The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1874-03-21
THE INTERNATIONAL RAILROAD
QUESTION

The following Is Dfle1 synopsis OF
the debate in the Texas state senate
which took place on Thursday last, on
the International railroad question, as
reported to the Galveston News:
Mr.. Culberson said there was much
difference of opinion existing upon
these bonds, and he considered the con-
dition precedent requiring the supreme
court to decide was good provision.
1t was important to state that the mat
tiers involved in this question should be
finally and amicably djusted i'm spirit
of liberality and compromise, and there
was an abiding prejudice entertained
on this question by the public. He
traced the origin of the question, from
the passage of the bill chartering the
company through all its ramificatlons
to the present time. Some thought the
legislature chartering the road eXtraor-
dinary in character, but it was such
as was required. In spirit Ofcompro-
mise, the company proposed to leave
the matter to the arbitrament of our
own supreme court. He believed that
the honor of the people of Texas was
involved, because in 1870 the legisla-
ture contracted with the company on
J the basis of $4,000 per mile. If the
supreme court should decide that the
charter was not obtained by any un-
| fair means, and is entitled to the bonds,
then the state had no excuse, but must
deliver them. How could the govern
or expect TO negotiate the one million
dollars bonds in his hands, if fears
were entertained that the people would
| ;nfn fhn Vntnpnntt tnna1 hnIIG If
validated by the opinion of the su-
perate struggles, had complied with its
contract, and now the state refused to
allow the comptroller to issue these
bonds; the effect must be injurious
to the state credit. The company pro-
posed to rebate 81, $4,000 of these ,O00,-
900 bonds it was entitled to which
was generous and unprecedent-
ed. The case should be tried when
it was reached on the docket, and
there should be no further delay. The
company had built first-class road;
had expended over S6,000,000, and yet
their bonds were refused them. II
fraud had been committed, the COM
pany did not want the bonds, but
would leave the allegations to the SUI
IRENE court, and if decided in their
favor, rebate the amount above speci
fed. The imputations against San
Antonio should cease, if on no other
account, on account of its historic
record, because it was the cradle OF
Texas liberty and scene of the martyr
dom of Travis, Fannin and Others. II
had been taxed for the benefit of Other
stations of the company, and ten mil.
lions of accounts given to corporations
to benefit other cities and sections, and
vet never murmured. Dallas, Waxa
hachie and Fort Worth had been rem
dered wealthy and luxuriant, while
San Antonio pined and suffered fol
want of railroad intercommunication
He afterward debated the legal aspect
of the case, and concluded by observ
ing that's compromise like this, Offered
with so much frankness, ought to b,
accepted.
Mr.. Wood offered an amendment
constituting the state of Texas a stock
holder in the company, giving tn,
governor power to represent the peo
, pie at all meetings, and providing tina
the state interest should be exempted
from forced sale, giving the company
the option of levying upon said inter
est, by giving final mortgage on tn,
road-bed, and allowing it to pay th,
same.
Mr.. Wood subsequently moved {,
: postpone the consideration of th,
; question until "Wednesday, and thel
{ to continue it, as special order unit
settled. Lost, by a vote of 10 to 13.
Mr.. Wood spoke to his amendment
he said that the question should be set
/ tied and no longer interrupt the polio,
and policies of the state. He was ad
verse to compromise, but wanted i
irrespective of any suit. He denie,
. that the state could be sued without il
consent or that the suit now pendinl