The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-03-15
THE GIBSON BILL.

During the consideration of the
Chenoweth railroad bill Yesterday, in
the house. Mr.. Gibson offered sub
stitute for the entire bill. 1t is SINH
lar to one presented during the regu-
lar session of the seventeenth legisla-
ture, the adoption of which Mr.. Glib
son at that time urged, and to which
the STATESMAN especially gave its
adhesion as measure proposing not
only competent and wise regulation
for railways, but which contained in
its propositions no dangerous attacks
upon the greatest growing industry
of Texas, to which further rapid
development looks for encourage
ment. Mr.. Gibson's substitute, which
he asked that members consider well
even before deciding to extend to 1t
committee consideration, provides for
appointment by the governor of a
state engineer, to hold Office two
years at salary of $1,000 per annum,
who is to have for secretary a COM
petent draughtsman at a salary OF
$500, the Office to be at Austin. 1t
prescribes their oaths as to non-in-
terest in railroads, and defines their
duties. The bill prescribes at length
against determinations and eXtortions
by railroads, fixing penalties for any
violation of the provisions of the bill
1t simply provides further that maxi
mum rates shall be uniform and just
without attempting their classification
in the bill; and with the exception
= that it provides for state engineer
f instead of a commissioner to inspec
: the railroads, it is in its genera
: features similar to the house bill
/ now being considered, with TIN
classification struck out and other
| wise slightly amended. AS we hav,
I stated, "a bill almost identical will
. this substitute was before the frs
session of the seventeenth Legislature
e but dangerous and unconstitutiona
Z measure claimed the attention of tn
legislature, and was defeated, an,
5 with its defeat the bilf providing TO
!, competent supervision was over
:, whelmed and lost sight of. Governo
e Roberts in a message to the legisla
Q ture suggested the bill which so nue.
e resembles Mr.. Gibson's substitute
but though introduced and urged,
was crowded out of the way by tn
S more radical measure, and the latter
o consuming the time of the house, wa
It finally defeated, and the former faile
n to secure that consideration which
s merited. While this commission
s measure has been considered now tn
:. third time, while it is, under our pr
Q culiar constitution, generally pre-
o nounced unconstitutional, it
+ strange that time is wasted in consiC
II ering it. 1t cannot be that any VIII
s urge it are wilfully obstructing raj
Q way legislation by their advocacy G
u this bill; it cannot be that these al
y parently earnest men are not i
earnest. No one impugns the motive
y of single gentleman who advocate
the Chenoweth bill, and many G
them, even its author among then
have displayed generosity, shown
i that they are ready to yield to tn
% Judgment of others. Seeing the in
. possibility of adjusting the commits
v sion bill, it may be tina
u the Gibson substitute will be adopte
70 and even made law. The STATE.
u MAN is ready to endorse such bill 6
y this, as it has done before, because
Z provides for just supervision, whic
70 it is admitted the state needs, Will
/ ! it is not dangerous to these great ell
II terprises that are cooperating wit
l. the people for the grandest deyelol
II ment of Texas.