The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-04-11
GIBSON BILL.

che session.
SECTION /. Be il enacted by the legislature
Of the state Of Texas, That the governor
shall appoint, by and with the advice aud
consent of the senate, an engineer, expert
enced in the construction and maintenance
of railways, who shall be state engineer
who shall hold his office for two years, OF
until his successor is qualified, but shall
be subject to removal by the governor
at any time. In case OF removal, The
governor may appoint successor until
the meeting OF the next Legislature, wher
said amendment shall be submitted TO the
senate for approval.
Sec. .. The state engineer shall receive
an annual salary of 5000. In travelling
upon the line of any railway in this state
In the discharge OF his duties, he shall also
be entitled to charge for the actual amount
paid out for railway fare and travelling ex
penses, in no case to exceed 81 per day IN
excess of railway fare paid; and should any
railway company voluntarily provide said
state enein ser with free transportation over
its line, he shall be authorized to accept the
same in Oeuali OF the state, and shall not
charge the state the amount which would
otherwise he paid for such transportation
ale shall, In his report, state the amount
paid by him for transportation on each rail
way line in the state, also what railway
lines have provided him with free transpor.
tatton.
Sec, 3. The office of the state engineer
shall be in the capitol building in the city
OF Austin, in rooms TO be designated by the
secretary of state. There shall be allowed
the state engineer for Office furniture sta.
tioEery, postage, and other Office expenses,
Que thousand dollars per annum. The
state engineer shall employ secretary.
who shall be q competent craftsman, and
perform such duties as may DO required by
tue state engineer. The secretary OF the
sNte engineer shall receive salary of
fifteen hundred dollars per annum. The
salary of the state engineer and his seCreta-
ry shall be paid monthly from the state
treasury. All vouchers tor travelling and
ONCE expenses OF the state engineer and his
secretary, shall he paid upon certified
vouchers approved by the governor,
Sec. Before entering upon the duties of
his Office, the state engineer and his secre-
cary each shall subscribe TO the following
oath, in addition TO the usual oath OF
office: And do further swear Tor affirm
that ! am not connected. officially or 9th
ViNAott WIN uuy lill'lH' vi ITdIlS-
portation line, either within or outside of
this state, and that am not stakeholder,
or In any manner interested in any railroad
company or transportation line whatever,
so help me God"
Sec. g. The state engineer shall
perform such duties as are now, or
shall hereafter be prescribed by law, and
shall twice in each year, and at such other
times as he shall deem IL necessary, care
fully inspect the railroads in this state, and
keep himself informed of the condition of
Che same and manner in which they are
operated, with the special reference TO the
safety and proper accommodation of the
public, which inspection shall include the
condition OF road bed, track and bridges
character and condition of cars, station
houses, platforms and other facilities incl
dent to transportation business. Should
SUCH inspection indicate a noncompliance
with the law on the part of any railroad
such noncompliance may be presented
an proper and official form to
the attorney general, who may
penalty for dereiction, according to exist.
ing statutes, or as hereinafter provided.
Sec. q. The state engineer shall, on the
lat day OF December OF each year, make II
report to the governor of all matters per
tanning to his office, and especially report
upon the inspection OF all railroads in the
state, and he shall incorporate in said report
any suggestions he may have to make in
regard to changes in existing laws connected
with the management and control of rail
Toads in this state. lie shall, also, whenever
EeIuired by The governor, make a special re-
port OF the inspection authorized and re-
quired under this act Of any railroad in This
s9tatc.
Sec, 4. BE II further enacted That
charges for transportation on each class or
Kind OF freight, moving in the same drec.
ton, shall be uniform, and any unjust dis
elimination in the rates II charges for the
transportation OF any freight, made against
any person or place, on any railroad
operated IN this state, is declared to be I'M
lawful; II any railroad corporation shall
willfully charge, collect or receive from any
person or persons. for the transportation of
any freight upon its railroad, higher or
greater rate of toll or compensation than IL
snail charge, collect or receive from any
other person or persons, for the transporta-
ton OF the like quantity OF freight OF the
same class, being transported from the |
same point, in the same direction, over
equal distances OF the same railroad, |
or II shall charge, collect or
receive FROM any person or persons, |
10y the use and transpt Ration of any
N"N N"s Va 'ha uppl ltS IulTDNu, n |
higher or greater sum than 1t shall charge, |
collect or receive from any other person, or |
persons, Tor the use or transportation of II |
70 r or cars, OF the same class for u like pur- |
pose, from the same point in the same di. |
rectlonl and an equal distance; or il any |
railroad company shall charge one person |
more for transporting freight of the same
-ctass' IN equal or less quantities over its |
roau, Tor the same or a less distance, than
~ charges another for the same or greater |
uN'ance, all such discriminating rates,
charges or collections, whether made di. |
rectly or by means of any rebate, or other !
smut or evasion, shall be considered and
taken as prima iacie evidence of cxtor- |
t1on aad unjust discrimination, which Is !
heteby prohibited and declared unlawful, |
Hnu any rallroau company, or companies, |
Tor such violation Of law, shall forfeit nav
70 int person, or persons, injured thereby |
dhe sum OF $500, 20 be recovered before |
any court having jurisdiction of the |
amount, IN any county through or into |
norted.
Each railroad company or corporation
doing business in this state shall hereafter
ne required to Keep posted in conspicuous
psaoe ~ az uepots, printed or written
schedule OF its freight charges from its prin-
'cipal Office or place of business to all dcpots
on us ilne or lines OF road within this state.
such .ohednle shall specify the different
CLASSES or kinds of freight, with an
enumeration of the articles belonging TO
each class per carload, and tho charge for
eeoh class per hundred hounds in quantities
less than carloads. II shall be unlawful
Tor any railroad company TO change such
freight tariffs without giving i've DAYS
notice to the public in the manner above
required, and 1t shall be the duty of every
railroad company in the state to furnish its
atation agents with the printed or written
notices herein mentioned, at least i've DAYS
oeiore any changes are 10 take effect. Any
railroad company violating any of the
provisions Of this act shall, for every five
Gays II neg'ects to furnish tho notices
herein required to any Of its station
agents, forfeit the sum Of $500 to the county
III which the depot Is situated, to be recoy.
cred In any, court having competent juris.
,dictlon, said amount, when recovered, to
oe used for road and bridge purposes.
II shall be the duty OF every station
agent Of the railroads of this state, upon
mi Ia. st.l.. a