Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-02-20

Correspondence Between Mr.. Chcno.
with and Governor Brown, on the
Railroad Bill.
Hon. 4. q. Chenaworth. Chairman Com |
mittce on International improvements, |
House ofRepresentatives, Austin. Tex
Austin, Tex, February IL, 1885,
Dear Sir have just learned that the |
evidence taken by your COMMITTEES un-
der an order OF the House of Repre-
on certain pending bills
railroads I'm this state, has
been ordered TO be printed. AS this
evidence has been taken under cir
that the repre-
sentatives of the railroad companies
could not cross-examine or countact |
the effect of the testimony, | respect |
fully request, on behalf OF the railroad |
interests Of the state, an opportunity OF
inspecting il, and afterwards, 10 rebuff |
and discuss the same, IL deemed neces-
sary. i'm presence of your committee
before you shall have reported any bill
to the house The scope of the resolu-
ton of the house, under which the
evidence has been taken, Is, as we un-
derstand, To elicit such Information as
may enable the legislative department
to six reasonable maximum rates" on
the traffic of railroad lines in the state.
And as this question materially affects
the value Of the properties which we
represent, and which pay large por-
ton OF the taxes of the state about 10
per cent? we believe your commit
Zee will accord to US ample oppor-
tunity to be heard in the protection
of our interests. have the homer TO
be, very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
JoHN c. BROWN.
Vice-president and General Solicitor.
Austin, February ID, lss2.-Dcar
Sir-Your favor of the l2lh-
instant requesting, "in behalf of the
railroad interests of the state, an OPP
portunity ofinspecting and afterwards
10 rebut and discuss 1.-The testimony
taken before the subcommittee of the
. Committee on Internal Improve
ment,n received late last evening, and
| | reply at the very earliest opportu-
! nifty afforded me after consulting with
! the other members of the 81 h-comilit-
! tee. or course you and ! would differ
rs To what character of testimony
| would be german to the subject with
! in the scope of the resolution, and un-
der which the committee are now act
! ing-but the process of taking the testi.
| mony, such as ii is, has been going on
/ for ten days, all within the knowledge
of the representatives of the railroad
/ companies, and some of the ablest and
| most thoroughly posted of the repre-
sentatives being called first to testify,
and this Is the first intimation given
the com mittee from any source that IT
was desired In behalf of the railroads
that the investigation should be turned
into a trial and the witnesses were eX-
cused | assure you that / know of no
one on the committee who is disposed
to deal out any injuries to the great in
terests you represent, but the SEES
sion of the Legislature, now more than
half spent, and the admission of your
demanf" Win simply mean that no bill
is to b&hported from the committe al
! all. We expected to complete the tes
;.''iin6iiy, ii possible, to-day, but desir
ing to show you any courtesy in on!
power consistent with what we deem
10 be our duty in thepremses, we will
be pleased to have you come in person
before them. as II witness, If you arr
possessed OF any facts or desire to make
any statementto appear in the PRINTED
testimony which would, in your opin
ION, add To the solution of the question
= of fixing reasonable maximum rate,
of freight" on railroads, now pending
,, before the committees; or, if there II
any other testimony you deem inn
! portant to present which viii
not materially delay the actor
, of the subcommittee, which
is not under promise to report L
the whole committee tomorrow, w
will cheerfully receive the same. W.
cannot believe that any action con
lemplated by the committee on inter
nal improvements will affect inju
riously the great interest you repre-
: sent. The constitution of Texas is i'm
perative in It's demands in TIT
. premises, the committee are ut leas
Z acting In the fun light Of n very sue
:, cessful cxsmpliiication of the worl
y they propose.
9 The subcommittee did not deem
X proper in executing the purpose of til
u house resolution to 20 into an investi
. CATION of the financial affairs of tn
e railroads in the state, II you desir
y this, however, we will undertake TIA
!, same If no great delay will be Gee;
!, stoned thereby, Respectfully sui
y mittcd
. JAS. q, CHENowIrH, Chairman.
@ Austin, Texas. February lS.-De,
= sir: am this moment In receipt
q yours OF this date, In reply TO my moi
! of yesterday, and beg to thank yc
n and the committee of which you al
Y chairman for the assurance of u desil
TO deal with fairness toward the greu
u interest 1, in part, represent, NJ
}. note of yesterday was inspired by til
a convictions and confirmed, as al
~ now, In my previous opinion, an
! without taking time ut present to r
~ ply to other parts your letter, no
" most respectfully renew with increase
y, confidence the request whic
~ was the primary and princip
ef object of that note but which W
y have overlooked in your courteot
u reply--that is, n request TO inspect Il
=, testimony taken by your commit,
~ under the resolution of that house
W enable us 10 ascertain the facts q
le which the proposed legislation is to |
. 1ottomed, and then, II believed nece
'" sary by us, to furnish your commit,
,,ytf a.. ,.lls Il 90