The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-04-13

has become and is one of great proper
lions, that deserves full protection and
on the other, those who control them
should not be allowed to abuse the public
franchise granted 10 them, and impose an
onerous and unreasonable tax upon the
commerce and production of the country.
Fortunately our constitution points out
specifically the power that may be exer-
cised over them In their operations, and
the mode of exercising IL. 1t is regula-
tlon-regulation of them as public car
riers in charge OF public high ways for
private profit by their use; regulation Of
them as artificial persons, the use OF
whose property, IN its management by
them, may be restrained by laws from
Inficting wrongs upon others; and such
laws are required to be enforced by
proper penalties. So immense and COM
plicated are the details IN the manage
ment and business of railroads, that IL is
doubtful whether there ever can be u
complete and just regulation of them by
the legislature until there is appointed
an engineer, inspector, or advisory COM
mission, to investigate and report such
wrongs and evils as may exist, so that
the proper remedies may be adopted and
applied for their corrections; which is
respectfully recommended to be done at
this session. rome things may be so OBJ
vious. as that regulation can be applied
and publicly well known that railroads
have been kept in use while the
defects in the tracks and machinery
rendered travel and transportation
extremely hazardous. The passenger
tariff might be brought down to three
cents per mile instead of five as now
charged. The greatest evil is in discrim-
nations In favor OF some persons and
places. This is an evil that should not
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to individuals for their own protection.
They cannot cope with great corporate
powers, aud will suffer wrong, and be
deferred, by the danger of ruin in their
business, from undertaking to redress 1t.
Ii must be done, If ever, by the strong
arm of the state, by imposing penalties
upon the officers and agents, who per-
petrate the wrong, as well as upon the
company in its corporate capacity, to be
reached only through its property. What
Is an unjust discrimination involves a
very great variety of matters to be con-
sidered; and IL is not to the interest OF
the companies to be communicative to
the public ir giving information upon
them. Information ON the subject is to
be obtained only occasionally, and in
Isolated representations of particular
transactions, so that the great volume of
their business is as a sealed book to the
general public.
The object of my remarks, therefore, is
more to show the necessity of taking
the proper steps to get accurate and COM
prehensive Information that can be safe
ly acted on, than to suggest any maiured
mode of relief. Ii, however, this should
fail, there is aremedy pointed out by the
power conferred in the constitution, to
establish reasonable maximum rates OF
charges for freights on railroads. This
may be done either on the value or on the
weight of the articles transported, or on
combinatloo of both, By gradually
maxi & the maximum lower from time
to time, the tendency will be to equalize
freight as between places and persons,
and when an injurious effect on commerce
or on the railroad interest is produced by
that process the public are likely to be
informed OF IL by those who are interest
ed and who are Intimately acquainted
with the business.
Another reason for obtaining accurate
and extensive information arises out OF
the great combinations that have been
formed, and may continue to be increased
in this state. and the pooling of Compel
ing lines of railroads. BY such means
competition Is prevented, which has been
usually regarded as the check upon the
grasping eXacuons OF a powerful mono
poly. 1t Is evident now that Texas must
begin TO put itself in condition to pre-
vent n trunsportation-taX upon Its COM
meree and production, imposed at the
road companies.
REDUCTION OF TAXES.
Another subject embraced in the call is
to reduce the taxes, both AL valorem and
occupation, so far is IL may be found con-
sistent with the support of an efficient
state government. One object of sub
hitting this Is, that If IL is found practi-
cable now to reduce the taxes, that are
to be assessed during the next year, it
should be done now rather than delay 1t
until the next regular session. A con-
sideratiOn of it will be deferred few
days, when the reports of the c0mptrol-
mitted.
REDEMPTION OF LANDS SOLD FOR TAXES.
This being matter of general interest,
is respectfully submitted for your action.
The object of the state in buying lands
ut tax-sales is to enforce the collection of
taxes, and not TO speculate upon the mis-
fortunes or eve. negligence of the peo-
pie, who have failed to redeem their
lands IN the time prescribed by law.
They should be allowed time to redeem
them upon such terms as would not en-
courage the practice of such failures to
comply with the law.
THE BOUNDARY LINE BETWEEN TEXAS
AND THE UNITED STATES.
During the present session of the con-
gress of the United states, on the twenty
fourth of January, 1882, bill was intro
duced by Senator S. Il. MaXey to provide
for running and establishing the bound
airy line between Texas and the Indian
Territory OF the United States, which
will determine the unsettled question
between Texas and the United States, as
to whether Greer county is in Texas or
in the said Indian territory. The bill
has been reported on favorably by the
committee on territories. The report
contains an admission from the depart
ment OF the interior that no report of n
joint commission to determine the line
has ever been made; which makes it
reasonably certain that the bill will pass
during the present session; and that
commissioner or commissioners will be
appointed on the part of the United
Suites to run and establish said line, in
conjunction with a commission on the
part of the state of Texas. therefore
respectfully recommend that an act be
passed mt this special session for the APP
pointment of commissioner or commits
sioners, and a scientific surveyor for that
purpose. and making an appropria-
tion to defray the necessary
expenses or said commission.
And as the solution of the question will
depend upon which one of the two forks
of Red river, where they are crossed by
the Tooth degree OF longitude, is the Red
river proper, called for in the treaty de-
lining the line, and as determination of
the Issue, favorable to Texas, will estab-
fish her right TO over q million acres of
valuable lands, that have already, by an
act OF the Legislature, been reserved and
appropriated to the payment of the public
debt, and to the public free school fund,
there should be ample provision made for
ment OF authentic facts to be produced
before said JOINT commission, in order
that full justice may be done to our side
of the question at issue.
DEFICIENCY APPROPRIATIONS.
Another subject submitted for your ac-
ton Is an appropriation to cover the de-
ficiencies in the appropriations for the
year ending the twenty-eighth Of Febru-
airy, 1882, which will appear in the re-
port of the comptroller, and also an appro-
priation TO meet any deficiency in any
matter before you, or to change by reap
preparation any appropriation that has
not been exhausted during the year for
which 1t was made.
AN EXPLANATION.
In the submission of these subjects for
Legislation, III was expected that some OF
them might not be acted on within the
time allowed for special session. but
regar ding them as the most important. It
was proper that the legislature should
have the selection on which, If not on all
of them, their time shall be employed.
LOCAL AND SPECIAL SUBJECTS.
Applications have been made to pre-
sent to you great many subjects of .
local or special character, which should
not now be allowed to impede legisla-
ton upon matters of pressing necessity,
and upon those relating to the operations
of fha 20 oOvarnmanf