The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-03-15
RAILROAD LEaIsLATION.


OF trade Of this city, yesterday, protesting
against the passage Of bill now pending in
The legislatures for NE control and regulation
Of railroads, and earnestly requesting the
legislature not to pass the same. The reso-
lulions speak for themselves, and they arc
timely and LUSCIOUS, They, in our opinion
express the sober second thought OF the peo-
pie Of tho entire state OH this subject. We
say "lho sober second thought" because We
know that the idea did prevail that there
should be come restrictive legislation TO pro-
vent freight istriminatiois on tho part
OF the railroad lines, AMI to secure
rates, through and local, that would be fair,
impartial snd tho opposite OF cxtoriion ard
monopoly. Blu! when tho bill that was pre-
pared by tho committee on railroads and
presented to the house by General King, tho
Chairman Of that committee, was published
aud promugal ID, and its provisions become
to be understood by the peoplcund It's effects
thoroughly appreciated, !, wss evident that
b change Of sentiment Cook place aud the
desire became dominant thE, tho roadg DO
let slone for the time being, mi further
more, that when legislation did iako place,
that IL DO Of nature less harsh and hrbi-
tiary than that embodied ia the
bill in question. We say this
because throughout the state tho press has
almost unanimously opposed tho measures
embraced in this bill, and il Ia q lair pro.
sumption that press Ms intelligent rs that OF
Tesss, as well rs impartial and just, repre-
sents the seneim mt Of the people. We are
perfectly assured tina. in opposing this bill,
in opposing legislation of this character nj
this juncture we but echo the wishes Of the
people of this section and we believe tho
that has spoken out. The board of trade of
Dallas is inside up of the business men
Of tho city, tho men who are inter
es,cd directly AID indirectly in all
the material interests and properties Of the
couhtry, especially of north Texas, and their
resolutions are but forcible and explicit
expression of their sediments. There are II
maliitudc OF interests TO be considered in the
discussion OF this bill and this class of legis
la'ion. Texas Is 80 large, It's population in
comparison with its area 50 small, It's inter
mi improvements In tho way Of railroads 80
limited, and because of these facts, its neces-
sitis'. so great, that wise ststesmanship
must dictate THAT no action be taken of any
character whatsoever 10 initiate against tho
supplying Of all those necossi-
ties. Our state needs ton, twon-
ty times the people II has; it needs
ten times the miles Of railroad II has; ii needs
capital, nd libtum. We have not got the
capital ourselves. 1t must come from
abroad. 1t Is just now being a.
trsctod TO our midst. 1t has built for us
what railroads we have 1t is building for US
) many miles of new road. 1t ia giving US the
completion Of tho Texas b Pacific across the
breadth Of the state, from east to west. II is
giving us the Missouri Pacific, with i,s
branches. II ia giving us tho extension Of
the branches of tho Houston
s. Texas Central. 1t Is giving
us tho Texas Trunk Line, and without
enumora,ng further, the railroad lines
now In course OF extension and
construction, We can cay that it 10 giving us
no. less than four thousand miles of road
more than We had q year ago. |. il giving
us, too, according 10 the report, lao of
steamers from Galveston to Havana, and by
tho expenditure In all those enterprises in
our midst, It is securing for us deep water on
our coast. Foreign capital, Invested in these
enterprises. is developing tho state, is bring
ing us increased population, and II Is bring
INK us capital for Investment in other enter
prises, In industries ana in commercial ven
lures. Can my ono gaiasay these state
mentsS Are we u!.oring anything
that is not exactly truo' Then II this tide
OF our increuoi prosperity 10 upon US, II the
swell # the waves ID lifting US On TO great.
ness anil strength ind wealth, asa state. ia it
not tho supreme of folly for tho Legislature
to do anything that is Ia tho remotc't degree
calculated to obstruct tho flow Of the tide
20 calm into stiffness tho swell of tho waves
Ii not thi. bill, Is not tho species Of Legislation
contemplated In It's provisions, calculated to
do this' win II not do 1t, Do gentlemen
with mcaos want to put their money intC
enterprises and schemes, tho management
ard control OF which Is virtually tskcl
out Of their hands' lsn reasonable that an,
gentleman or oompsny OF gentlemen, pos
scsscd Of business qualifications VINO hav
tae abrcwdness and scumcn to have aecumu
lated largo capital, will DO willing to risl
that capital In ventures, tho management .
which AFRO TO DO so hampered by Legislative
onsclmcne that they arc at tho mercy OF
junlas caprice or Incompetence Whol
Texss becomes thickly populated, whom he
TRADE and commerce reaches up into th
millions and every section Of tho state Is per
mossed and uaversod by railroads. then
those railroads show dcspositio
10 trample upon tho people, \
damage by unjust Determinations and exac
tons tho material prosperity Of tho country
thea LOT The legislature intorposo tho s.ron
4.