The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-04-05
WILL THEY KEFUSE2

yesterday, and goes to the senate lor
consideration. AS it stands now, 1t
provides for the appointment OF
state engineer, who shall be paid
salary of $1,000 year, having clerk
at $500. The state engineers Office
shall be located at the cap
ital. The duties of the state
engineer shall be such as the
law may now or hereafter direct, and
he shall, twice in each year, and at
such other times as he may deem 1T
necessary. carefully inspect the rail
roads in this state, and keep himself
informed of the condition of the
same, and the manner in which they
are operated, with special reference
to the safety and proper accommoda-
ton of the public. Inspection shall
include the condition of road-bed,
track and bridges, character and con-
dition of cars, station houses, plat
forms, and other facilities incident to
transportation business. Should
such inspection indicate nom
compliance with the law on
the part of any railroad
such noncompliance may be pre-
sented in proper and official form to
the attorney general, who may pro-
coed to investigate and enforce PEN
atty for dereliction, according to ex-
isting statutes. Besides supervision
of the condition of roadbeds, ETC., the
bill further provides that charges for
transportation on all classes of freight
shall be uniform and that any unjust
discrimination in the rates or charges
for the transportation of any freight
made against any person or place, on
any railroad operated in this state,
shall be unlawful; that If any
railroad corporation shall wilfully
charge. collect, or receive from any
person or persons, for the transporta-
ton of any freight upon a higher or
greater rate of toll or compensation
than it shall charge, collect, or receive
from any other person or persons, for
the transportation of the like guam
tity of freight of the same class,
being transported from the same
point in the same direction, over
equal distances of the same railroads;
or if it shall charge, collect, or re-
ceive from any person, or persons, for
the use and transportation of any rail
road car, or cars, upon its railroad, Il
higher or greater sum than it
shall charge, collect, or receive from
any other person or persons, for the
use or transportation of any car or
cars of the same point in the same
direction, and an equal distance, all
such discriminating rates, charges, or
collections, whether made directly or
by means of any rebate, or other shift
or evasion, shall be considered and
taken as prima facie evidence of eX-
tortion and unjust discrimination,
which by the provisions of the bill
are absolutely prohibited under pen
atty of heavy damages to the persons
damaged by such discrimination.
The bill also provides that goods for
transportation shall be forwarded
in the order received, and in
case of failure to do so
the railway companies shall be liable
for damages occurring by nature of
any delay caused by disregard Of
such provision; provided, that the
trip shall be considered as having
commenced from the time of the
signing of the bill of lading and as
having ended upon arrival of freight
at point of destination, and written
notice served upon the consignee that
it is ready for delivery upon payment
of freight and charges. 1t is further
provided that should the consignee of
the goods fail to receive The goods
promptly, after such notice is served
the liability of the railroads there
after shall be the same as that of
warehousemen. The bill repeats tn e
old law regarding passenger tariff, fix
ing it ut three cents per mile for adults,
and two cents per mile for all
children under ten years of age. The
balance of the bill simply provides
how and in what manner the state
officer shall proceed in his supervision.
Certainly such IA measure is a most
decided step in the direction of q
popular demand, that should be
needed. For years there has been
talk of railway regulation, not rail-
way legislation by an unconstitu-
tional body, but of an act that would
make the railways directly and imme-
diately amenable for public imposi-
tion and for corporate neglect and
wrong. This bill contemplates regu-
lation, and its provisions make the
proposed act bulwork of safety
against alleged wro gs. 1t should be
taken up and passed by the senate
without delay. Railway regulation
was promised the people, and this bill
gives it; not only does it regulate the
running conduct of railways, and their
condition for the public safety, but it
strikes down discrimination and
leaves competition, both advanta-
geous to general commercial interests.