The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-03-03
THE RAILROAD DILL.

way commissioners. who shall hive
n state supervision OF railways Bnd
telegraph lines. aud who, under APP
poinmcnt of the Governor. shall hold
their places Two years. These COM
misslOners shall become bonded OIL
GERS in the eum of $4,000 each, and
shall have an Office n, the capital,
and shall az IS a board Of referees
to consider all questions pertaining
to the condnct and condi-
ton of railways in this state.
They shall have general supervision
and control over all railroads,
freight or transportation companies,
and all telegraph companies or lines
in the state, and shall carefully ex-
anime and inspect the sann as often
as may be necessary, and keep them
selves fully informed as The condi-
ton OF the companies, their railways,
bridges, culverts, embanEments,
tracks or other structures, and the
manner ia which such railroad.
freight or transportation companies
and telegraph companies or lines
are operated with reference to
the security, convenience and rights
of the public; and shall also inform
themselves as 10 the compliance, on
the part OF railroad aId telegraph
companies. with all the provisions
Of their several charters and with
the laws of the state. These commits
sioners shall prescribe a uniform
system, by which shall be Kept the,
books and accounts of all rail
road. freight und transportation
companies and all the telegraph
companies or lines. aud when they
shall have prescribed 4 uniform
system of bookkeeping for
these railroad and transp0rta-
ton and telegraph com
panies, such system shall be the
guide for them, and the companies
shall be required to conform to This
prescribed system OF keeping books
and accounts. The president or
other officer in charge of any com
pany shall, on or before The LIST of
November of each year, make and
file in the Office of said commits
sioners, report, verified by the
oath of such officer, for the year
ending 3lst day of August proceed
ing. which shall state: The amount
Of capital stock subscribed; amount
paid in; the amount of funded
debt, and of floating debt, and
cost of way, and of construction and
equipment. and all other cost: length
Of read andits branches; facts as TO
grade and Curyatures, and the
amount of miles in straight lines
and curyaturcs; all about bridges,
material of which they are construc-
ted, their length and the age of
wooden briugcs, and the same as to
trcstle works; the number and pow
err of engines used, and the number
of cars of all classes: the speed
of different Trains, and rates of
passenger and freight tariffs; miles
run by passenger and freight trains;
number of passengers carried and
freight transported, with the gross
earnings ON passengers and treights;
expenditures for construction, and
for aintainance and operation,
with q division as to that of motive
power and cars and station work
building and repairs, interest paid
on bonds and indebtedness, and for
dividends. To this shall be added
totals as 90 expenditures and re-
ceipts, gross and net; and there shall
be given n statement as to all casual
tics'in INJURY to persons, and the
effects and causes, They shall also
report as TO how many acres of land
they have received from the state,
or from counties, cities, towns or indi-
viduals and how much landthey have
alienated and how much they hold.
Such are the conditions of the bill
as TO reports 20 be made TO Che COM
mission, TO be used rs data upon
which to control the railways. The
requirements rs to telegraph CON-
panies are similar, rs far as they
may be in the nature of their con-
stfuction aud operation. Touching
tariffs the bill is voluminous 1t de
shall make just and reasonable
rates, when not prescribed by law,
and that they shall prevent discrim-
ination in charges and not allow
rebates. II il proposed, of course,
10 coutrol only such tariffs ms apply
To deliveries within the state, but the
commissioners shall have. power to
fix differences in. rates. TO be al
lowed for lCnger or shorter dis
tanccs .on the same or different
rodds, and TO declare what shall he
the limits OF longer or shoeier dis
tanres. The bin provides that The
commissioners shall examine rail-
ways in all ther parts, aud enforce
proper conduct and safe. passage.
II il proposed 20 divide railways
mto two classes: \ aud q, the first
including lines over fily miles in
length. aud the latter, all other
lines. IL prepnses TO Xix pas
sage tariff on the first class
at = per cents. per mile, and
ON the second riass at fur
cents Here is n fatal error
which would cause, for in
stance. the Texas & Pacific to take
a passenger from Fort Worth, TO FL
Paso for three cents per mile. over
vast line having no travel and burt
little freight, while the. road be-
tween Galveston and Houston
would be permitted 10 charge four
cents per mile with every seat
crowded, aud with the train run at
very little expense, becaaseof cheap.
wood and water. The same error is
made in connection with sfreigbts