The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-02-01


aify,' The governor was On hand, about
ne happy rs on the day Of his domination
and OH the day Of his election, listening 10
me elegant com plments extended TO him
by tile lair sex ~ supplementary 20 thal
paid by the stefner when IN July ana no
yember last they hUnorCd him with the
position for which he evidently ieels
greatful.
RICHARD IS HIMSELF AGAIN.
The action OF OOth senate hnu
house on yesterday in Projecting
senator Coke to succeed himself
loi the next six.year United States sena.
torial term, WAS a scene not often witnessed
IN the strife aud asDi.at Tor political
glory. His unanimous selection, without a
single dissenting voice, was lifting tribute
10 the grand man who has so ably repre-
sented in the past so grand state, rs SUI
preme court judge, as governor and as
Federal senator. All over Texas the press
had spread the intelligence OF his hne
efforts in congress, until the people,
without distinction of party, had
come to believe him to be, what indeed he
is. the peer of any representative at the
capitol in Washington. All .partisanship
was thrown off yesterday, and democrats,
republicans, greenbackers, independents
and others spoke with one voice and as one
man, and did for Richard Coke what no
other man on yesterday in these many
states had been complimented with-gaye
him unanimous and earnest vote for
the United States senatorship, without
the taintest shadow of opposition.
The many eulogistic nominating and en-
dorsement speeches were nothing else than
thoroughly deserved.
There seems to be growing determine
ton.
TO DIvE:T COMMISSIONER WALSH
of the great discretionary power which had
been invested in him, and to allow him
hereafter only what is permitted to all 9TH
err government officials, a strict conformity
with the law, and there will be adequate
legislation to this end very shorty in
troduced and pushed to contamination.
In the matter Of the law passed
day before yesterday
WITHDRAWING THE PUBLIC LANDS
from market, Mr.. Walsh decides that it can
not affect parties Who had entered their
files In the surveyors office previous to its
passage. Hence, those who are in that sta
tus can push on their work and come up
within the prescribed sixty days, pay the
fi!ty cents per acre and acquire perfect IT,
tie.
There will be strong effortmade in day
or two to grant an extraordl'
nary appropriation to the insane
asylum, viz: $5O0,OOO. This is just the
treasury. 1t is now universally conceded
that this institution should be literally
dealt with, but certainly this figure is I'M
warranted, and the comptroller had best be
first asked if his revenues will permit such
liberality. 1t is thought by those who
ought to know and who have the III
terest OF
THE LUNATICs
at heart that, Sl5O,OOO would be ample for
Ill iran n and tn nrnV1fn for
a very large accession OF this unfortunate
class now so wretchedly accommodated
throughout the entire state.
The house bill of Representative Cheno-
weth, providing for "the creation of a board
for the assessment and equalization of raj
road rolling stock, etc., strangely enough
was approved by the committee who have
evidently acted without due reflection, and
who should revise their action. You will
have observed that it constitutes the "gOv-
ernor, comptroller and commissioner OF the
general land office" as the board for said
purpose. Now, this is surely IN conflict
with the constitution of the state. Section
IL of article s, sayss that 'all property OF
railroad companies shall be assessed,
and the taxes collected IN the
several counties in which said
property is situated, etc. The railroad
stock may be as essed in gross in the county
where the principal Office of the company is
located, and the tax paid upon 1t shall be
apportioned by the comptroller" etc. And
again: section Is of the same article says:
THE legislature shall provide for equal.
izing, as near as may be, the valuation OF
all property subject to or rendered for taxa
ton, the county commissioners court to
constitute the board OF equalization" We
ought to go slow on all this business, or the
first thing we shall know will be
the exemption, because of such conflicts, OF
the corporations from all taxation whatever.
CHENowETH's RAILROAD BILL,
now in possession of the committee on ln-
ternal improvements, being house bill No.
225, providing for the appointment OF
board of commissioners for railroads, pre-
scribing their powers, duties and salaries,
etc., and establishing maximum rates Tor
OF passengers and irelghts,
is calculated TO raj, q breeze IN railroad
circles. One feature about 1t is promi-
nentlv conspicuous,it bristles with fines and
penalties. Another one is that makes
severe concessions on points which the
last session were subsequently much
on in several matters.
Its iull of blanks in the matter OF
charges. These blanks are to be hlled,
assume, after conference shall be had with
officials and experts, with railroad men, to
whom these charges are familiar. Tine first
question that arises is as to the constltu-
tlonality of the appointment of a commits
sion as proposed, viz with "a general su-
peryision and control over all railway lines
in the state, examining and inspecting the
same whenever they shall deem necessary
The constitution says THE Legislature shalI
pass laws TO prevent abuses and correct uu-
ust discrimination and extortion IN the
rates OF freight and passenger traffic on the
different railroads N the state and SHAH
rom time to time pass laws establishing
reasonable maximum rates OF charges, ETC.,
md enforce all such laws by adequate pen
,lties" This is explicit as to what the
legislature shall do directly, but is there
my warrant in the language to permit the
legislature TO delcgat its special power to
iome osher pove-, be this com mission or
m individual? Another question that then
presents itself is, will 1t not be requisite that
he whole commission act, or, whether
/ is legal that "any two Of said COM
uissioners shall constitute q quorum,
a do what the commission is TO do?
%, too, the constitution prov .des that 1t
hall be the province OF THE attorney.
,eneral to inquire into the charter rights OF
IN private corporations, and from time to
ime take such action in the courts as may
,e proper and necessary 10 prevent any cor
,oration from exercising any power or de-
handing or collecting any species OF taNes,
oils. frelghts. etc not authorized by law.
VOW, does not the Chenoweth bill offer
,onaict of authority, when il puts this iden-
zeal power INTO the hands OF commission
on exercise? These are some OF the constr
utional points that occur as We read the
ct. Another feature about II u that u IN
q many instances makes the servants
" employees Of Il railroad companies
-uiltv OF misdemeanOrs, ielOnies etc.i
md tubiects them TO many Enes. Section
m. for instance, is replete with them;
mis- makes them, a. i were, marked
lass. and subjecting them 70 imprison-
nent In Jail, or the state penitentiafy' along
yith the fines, for any time nom three
months up TO ten years; Il more or less de-
-rades the charscler Of the employ
nent. The corporations tnemseiN.s
bonid be made liable 70 penal
- and fines, not the poor, labOring man.
hi cCu~.e All individuals are held Liable
= - - -. .f.fn fur Al rHiI-