which, by the way, does not contain any
but avowed enemies Of the corporaton,)
are spurred into unjustifable measures
by dread Of the lash Of the Sacramento
Union, which is sure to crack over them,
unless they report according to its ideas.
n body Of men, however well meaning,
whose knowledge of railway business is
limited to the amount acquired in an oc-
casional ride in the cars, OF the receipt or
forwarding Of a quantity of freight, are
not exactly the kind to handle question
of such magnitude as that Of railway
transportation has grown to be.


We have deprecated the unhealthy
state of public sentiment upon this ques-
ton, fearful lest it would lead to hasty
and injudicious legislation, knowing that
If an indiscriminatc reduction Of fare and
freight tariffs is made at this session we,
who are dependent upon the Northern
line for our communications will be the
inevitable sufferers. At the present time
we are receiving freight at two-ffths the
maximum rates which the company is
permitted to charge. We are favored in
this way for the reason that the freight
sent over the line is about equal in tom
mage each way and we do not have to pay
for the hauling of empty cars. Other
places are not so favored on the line to
Nisalia, for instance, five times as much
is moved one way than is moved the 9th
r-consequently four-fltths Of the cars
are moved empty for their loads and
freights have to be charged accordingly.
1t is from places thus situated that the
complaints Of discrimination and high
charges come. If freights are reduced
to maximum Of ten cents per mile, we
may as well make up our minds that that
is the tariff we will have to pay, instead
Of six cents as at present, to make up
losses the company will sustain on other
lines.


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The Vjlginius was sunk on the 3lst
of December near Cape Fear. All her