Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-09-05
EFFECT OF A CoMRIsSION.

/
! It is true that the state was lavish with hel
rich land subsidies. She gave and with I'M
stinted hand. But who shall dare say, in the
light OF her wonderful later progress that she
! acted unwisely in this matter How many hun
dreds of times has her real values doubled since
the Central reached Denison and the Missouri,
Kansas and Texas connection with St. Louis
was accomplished, or the International connec-
ton was made in another direction? All this has
been accomplished by and under the reasonable
restrictions thrown round them by the common
laws of the country. 1t has been good, and we
of the Southwest, at least, ought to be satisfied
until we have had completed the rail-
ways now so sadly needed. Other
sections may experiment, grow sud-
denly apprehensive of corporate aggressions.
bat we? No. We need the roads and will look
with jealous eyes upon every effort made to
impede the spirit of railway enterprise.
This commission would surely do. A COM
mission such as is proposed and such as is in
force in other states would drive the builders
of railways beyond our borders. Men viii not
bring their money to Texas and invest it and
then practically surrender its control into the
hands of men who are not only hostile in senti-
ment, but who are practically ignorant of rail-
way management. Let US, in Southwest Texas,
go first for the roads we need, and then for the
management afterward, if that is deemed best
Victoria Advocate.
There can be no doubt that the crea-
ton of a railroad commission in answer
to the demand of an anti-railroad sentI-
ment, speaking through politicians and
demagogues, would put a stop to invest
ments III railroads. While railroads are
public carriers and are amenable TO state
regulation, they are also private corpora
tons in this, that individuals, and not
the state, furnish the money to build
them, and no individual IS likely to in
vest his money IN a state where the peo-
pie express an antagonism to the business
in which be is asked to put his money.
This proposition is too plain to admit of
argument
But the railroad construction of last
year, as reported by Poor's Manual,
shows a decided falling off in railroad
building in Kansas and Iowa, and an in
crease in Georgian all three of which
states there are commissions, thus indi-
eating that where there is a demand for
more mileage the existence of q non-po-
litical commission, as in Georgia, does
not affect railroad construction Dreven-
lively. On the other hand, it is not a
violent superstition that the very marked
falling off in Kansas and Iowa has been
in some measure, at least, due to the
more pronounced political agitation that
led to commissions in those states, espe-
cially in Iowa.
Now, suppose the state of Texas should
take heed of the identity of interest be-
tween roads and people and, recog-
nizing the difficulties of dealing
justly and wisely with the ques-
ton, should create q commission and in
vite the roads, as vitality interested, to
name representative on that commits
sion, would it not be advertisement to
all that this state was not hostile to rail-
roads but simply desired to insure Justice
in the dealings of roads and people, one
with the other. Such representation of
the roads, while bespeaking the friendli-
ness of Texas and its recognition of an
identity of interest, between roads and
people, would not take from the state a
single prerogative or lessen its power,
but would be emphatic announcement to
railroad builders and railroad managers
that there was an identity of interest be-
tween roads and people which Texas |
would assert, however they or the politi-
cal agltators might deny it.
A commission resulting from "anti-
'anti-corporation agita- /
ton would be unfortunate for Texas;
but a commission created from dis
passionate view of the railroad ques-
ton" in all Its aspects and constituted |
with Difference to the vital individual
interest of the roads in the matter, Gin |
which Is involved the interest of the
people,, would be not only guaran-
tee but an inducement 10 capital and
remove from current discussion
question in which demagogues find
profit and the commercial ana indus
trial life of the state q constant dis
turbance. t