The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-03-08

He had great admiration for the abili-
ty of the author of the bill, but look
ing at 1t from business standpoint,
he feared that that gentleman, as the
Agamemnon of theday, might meet a
fate like that of the Greek Agamem-
non of old. If Jules Verne or the
man of the moon had formulated a
railroad bill he should expect Just
such bill as this, because it was too
theoretical and impracticable. He
really didn't believe they expected the
bill to become law. While oppos-
ing it he desired to say that
he did so from no selfish
motives. He was not acquainted
with prominent railroad officials, and
never had any favors from them. He
spoke warmly of the interests of the
state, eliciting some applause.
The bill, he argued, contemplated a
triumvirate of excessive and unwar-
ranted power, at an expense for their
salaries of $4,000 for two years, sim
ply to control railroads that need no
control outside of that provided 10y
existing statutes. One of the com
mission has to be Il learned lawyer.
III was the common impression that
what lawyer don't know wont make
fly leaf to "A spelling book. His eX-
perlence was that the best lawyers
were those who confined themselves
TO their profession, and for that rea-
son were not so learned in railroad
matters. The second commissioner
was to be an engineer. The third is
TO be some one not interested in rail
roads, who for that reason is
not supposed to be well versed
in such matters. But further and
more important than this, the bill
delegates to the commission greater
powers than have ever been delegated
in this state before. He alluded especi-
ally to the power of Imprisonment
conferred upon them. 1t compels
railroads., too, to do a retail and
wholesale business in the transporta-
ton of freights, so that the man who
charters one car has to pay the same
price as one who charters fifty or 100
cars. Section 3 of the constitution,
he thought, was sufficient on this
subject. He didn't want any better
law than that which keeps up useful
competition. Section II of the bill
violates that.
AS to the cry that the railroads
were robbing the people, he remem-
bered when western Texas was al
| most without railroads and lands in
northern Texas sold at 80 cents to 81
which are now worth from $40 to $l5
dollars per acre. lie cited the fact
that under the influence of railroads,
capital values had increased i'll ten
years $161, 737,S07 and population
774,Ol9. The people did not want
such restrictive legislation as would
Cypress property. We have not the
space to follow his arguments further.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Speaker Gibson and quorum
| present.
Mr.. Newton moved to reconsider
the vote by which the first section of
the railroad bill was adopted, and to
spread that motion on the table. Re-
quest granted.
Mr.. Kings bill for the emancipation
of VIM. Il. Harper, minor, was I'M
der suspension of the rules finally
| passed.
By request of Mr.. Elliott the com
mittee to examine the comptroller
and treaSurer's Office were excused
from attendance during the evening
Committee reports were sent up
without reading.
The house then went into committee
of the whole to further consider
THE GENERAL APPROPRIATION BILL
On motion of Mr.. Rosenthal the
item of $1,000, adopted the day before,
for purchase of library for depart
ment of education, was reconsidered
and the item stricken out.
Other appropriations were adopted
as follows:
STATE UNIVERSITY.
1884 ls54-5
| For support, establishment
and maintenance OF the state
| university, erectiono of build
ings and purchase OF al ac-
| cessO.ies necessary, TO be
under control OF the board University
| oil regents, all the available fund NJ
university fund on hand, or expressed.
accrning, as far as may be
necessary in the Judgment of
the regents, for both years.
\. AND NJ. COLLEGE.
For support of the A. and M
college for fiscal year ending
August 81, 1885, ont of the
university iund........ go. --- -
Mr.. Hill offered a substitute, which
was adopted, as follows: For the pur
pose of maintaining, supporting ant
instructing free of charge at the agri
cultural and mechanical college OF
Texas, one student for each represent
alive in each representative distric
in the state, one-half of which stu
dents shall take an agricultural anC
the other half a mechanical course
out of the university fund, $4,000
$4,000.
Mr.. Ayres offered substitute emu
merating specific items for an appro