Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-02-27
LEGISLATIVE.
The Bill Providing for Working Con-
yiets on Roads is Considered.
Senators simpkins and Lane Ably Discuss the
Railroad Commission Bill Stephen f. AUS
tins Portrait Presented TO the State
Twenty-First Legislature.
THE SENATE.

Governor Wheeler called the senate TO
order at 10 O'Clock.
Roll call and quorum present
Prayer by DR.. smoot, the chaplain.
Petitions and memorials: Mr.. Allen
Petition from citizens of Andrews county
against being attached to Midland
county for judicial purposes.
Petitions against the passage of rail-
road bill were filed from citizens of Rob-
ertson county.
Mr.. Upshaw-From citizens of Hill,
Travis, and from 4l2 business men and
laboring men of Fort Worth.
Mr. Allen-From citizens of Melissa
county.
Mr.. Armistead-From 203 citizens of
Bowie county
Petitions fayoring the commission bill
Mr. Burney from twenty citizens of
FL Pasnj Mr.. Glascock from thirty six
voters of Burnet county; Cir. Claiborne,
memorial from the legislative committee
of farmers allians; Mr.. Armstead from
thirty citizens of Titus county;
Mr.. Woodward from thirty-six citizens
of Goliad county Mr.. Field from voters of
Milan county Mr.. johnson from seventy
five voters OF Upshaw county; Mr.. Allen
from seyenty-six farmers of Cooke; Mr..
Arnisterd from citizens of Titus county
Mr.. Atlee-Petition from citizens of
Neuces county to abolish the Office of in
spector of hides and animals.
Reports Of standing committees: Mr..
Lewis, for committee on judicial districts
-FavoraDly, bill designating the coun-
ties composing and fixing the time Of
holding court in the Twenty ninth judi
cial district.
Bills and resolutions: Mr.. Abercom-
bie--A bill providing, in case of sale of
roadbed. franchise or chartered rights of
a railway company, the purchasers may
Incorporate for the purpose of maintain
ing and operating the branch thus ac-
quired.
Mr.. Kimbrough-A bill allowing JUS
tees of the peace to appoint clerk and
prescribing his powers and duties.
Upon motion Of Mr.. Burney the senate
inserted upon its amendments to the bill
validing the titles of the land board.
Messrs. Scale and Burney, Sims and
Lane were appointed conference COM
mittee.
Mr.. Burgess moved that the afternoon
session be devoted to the consideration of
the commission bill while the morning
sessions be devoted to general legislation.
After much discussion the motion was
defeated by vote of ID yeas to 16 nays.
The Dill providing for the taking OF
statistics in agriculture, horticulture and
stock raising was called up by Mr..
Harrison and under a suspension Of the
rules was passed, adding q department
to the bureau of statistics and history.
The special order, the commission bill,
was taken up and Mr.. Simkins at 12:45
o. clock began speaking and said he had
only prepared himself for the argument
the night before; he had only been dep
lted to answer Mr. Mcdonald at the close
of that gentleman S speech Monday. 1t
was verp evident Mr. Mcdonald had pre-
pared, and carefully prepared, his
speech to answer an argument several
weeks ago in the other branch Of the
legislature, and so closely had it been
written he could not leave its
line to answer an argument
published by Judge Terrell the
day before; that at close rang poured
hot shot into his, Mr.. Mcdonald s, posi-
ton. AS to there being enough laws al
ready passed-yes, there might be, but
they were not being enforced, and Mr..
Mcdonald IS praise Of the attorney gem
erals work against the rail-
ways was very transparent
1uGG0 Is dDsOluI0 uOSQ Oh d
correction of the railway usages; there is
dead rot in the home industries of the
state; Texas is a vast farm for New
York; the people ought to have some say
about the taxes they pay, and yet
the railroads are grinding down the people
and they cannot say word in their de-
tense. Every senator knows the people
are oppressed, and yet you find no COM
plants fled in the attorne general s
office. And why? Because the railroads
have the merchants and farmers abso-
1utely at their mercy, and they
dare not complain lest their
threats be cut by the railways. They
have the power, and will unscrupulously
use it against informers. Upon the con-
question he ably defended the
memory and legal learning of Judge
Woods AS TO the old alcades opinion it
was given without adjusted of coun-
sci, and is not argument to the
newest theories and latest. He
discussed and detailed the method
OF railway construction in the state and
how the money invested
was mythically invested, and compound
interest was expected on such outlay. A
very large per cent. was derived from
such capital if never a cent of divi-
dend was paid He cited gross
in freight charges, and
he demanded that we stop the grinding
down OF one section and the building up
of another by these railways at will
Receivers run railroads and run them
well, improving and building them up.
Men are taken from the bar and conduct
railways we'll, but take these
roads out of the hands of
receivers and then the roads go down
and down again because the money is not
used for the improvement of the roads,
but fer the enrichment of their mama
gers. Why then cannot n commission
handle these roads as well as receivers.
Mr. Simkins spoke most ably and |
foreibly for an hour and half.
Mr.. stephens offered bill to diminish |
the civil and criminal jurisdiction of |
county courts of Hale, Potter and Old |
ham counties, and confirm the jiirisdie- |
ton of the district courts to such change |
Mr. Claiborne, for the committee on |
military affairs, reported favorably a |
bill regulating the military affairs of the |
state.
Mr.. Burney-A petition from 100 citi- |
Gems OF Bexar county favoring the COM I
mission bill
Mr.. Davis, for committee on stock and |
stock raising, reported favorably a bill |
5or the protection OF stock-raisers.
Mr.. Lewis-A petition from citizens of |