Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-02-21
The Railroad Question.

The GAZETTE has carefully and dill |
gently considered the question Of rail-
road legislation In all its relations both |
10 the railroads and to the public, aud
discusses the question solely from the
standpoint OF public interest. The
railway commission bill now pending
in the legislature, ifenacted into a law
will be one Of unmixed evil both TO the
companies and to the public. Among
its provisions is one, which, in effect,
authorizes the commissioners, when
ever in their judgement it may be
deemed expedlent, to assume con-
/ structive II not actual control OF the
/ roads in this state, and compel them
to make exhibits of their business to
4 the commissioners and through them
to the public. No unprejudiced man
! will deny the proposition In the alb
siract that rights of property in rail-
/ roads are as Unavoidable as those Of any
other kind Of property, and that the
owners are justly entitled to the quiet
possession, enjoyment and manage.
! ment of their property, in their own
! way so long as they do not infringe
upon the rights OF others.
But the prevailing sentiment In
favor of railroad legislation seems to
I be. not so much TO prote 4 rights of
Others is to circumscribe the privileges
and powers az the companies not to
correct existing evils and remedy ac-
tual wrongs, az TO legislate upon a
theoretical principle that railroads are
acquiring too much property and are
likely 1T some remote period TO exert
too much influence In the state
There is another class whc seem in
clined to the opinion that any advan-
tage takep of railroad companies
is permissible. This latter class
fortunately small in numbers, would
not hesitate at coercive measures.
merely out OF regard for the legal or
equitable rights of the railroads.
, When legislation concerning rail
roads or any other species of property
, Is proposed IL Is well enough TO stop
and consider the effect IL will have
upon the general public. In the mat
ter of railroads ii effects an interest
which In Texas has within the last
/, two years added directly twenty OF
twenty-five million dollars tC
the taxable wealth Of The
!, state, and indirectly many mil
lions more which are incalculable, anc
has given employment. and furnished
g subsistence To thousands Of people
l. citizens of the state, and provided
d market for the products of the labor o
thousands more. This is one impor
tant feature, which, to overlook an,
/, disregard in any other grea
u and leading interest would be seen o
> once to he the plainest violation 4
n common fairness and justice.
o But n greatly more mt
mentous issue lies in tn
a fact, universal in this country ths
ne hand-maidens that are inseperabl
ic and that the former cannot be in
Y. proved except at the detriment of IL
81 other. Transportation is also indiss
lubly linked with the welfare of ever
other business occupation and pursui
y 1t enters into the means and cond
: tons of living Every mans intere
'o l. bound up in the success of this a
y, most omnipotent agency of d
" veopment. IL enters into IL
" every day business of IL
y merchant prince and the humble Il
- borer. 1t affects no privileged elias
~ Food, fuel and raiment are all alilS
~ affected by It, and the necessities
= life more than any other. AdVer,
Nv legislation can not be had without il
:" terfering with the great producin
manufacturing and commercial into
y ests of the state-and the public we
~ fare demands that measures ofpropos,
~ legislation concerning railways shou
-, be approached with the utmost cautit
49, and upon the fullest information,
Nv another issue the GAZETTE will ii
cuss the question whether or not leg
nv lation of the kind proposed by Il
:" anti-mlroad element in the legislatu
''' Is necessary at this time, If 1t ever W
be necessary.
- Standing Committees,