Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-02-08

80 cents, so no road should charge for
carrying the highest class Of these more
than 40 cents, or accept more than 35 for
the lowest. That would be pretty tough
on the people who have the freights
to pay, wouldn t IL? Well.
power to do that very thing
is embraced in this commission bill, aud
it is proposed to be delegated to FIVE men.
Section IS, relating TO the attachment
of witnesses summoned To appear before
the commission, SAYS that when an at
taehment is issued sit shall be executed
as in other cases, except that said wit
ness shall not be allowed to give bail for
his appearance, if said commission be at
the time in session. - A witness for or
against a man charged with murder,
arson, or even treason, may be allowed
bail, but in the case of man summoned
to appear before this commission in be-
half of or in opposition to one of
the railroads of the state, this
bill proposes to suspend the RIGHT
of habeas corpus and keep him in du-
rance while the high court sits. The
proposition is unequalled in the history of
enlightened government. The red handed
murderer may stalk abroad under bond
for his appearance; the highwayman, the
burglar, common malefactor OF every
degree may avoid Imprisonment if he
have friends financially strong, but the
man who is possessed of knowledge de-
sired by the railroad commissioner who
is supposed to be so possessed-is abso-
lutely debarred from escaping restraint.
1t is provided in this beautiful bill that
the commission shall examine all the
books and papers of all the railroads and
shall ascertain and report to the gov
ernor, who shall in turn report 10 the
legislature, ''what salary said railroads
pay their officers, agents aud employees. -
They say justice is blind. She must be
deaf, also-and dumb-if she fails to in
terpose an objection to a measure so
UBIQUITOUS. Upon no other business
would any man dare to propose such an
imposition. Many of the transactions of
the railroads the public have a right to
know but there are matters which, in
justice to their employees, as wei as to
should be allowed to keep secret.
Is it possible the people OF
Texas are so extreme in their
to railroads that they would
sanction the passage of such a measure
as some of their representatives propose?
l believe not.
elf the commission shall find the rail-
road guilty of the charges against it, -
says this immaculate measure, - it shall
tax all costs in such proceedings
against such railroad, but in no event
shall the state pay the costs incurred by
SAID railroad. - Heads, l win; tails, you
lose. The same old game that has been
played from the beginning.
The bill provides that witnesses sum
moned before the commission shall re-
ceive 81 day and cents a mile each
way. The salaries of five commissioners
and two secretaries viii amount each
year to $40 500; their stationery bill to
$1,000 morer add to this their travelling
expenses-you are safe in taking bets
that they will travel extensively-and
you will have a bill reaching close to
$50 900 per annum. Pile on TO this the
and per diem of witnesses, and
you will find the state footing bill each
year anywhere from 500 900 up.
This commission is TO be appointed by
the governor. Texas, heretofore foFtu-
nate in selecting her chief executives,
may make mistake one day and elevate
to power a man unworthy the trust.
This bill proposes to place in his hands
much more power for evils than he now
has. If he shall choose to elevate TO
office venal men, they can in very short
time break the roads or ruin the ship
pers.
These are but few of the many objec-
lions to this measure. 1 do not
think the people want it, and 1 eannot
think the legislature will adopt it.
GEO. BYRNE.