Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-12-20
TEXAS PRESS OPINION.
Discussion of Current Topics, State and Ma
tional, by the Newspapers of the State.

Discussion of Current Topics, State and Na.
tional, by the Newspapers of the State.
Houston Post: The newspapers of
Texas have for some years been trying to
induce the legislature to reform the libel
law of the state so that it will be more
just and equitable toward the press. So
far their efforts have been futile, and the
much boosted power of the press seems
to have resolved itself into an empty
claim, especially as the injustice of the
law is so patent and is so generally ad-
mitted by the better class of lawyers. 1t
is not claimed that newspapers should
not be held to some responsibility for
what they publish, but the responsibility
should be reasonable one.
Waco Day: The American Federation
of Labor, which aspires to be the sue
cessor of the knights of Labor, seems to
be going into the same hole their prede-
cesscr has Just come ont of They are
going to establish the eight-hour day of
labor, at full ten-hour wages, of course;
they are going to establish a fund TO sup
port strikers when they go out, and they
are going to have the government exer-
else sort of paternal care over the rela-
tions of employer and employee. 1t is
hardly worth while to say that labor Or
ganization based on these exploded ideas
is not worth row of pins. In fact, all
plans which contemplate the ameliora-
ton of wagewOrkers by driving capital
into terms by force or statutory enact
ments, simply react to their injury. The
labor leaders are slow to learn from ex-
perience.
Austin Statesman: The Twenty-Five
legislature should promptly pass law
that will prevent officials from accepting
free passes over railroads. The official is
no more entitled to such Courtesy
from the railroads than the individual
citizen.
-.
San Antonio Express: 1t is proposed
to hold general convention to ask the
legislature for an enabling act under
which counties may issue bonds for the
purpose indicated. The subject of road
improvement has been under discussion
in Western Texas for some time, the gen.
eral impression being that the existing
laws should be amended in that behalf;
but letter from Hon. d. C.. Robinson,
legislative representative for this district,
published elsewhere, rather intimates
that the fault of bad roads lies, in great
extent, in the people themselves and their
commissioners, and shows that the legis-
lature has been about as liberal in the
connection named as it could be; that to
secure any greater latitude in the way of
eXpending money, a constitutional
amendment will be necessary. In COM
munities so thickly populated as to justify
the full outlay provided for the improve
ment of roads, it would seem that
the provisions already made by the
law would be sufficient if the county COM
missioners and road overseers do their
duty i'll the premises. Take Bexar
for instance: There are outside
of the city of San Antonio at least 2O0O
men subject to road duty, five days in
the year each. Rating the county as
sessment at $40 900 200 the 10 cents on
the 500 allowed would produce the sum
Of S2S 800, and with the 10 600 days
work from the people that could be eX-
acted each year by law, and the eXpendi-
ture of S2S 5000 annually, Bexar
with free turnpikes of the first-class in
very few years. The Express, like many
others, not having taken the trouble to
tiV was lIlS I'LL
preston that the blame lay with the laws
instead of the people complaining, but
the above exhibit would indicate that the
laws are about as liberal, as far as au-
expenditure is concerned, as
the tax payer could wish. How
ever, communities not able to bear
the burden of present taxation, yet
needing the improvements, might prefer
to issue bonds to be met in the future,
and proposition to amend the constitu-
tion so that they could be enabled to do
so might find favor with the people. The
of Mr.. Robinson to have as
;essments for road purposes localized |
will no doubt attract attention and elicit |
and The Express will refer to |
t in a subsequent issue.
Wills Point Chronicle: What would |
me of those bloody shirt prosecutors of the |
south think 10 know that a Texas city |
vas giving to the children month or |
wo longer free school term than the |
whites?
Colorado Clipper: THE GAZETTE truth
ully says that if West Texas was rapidly !
ettiing up it would be a large consumer
# East Texas lumber, iron, wood, etc.
This of itself, even if selfish motive,
hould appeal to the people of that sec
ion in our behalf.
-
Victoria Advocate: They are giving
General Hogg merry particular,
II certain quarters, for his late circular
gainst betting on elections. 1t does
eem just little too steep, but no worse
han the law on the subject itself. Why
lot attack the law instead of Hogg?
Iogg is one of those old-fashioned sort of
men who have an idea that laws were
made to be executed and obeyed.
Cotulla Ledger: If any portion of
'exas needs attention on that subject it is
Texas. Here we are
enced up with barbed wire fences and
10 roads to any point. Gates are indis-
put across roads by parties
rho own or have leased large tracts of
and and the travelling public are laughed