Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-01-28
pitleultIes n RaIlway Lensla.ion.

F.. w NffNt AittrAftN tll NV ttfAi NNNiN~s
-
Difficulties in Railway Legislation.
The discussion OF a resolution in the
house Of representative 81 the Texas
legislature on Thursday iast. empow-
ering the committee on internal Inn
provement 10 send for PERSONS aud
papers, in order to elicit Information
on the SUBJECT Of a maximum rate for
the transportation Of freight and pas
sengers, develops the faci that leglsla-
tors are not set advised upon this
complex and intricate subject. 4
bill was before the special session Of
the Seventeenth Legislature provid-
ing for the appointment Of q commits
sion TO gather and 'tabulate informa-
ton FOR the use and benefit OF the
Eighteenth Legislature, hut failed IN
its passage The management Of
railways, what should be the
maximum or minimum charge for
transporting freight or passengers
given distance, what constitutes un-
just discrimination between points
are all questions rot yet satisfactorily
solved by the managers Of railways,
and the clliefs of the several depart
menis Of roads IN Texas, who have
given years ia the effort % arrive at a
correct conclusion on the subject. and
II Is not a matter % surprise that the
average legislator. selected from the
body OF the people, should lack inlor-
nation on this Vexed aud harnssing
question. They recognize aud appre-
ciate the fact that the people expect
something from them, and they are
DESTROYS of satisfying the demands Of
their constituents, but there IS not one
among them who can tell what il
right and what H. wrong
Us e the promises. The chair
man OF the committee referred to
Is agcAtleman learned 10 the law. and
possessed Of Information on this and
kindred subjects, beyond his ken, set
after two years Of faithful application
( TIC feels constrained 10 ask that The at
( tendance OF experts may bc com
PEELED before the committee, in order
+ to obtain from them information
which IS not in the possession OF him
SELF or bis committee And herein
lies the chief difficulty In formulating
legislation on the subject the want OF
1 information. The state Of Texas does
not desire nor can II afford tocnact un-
just or oppressive laws for the govern
ment OF railroads. The last two wears
has witnessed rapid strides In railway
construction in Texas, bat the half il
not yet done. There are yet
large tcrritories undeyeloped, requiring
( the advent Of the iron horse to make
them productive, and, ia many eases,
habitnhic. Unjust legislation may
check this development, and inilict
incalculable injury upon the state in
It's march of development and progress.
The demand for general legislation on
this subject does not warrant the adop.
non OF untrled experiments. The peo-
! pie viii be content ii The legislature
corrects the abuses and provide RENE
/ dies for evils that are in sight, aud
/ which are recognized ana understood.
leaving the field ofconlecture and cx-
pertinent 70 time aud experience.
Were TeNns eridironed with railroads.
aud prepared to say 10 those who IN
vest their capital in railroad construc-
ton, that the state was in.
different TO their success. it
ooull afford 10 eNpcrlmer {
IN railroad legislation. The reverse OF
this being the ease Il would be wise,
polite aud eXpedicnt to connne legis-
lation to such subjects as aredeiinitely
understood and which will prove bonc-
iieial to the people without doing in.
Justice and injury to the roads.