The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-03-06

aineadIng the charter OF the city of Hous-
ton. Adopted.
Under suspension OF the rules, the bill
passed the house with the requisite majority
10 make II take effect nom aud after its
passage.
The report of the committee ON .he nm
proprlation bill was adopted.
The special order being the railway com.
mission bill, Stagner resumed his argument
in support of the bill, aud cited other
states, notably Missouri, where there was a
law existing, just sud equitable bot h to the
said roads and TO the people, similar to that
proposed IN the bill, He said there were
two great powers in Texas, depomlna,ed
the Huntington and the Gould. which
would eventually, IL not checked, absorb
the vitals OF the state, that day after day
corruption was gradually stealing into the
state-houSe OF Texas, and he believed il TO
be the right OF the people to condemn
II; to look well 70 the past, TO look
our grand old domain, and be careful tbs,
the penitentiary combination, the land
combination aud the railway combinations
do not transiix the rights OF the people,
crushing every liberty.
Scott said that 1t was his honest opinion
that neither one ot the gentlemen wanted
the bill To pass the house in its entiretv
neither one OF them had offered plausible
argument in its favor; that they had indi.
rectly abused railways, but had admitted
the bill proposed was .ot satisfactory that
they reminded him OF the lrishman who
caught a skunk for beautiful bird, and
that they had raised stink enough
for t"o continents lie said he
knew that those who espoused the cause OF
railroads would be subject to villiloation
but that he favored that that was right. inst
and proper. The railroads had built up
Texas and given her the present prosperity
which she now enjoyed, and he was opposed
to any legislation which would in the least
oppress the great iorerunners of civilization
| and progress. he criticized severely the
idea OF creating commission nunacouaipted
| with the workings of railroad companies
and insisted that the amount expended IN
the maintenance OF that commission Mould
be a useless expenditure by the state.
Foster, OF Limestone, said that the gen.
tlemes insisted that there was no necessity
OF railroad legislation that he would refer
them to the declaration of lhe people as
expressed III their constitution, making il
mandatory Tor the legislature to enact some
law controlling railroads; that railroad leg.
islation had been urged in the platforms Of
both political parties, and then why should
the gentlemen say there was no demand
for legislation on this subject? Mr., Foster
referred to that part OF the testimony show.
ing that injustice was done to intermediate
points, by requiring them to paw for sdyan
tages enjoyed by large towns, giving them
rebates and lower rates. He referred par
,icularly to the testimony of Mr.. Richard
Arnold, in which he (Arnold) said he re-
ceiyed, or was offered, for every bale of cot
ton shipped over the Santa Fe road, sacl
of salt.
Labatt--"I have an affidavit stating tina,
the testimony of Arnold is untrue. | will
read 1t ii the gentleman will permit"
roster" You may read it when you
make your speech"
Acker said that he had no political aspir.
ations to crafty nor no private interests to
look after in the discussion of the bill bal
that he should consider it from the stand
point OF private citizen, desiring to dc
justice to all parties that we should moi
neglect nor oppress the millions of capitel
which we had invited into our state, anC
which had comein good faith and deyelopeC
up the great commercial interests of oul
country; that railroads contributed largely
to the support of our government and
paid more than one-tenth of the general
revenue of the state. He contrasted th(
difference between the cost of building rail
roads III Texas asid ir other states showing
that the c9st n, Sgl9 IN Texas was much
greater, and That tho same legislation iii re-
gard TO railroads in Texas as in other states
would work great hardship, and that rail
roads in Texas have never been able TO pay
to any original stockholder single dollar
OF dividend. He said he was in favor O
some legislation IN regard to railroads, but
that he considered the bill proposed unjust
| The time for the appointment ofa com
mission had not yet arrived though the
time might come in the future when such 1
commission would be necessary. II,
thought that the commission would incur 1
useless expense to the state.
Pending further discussion. Upton arose
to point of order, that no man should be
permitted to speak over thirty minutes or
any one question.
Swami viii give the gentleman my
time"
Upton--"rhe gentleman has no right tc
offer his time until he is recognized by the
speaker, | disclaim any discourtesy TO the
gentleman from Lampasas, but ifthe mem.
bers are permitted TO speak half an hour on
this subject we will be here at. least sixty
days longer.n
Acker-"I don't think have consumed
my entire time. have few minutes
longer"
The speaker decided that the gontle-
mans time had not been consumed, and
Acker proceeding, said he was sorry that
he was boring his friend from Fayetts; that
he had never spoken on any subject here.
toiore more than three minutes, and that
he believed II to be duty to his people to
express his honest sentiments. He referred
to the criticism of the press of the state
made by MIR. Chenoweth on last Saturday
and mid thapt a hitch N n tnrt In
they had taken. He said reference had
been made to Mr.. Arnold's testimony be-
fore, the committee, Arnold is a
truthful man, but like your humble
servant and many others, nature had not
been liberal in bestowing upon him the
power OF understanding. tie Is an honest
man. l know HIM well, but there is such
thing as being mistaken. AT the conclusion
OF Mr.. Acker's remarks, which were listened
to with marked attention, a motion was
made to consider the bill section by section
and adopted.
The first section, relating to the appoint
ment OF commissioners, was adopted
yeas, i9 nays, As.
The house then adjourned till 3 p. M.
EVENING SESSION.
Newton had motion spread on the
journals to reconsider the vote by which
tne hrst sectlon 10 the railway commission
bill was adopted.
On motto" Of Cochran tho bill removing
the civil disabilities of w. Il. Harper, a
minor, was taken up and under suspen.
sion Of the rules, passed the house with the
requisite majority 10 make Sake effect
from and after its passage
The special order being the appropriation
bill the pending business before the com
mittee being the department of education.
Rosenthal moved to reconsider the vote by
which 81 900 was appropriated for the pur.
chase OF u library each year and TO strike
out the appropriation for the second year.
Adopted.
Ayers offered an amendment requiring
the appropriation OF $4,000 for tho Agri.
cultural and Mechanical college, TO be paid
out OF the general revenue, inste ad of tho
university fund.
Hill offered the folio siug substitute, for
the purpose Of maintaining and supporting