The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-04-06
ABOUT RAILWAY MANAGE
mENT.

Z The STATESMAN said that the
railroad question ought to be con-
sidered by the legislature in called
Session, but the prediction was
made that the question would be
crowded out of the way, because of
lack of time, and because legis-
lators would be easily induced, as
they were induced at the last
session of the legislature, to per-
low the question to go by default.
The Victoria AdUOcate says:
We can but cOncede to the DEMO
CRATIC STATESMAN of the sixteenth inst.
i'm its article entitled Regulating Rail-
to the usurpatlOn of the federal govern
ment, and we heartily agree with the
STATESMAN in its objections to the gOv-
ernment's interfering with the matter be-
yond It's present license, but we do con-
slider the subject within this state of suf-
ticient Importance to require the
attention of the called session
convene on the sixth proXimo. The un-
precedented rapidity with which rail-
roads have been constructed within the
last two years, and the necessity for state
interposition by which these powerful
corporations may become profitable and
convenient to the people, as well as
agents Tor the development of the terri
tories through which they operate and
through which they are projected, is
matter of importance so vital that no de-
lay should be encouraged. The question of
organizing a commission under state au-
thority for Texas after the manner of
Georgia, Alabama and other states, is al
ready being discussed, and will no doubt
be before the legislature soon to assem-
BILE. If the commission plan is entitled
to the advantages which its friends claim
for it, certainly another year should not
pass without its adoption. At any rate,
the question is of too much Importance
to be left unsettled for another year.
In the article the AdUOcdte here
refers to the regulation of railways
by state commissions was discussed,
and in it we opposed the plan of
MIR. Charles Francis Adams, the
Massachusetts, commissioner, IA
Voring general commission,
acting under authority of
the federal government, because
such regulations would be in antag-
'onism to the spirit of our govern
ment, and because it would take
away from the states the control Of
railways, chartered and encouraged
and partially or wholly built by
their bounty. Think of the federal
government assuming the right to
control the railways of Texas.
They are not only legal, but many
of them are absolute creations of the
state, and the bare contemplation of
Mr.. Adams plan would be a bold
step in the direction of disrupting
and destroying the rights of states.
The proposition would be parallel
to one proposing to assume control
over the Texas land system, to dis
pose of and manage our public
lands through Washington dictatiOn.
II is the federal feature of interfer-
ence that has caused us not to give
adhesion to the plan proposed by
Mr.. Reagan, which however: is not so
broad in such lnte ference as the
plan of Mr.. Adams, 1T being
absolute, while Mr.. Reagan's bill
is interstate in its nature,
but still improperly. proposing to
derive its force from federalism. AS
demonstrated in the article which
claims the attention of the AdUocate,
we incline to the opinion that the
state commission is the most proper
thing yet suggested for regulating
railways. The commissions of the
several states that have adopted
such management happily in.
Iaugurated systems that give the
most perfect satisfaction to both
railroads and the people, anG. these
commissioners, where they are
working in adjacent states,
as in Georgia and Alabama,
have organized sort of Interstate
lpolity, without the interference. or
dictatiOn of federal power. The
lights before us lead to the eonclu-
sion, that the state commission, sit
ting as a constant competent rail-
road tribunal, the powers of which
have been sustained by the supreme
court of the United States, is the
best thing yet inaugurated, and that
Texas could find solution for the
railway question more readily
through this means than any
other, provided the bill were not
shaped on short of Granger code.
The STATESMAN desires to see the
railways treated as they deserve, for
they are the greatest agencies in
advancing Texas in population and
in wealth and in material prosper
ity. 1t will not do to cripple them
but the people demand protection
against the extortions of "soulless
corporations" and they ought to
have it.
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THE ALL-COTTON POLICY.