The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-03-07

; was read and apparently much enjoyed
by the senators.
| Senator Stephens at 2:45 commenced
an argument opposed to the commission
bill. He made his speech essentially lroui
a west Texas standpoint. In that part OF
the state it was where were located tne
school, University and asylum lands. IL
was absolutely necessary these lanus
should be leased or sold and the state get
the benefit thereof. The condition OF the
| school ard University funds certainly at
this time demonstrated the truth OF this
fact, but, let the legislature adopt any
harsh railroad legislation and the develop
ment and use of these lands will be
delayed for many years. Again, the west
has the right to expect that the east shall
not Cypress or interfere with the railroads,
as they are building out to and through
the west It was western land that was
given to secure the building of what rail-
road lines now trace the state, and it is I'M
| lust for favored sections of the state to SO
act now as to deprive the west of advant-
ages the west paid for that the east might
secure railroads. He then took up the
commission bill and characterized its
terms as unjust, because of it's method OF in
vestigatlons and its decisions being arbi-
trary aud without due course of law. 1t
allowed oonfscation OF property illegally,
and licensed outlawFy. He read a long
letter from a colonization agent, who Is
bringing people from Iowa to the Panhan-
die, protesting against commission bill.
He devoted considerable time to a discus
sion of the constitutional feature of the
question, contending the legislature can
not fix one rate and allow a
commission to fix all the other rates. He
read authorities in support of his argu-
ment. He claimed that the freight rates
collected on Texas business amounted to
only $1,250,000, and the railroads in one
way or another paid the state 100000
in taxes. He could not see how the state
was so greatly injured. He declared the
Dallas convention did not demand COM
mission bill. He denied it was demo-
cratic doctrine. He said copy of the
Dallas Mercury was to be found on each
of the senator's desks containing threat
if the senate did not pass the bill. He
was not afraid of such an issue. If friends
of the measure wanted to make the fight
on that issue, for his part, he declared, he
would meet them at Phillip, and, quoting
Shakespeare, cry-"Lay on Macduff, and
damned be he who first cries hold,
enough" He wanted no retrogression,
no more days of the ox-cart. He was not
for crippling the railroads. He spoke
earnestly and well for an hour and half.
Senator Kimbrough began his
speech at 4:l5. He read from
the Galveston democratic platform of
1886 declaring the party looked with alarm
and apprehension upon the absorption of
Texas railroads by foreign railroads and
desired to correct railroad abuse, The
Texas Traffic association has not been
broken up, but rates must still be obtained
from its agents. He said he would con-
fine himself to the necessity of the legis-
lation, leaving its constitutional construc-
tion to the able and distinguished constis
tutional lawyer, Senator Allen, who was
on his side of the question. As to the
Dallas platform, he confessed he did not
understand it, and thought it could be
read both ways. He read letter from a
mill man detailing conversation with a
railroad authority, to the effect that if
freight rates were interfered with the rail
roads would not continue through rate to
Texas. Such threat did not brighten
him. He talked for an hour and uar-
ter, hitting first one opponent of the bill
and then another.
The senate at 5:35 adjourned till 10
O'Clock to-day.