The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-01-26
Determinations and Extortions in th'
Rates Charged for
Transportation Of Passengers and
Freights
Ia This State, Wd TO Prescribe
a Mode

Iu This State, AID TO Prescribe
a Mode
or Procedure In Relation Thereto.
The following the text of the bill which
was introduced in the house by Mr..
Chenoweth, January 9,1SS3, and which was
read by caption and referred to committee
on internal improvements. The bill is now
in the hands OF the subcommittee.
BE 1t cnuctad by the Legislature of the State of
Texas
SECTION l. That the governor be and he is
hereby authorized and required to appoint,
by and with the advice and consent of the
senate three commissioners, who shall be
styled ''the commissioners of railroads,
and who shall hold their offices for two
! years, and until their successors
have been duly appointed and quail
fed One of said commissioners shall be
of learning and experience in the law, and
one shall be OF learning and experience as
civil engineer, but no person owning bonds
stocks or other property IN any railroad or
transportation company, or who may lie IN
employment of any railroad or trensporta-
ton company, or who shall in any other
way or manner be personally interes ed
therein, shall be eligible for the office of
commissioner herein created. The salary
of each OF said commissioners shall be
twenty-five hundred dollars an 1ually, pay
able quarterly out OF the state treasury.
The governor shall fiji any vacancy among
the commissioners which may occur by
death, resignation, or removal from Office,
which power OF removal for good GAUGE
shown, is hereby expressly given to the
governor.
Sec 2. That he commissioners herein
a ~. an l,r,, bod ,t,,t nf
lice, furniture and stationery, and may EN-.
ploy a clerk AZ annual salary not 10 exceed
fifteen hundred dollars at the expense of the
: state, said salary to be paid
monthly; The Office Of said
commissioners shall be kept in the
thorized by this act TO be paid out OF the
state treasury shall be paid on the order Of
the governor only, and the amounts Tor tho
Office rent, furniture. stationery, printing
and postage, and travelling and contigent
VI expenses OF said commissioners shall in no
( case exceed the snm of two thousand dolla 5
per annum, or so much thereof as may be
necessary Said commissioners shall be
provided with seal made after the form
OF the ordinary notarial seal,
except that after the word Texas be-
tween the points of the star the words
''railroad commissioners" shall be around
the margin.
entering upon the duties OF. their office,
shall each make, subscribe and file with
the secretary ofstate the following oath in
addition to the oath prescribed by the con-
stilution; II do solemly swear Tor allirm)
that will faithfully discharge the duties OF
commissioner OF railroads TO the best OF ply
ability; that am not stockholder ln any
railroad, freight or transportation company
nor in xs,ay way directly or indirectly, In
stes RSSGi tas :, sS Each Of ssaid
LOEB sl sn aaa i hs saces Sa%@
"a at least two sureties to be up.
TE the g SM5rs co m tine sum ao %
'-~~E - faithful performance VI the duties Of
Sec. 4. That the commissioners herein
provided for, when appointed and qualified
shall proceed to organize by electing one Of
their number us president and appointing
n c,erk. and any two of said commissioner
shall constitute quorum OF the said board
Sec. 8. That said commissioners shall
have general supervision and control owl
ali railroads, freight, or transportation com
panies, or lines IN this state, ana shall care
fully examine and inspect the same as otter
ne NAV bo necessary, and keep themselve:
fully informed as to the condition OF Tn,
companies, their railways, bridges, culverts
cmbankments, tracks or other structures
and the manner in which such railroad
freight or transportation compa ,i OF ilne'
are operated with reference to the security
conyenience and rights Of the public; ant
shall also inform themselves as to the com
pliance on the part OF such raliroau o.
transportation companies with all the pro
visions OF the several charters OF the SAT-
companies and with the laws OF this state
y ~ Sec. @. The said railroad commissioner
shall. on or before the first day of Deem
her OF each year, make and submit to Tn
governor report of their osioia
acts for the year ending INT
first day Of October next preceding
rom the returns of the several railroad
Companies, and all such Information 10
~ardinc the affairs and condition OF Thu
rsilroads Of this state, and such sugges
lions concerning them, their affairs ant
i"r ths regulation thereof as the said com
missioners may deem to be ofpublic inter
ast benefit or Importance. Three thousan,
comics of the said report shall be printed
Is provided for by law for the printing Q
other public Documents amd s ma s Sto, prop y
erly distributed throughout the state D.
Sse. Y. The railroad commissioners shall
twice IN each year, and at such other time
s} MA they may deem 1t necessary
carefully inspect "a the .h.,, railroad Sss
themselves informed as to the condition
az the same, and the manner Ia which the
y are operated, with especial reference to "a
"a safety and proper accommodation oil N
| public. and also us TO the compliance OF III
SEVERAL railroad companies or corporation
with the laws Of the state. and II shall o
N --.thc duty Of said commissioners, wheneve
IN s,SS hive reasonable grounds TO believe ina
q !, N OF The tracks, bridgcs.or,other structure
AZ i ANY rail road In this state are IN condl
~ zion which renders any Of them dangerou
A >or unfit for the transportation Of passenger
" OF freight with reasonable SAFETY, 70 CIV
ID 10 tho manager, superintendent or otner es
ecutivo officer OF the company, working
N operating the line Of railroad upon whic
n said dangerous or defective track, bridge Q
N. othor structure may be found
, aSi,Ss thereof ' and Of the repair
necessary 10 place the same In safe cond
tIon: And the said commissioners are ais
A a. authorized and empowered to oruer ana III
n ret ths speed Of trains over such uangerou
Y IN ar dcfcotivo track, bridge or other structur
N until tho said repairs are made, ana II an.
i n mnuapcr. Superintendent or other exccutiv
N.Y. o1lIucr aforesaid upon receiving such writto
III notice. shnll wilmlly neglect 70 take tli
noccsssr sSsseps towards having said repair
4 ~ N, sdks - >made, or II the instructions Q
l..7 n gutter sisSIoners In relation to tn
uIde of Lannvcr such dangerous or Dc
..4 0nd Maia utr4igs or other structure, 3
Tha lslleso repairs thereof, shall b
>kSrSh Mn r)fded by any manager
XTS. 7li Ihor other executive ofurcr
-" 49, xmuDyc OF auy rail
M W. q w iihls state, then every sucl
II ,...:c's IA n 1ndant or other exec
|.| 49, - ~piOyo shall be deemed