The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1882-04-20


Nv Iaaitnto Nv 0h0f columns o.. i.d1 lh'
portblfmofnIn1 an interesting c1umun.
ni.on fom our Austin correspondent "ll
be- 6uud relative ~ tbc railroad legislation
lntcly Ind OF Our slate capital. A7alricnI
OF rotm and tf po,p'o the iImup hHs
long 0ud porstoutly advocated tho cslrn.
syc building 81 railroads intho state aul
tho enactment Of such laws as would en-
courage the inyCstmcnt and Gis'rhuliph "l
such capitol IN or midst. Atall times wc
have deprecated any attempt at adj
verse legislation to such iutercsts-in the
first place, as matter Of policy, and sec
ondlv, as matter Of right. Texas iscompar-
atiyely a new state ana certainly not one
twentieth of the development has been
witnessed Of which it is susceptible. no
agency is now or for the past five or six
years has been so powerful in opening up
and building up our state as the railroads
To them we owe the comforts of life, such
az we have; the rapid increase in indtvid-
ual and aggregate wealth. the growth OF
population almost unprecedented any
where, and yet the real and fullest benefits
therefrom are only beginning to
be experienced. A world of effort
is yet necessary to prop
ery bring out the capabilities OF Texas.
Every intelligent man must recognize this
fact at once and all the time. However,
certain parties in this great empire OF the
southwest have got an idea in their heads
that the corporations which have done, and
are still doing, so much for us, are making
90 much money, and with gratitude and
magnanimity as great as they are patent,
are proceeding to cut down the income OF
the railroads. Passenger fare has been cut
down to cents per mile, and, as stated by
our correspondent from Austin
no less than twelve or fifteen
bills are now pending in the legis'
lature looking to reduction of rates, gen.
| eral supervision of railroad business, and
| in short, virtual contiscation of this proper
| ty by the state. The one great fact which
our legislators seem to forget constantly Is
that while railroads are indeed highway
and public carriers they are at the same
| time corporations under the ownership
and control of private individuals and arc
not in the nature of county roads. a
principle of action which will admit ofpub
! lie interference in the private concerns ofonC
corporation if at all just and constitutions
will authorize interference with all. In
Justice and reason it is just as proper to say
| that the HERALD shall not receive more
than > cents per copy for its issues, or the
c)tton mill more than cents per yard fol
| its cloths as to declare that the Houston
Genital or the Texas & Pacific shall nd
! reoeiye more than 3 cents per milef 70
| travel thereon. Railroads, as every othe
branch of businossswil1, in self-protection
accommodate themselves to the demands
and. necessities and conditions o
trade and competition and public senti
mcnt will prevent any iniquities or exor
bitant rates. Legislators are wotully darl
intellectually who fail to catch the spirit
equity, and assume to control private busl
ness because the public are interested
therein. In all cases IN this and othe
states, where such laws have been enacted
the real interests and purposes of our fre'
constitutions have been Violated. Som
question may be made as to the presen
law under discussion from the fact tina
the senate substitute was adopted by tn
house without the requisite readings
bat whether law or nullity a
an exhibition of Texan spirit toward rail
roads and foreign investments of capital Il
the state, it cannot but hurt us greatly. l
is, therefore a matter of exceedingly bat
policy. We had fondly hoped to see ne;
work of railroads in Texas and the resultan
progress and blessings therefrom, but
capitalists are given to understand, thus II
the incipiency. of their undertakings
that they are to be placed at the capric
and whims of legislators and the people, !
is extremely doubtful if we witness an.
continuation hereafter Of the sudden an'
extensive influx of money and workmei
rom abroad, whose objects arctic build nj
a n develop the state. From such con
alterations we regret exceedingly to see tn
manifest intention ofthe present legislatur
to hang weights upon the railroad corpora
tions and fear that the consequences will b.
doubly costly to US. When the railroad
system of the state has been completed
and by combinations and giant monopolie
really robs the people then and not iill.then
will be sufficient time TO act in the premises
We invite special attention to our Aus'ii
etter which hints at the possible results
that may follow the passage of such laws Al
above referred -. 1t is in the interest no o
railroads but Of Texas that we depreca''