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

ments have presented to this house a |
bill inviting, authorizing and legaliZ- |
ing this very evil, so hurtful to the |
interests of the great people of the |
state; and, strange to say, this bill |
comes from the plastic hand of the |
distinguished chairman of that COM
mittee, the gentleman from Fannin
(Mr. ChenOweth), who speaks with so
much ardor upon this question in the
interests of the people. Now, sir, as
| said, l believe this to be practical
business proposition-one capable of
business solution upon the basis of
money invested and revenue pro-
duced, as l have indicated.
Mr.. Foster, of Limestone-Have
you made the investigation upon that
basis?
Mr.. Robertson have not had the
means of investigation at hand and
have not.
Mr.. FOSTER have.
Mr.. Robertson-Thes statutes of our
state, as they now exist, are far more
preferable than this bill, as presented
by the committee. By the provisions
of article 1857 of our revised statutes,
unjust discrimination against people
and places is prohibited, and it pro-
vides that if railroad companies
charge more freight for short than
they do for longer distance, such
charge is prima facie an unjust discrim-
ination. 1t is useless for gentlemen to
tell me that the provisions of this bill,
as presented here afford the relief to the
people demanded by them, or that our
present statutes on this subject should
be supplanted by such provisions as
| fhn Tf tho
proviSo does not favor and in
vite discrimination, L would be
grateful to any member of the
committee on internal improvements
to give us d sample of his reasoning
that will carry him to any other con-
clusion.
My friends, the gentleman from
Dallas (Mr. Cochran), and the gentle
man from Grayson (Mr. FOSTER, both
tell us that this clause ought to re-
main in the bill, and that it is the
only protection to the towns having
two or more railroads, and the only
thing that will secure to the people
living at those points cheap freightS.
But they do not tell us how the towns
and shipping points not thus favored
with competition will have to pay in
| GllO way VI OfOlClldi geo lOI buC DOAOtluo
enjoyed by their more favored neigh
, good Democrats, would, doubtless,
: at any time, tell us of the
unjust class legislation of our
: the manufacturing interests of the
law that will in it's practical opera
| tiAnc no cnnainc of tho most Aan0ar-
GUS and hurtful class legislation.
/ and Great Northern railroad from
Palestine to San Antonio under this
: provision, and we find at the towns
) of Hearne. Milano Junction, Taylor
/ Austin and San Antonio, this COM
pany can make its own freight rates
1t can discriminate at its pleasure
| against all other points. And the
{ man trying to do little business at
} Round Rock, Georgetown, Hutto OF
San Marcos cannot compete with his
: rival in the neighboring town in
{ prices, because of the unjust advant-
5 age given him in freights.
D. This illustration holds good with
$ regard to all the roads in this state
Y under the operations of this unjust
t provision. Now, Mr.. Speaker, there
1 is demand all over this state for
p protection from the combined monOp-
oily power of these great corporations
e The people are looking to and de-
Y handing of this legislature the en-
e actment of just and wholesome laws
S upon this subject. My people demand
4 it, and l am anxious to give them
r such laws as will give ample pro-
lection to their industries and protect
l the fruit of their labOrs from unjust
e and unreasonable eXactionS on the
/ part of these corporations; but at the
' same time they ask no unreasonable
D law. They do not demand that we
: enact laws that will intimi-
1 date and drive from us
! capital, or that will not protect the
properties of these corporations. They
/ realize the large interests involved
| that these companies have invested
e about S160,O00,0O0 in our state, that
Y they annually disburse about $12, OO0,-
]. 600, and give employment to $4,000 OF
our people, and that they are the one
2 influence above all others, that has re
f Gently done wonders in developing the
s resources of this great state. They
: desire laws that will make freights
uniform and equal, which is the only
= protection to their interests, and that
$ will prevent one man in the same neigh
borhood from having an advantage
o over another. This bill gives that
advantage, and with that provision il
: it / cannot vote for 1t and represent
) the best interests of my constituency
/. Speaker-The question is on the
motion of the gentleman from Cald
well to strike out the proviso in sec
f ton IL.
Mr.. Hill, of Polk, said want Il
!, answer some of the arguments which
q the gentleman from Williamson ha'
Q advanced. l am not welded to this
: committee bill. 1t is not such bill
q as we ought to pass. The gentleman
: said he was not opposed to measures
: that are just to the railroads and tt
! the people. Gentlemen may differ
q among themselves as to this question
What they consider just may amount
to nothing. According to the argu
ments of the gentlemen (Acker, GRAY
4 ems and Robertson), they really wan
: very little legislation at all. Either
,, they or l don't understand it. tt
= Mr.. Acker-I think l understand Il
. vote l understand well enough thu
= effect of voting to strike out the frs
a section of the bill providing for thu
. commission. What occurs to me frs
. is to amend this bill, and then, if ;
= better one be offered as a substitute,
propose to vote for it. In the mean
\ time L shall aim to get this bill in thu
y best shape possible.
= AS to the argument as to what thu
% railroads had contributed to the CAPT
tai values of the property of the state
o Mr.. Hill met this by calling attention
70 to the fact that the state had giveI
= them 3S, 4S6,736 acres of the publi
=, domain which, at its value wheI
= given them, say one dollar per acre
= was more than the whole of theil
y property and wealth. He commended
y that we had right from eminent do
main and public utility, to eXercis
= some control over them as common
:, carriers, as we do over ferries or an.
y other means of public convenience
?, We had a right to prevent the pooling
% and dividing of issues by great rail
70 road interests, so as to protect tn,
~ people against eXtortion from tn
highest prices, which would NATURAL,
y be the result of pooling and partner
p ship of interests. This bill propose
70 to prevent pooling.
20 Mr.. Hill spoke further, reviewing
y his position heretofore on the subjec
y of railroad legislation, showing tn,
: entire consistency of his course, ant
n making an able argument.
- - Mr.. Lakewood sBid: Since the rail