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

want prOtectiOl-a protected taI4n'
commended it was such people and not the
consumers who wanted this Legislation
He was opposed to the bill he SPOKE
only twenty minutes and in that time
mt more meat into his argument than by
some done in an hour. The senate at
12:45 adjourned to 2:3O D. m.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Senate was called to order at 2:3O P M
Upon call of the senate 10 minutes were
consumed in securing quorum. senator
Kimbrough was excused for the day. Sen
ator Sims was excused until next Monday.
Senator Burney introduced bill that
the superintendent of public instruction
shall require county judges, county, city
and town superintendents and school
boards shall, upon furnished blanks, give
reports of school funds and affairs.
Senator Scale, petition from citizens OF
Orange the commission bill.
At 2:45 Senator Claiborne began to
read his speech favoring the commission
bill. He regarded himself in ditch and
ordered out as forlorn hope-as the Dill
would be undoubtedly defeated.
But for this reason he regarded
his speech Just inhiction and punish
ment of the senate. And this day was
fitting day for such punishment, as at
Washington a republican president was
being inaugurated. Troubles never come
singly and he was glad of the chance to
stflict the senate. He felt he was address
ing a hostile senate and railroad lobby
that lined the walls of the senate like crows
around dead carcass. The bill now be-
fore the senate and that of two years ago
has continually been under discussion In
the lodge rooms of grangers and Farmers
Alliances. The farmers understand this
question and nine-tenths of them demand
its passage. He declared this was not the
cry of the demagogue but
of the people. Senator Mcdonald
had dealt in sopbistries. He did
not understand the wants of the people.
He belonged to the lawyer class, who sub
sisted upon those who would be hurt by
this bill. He spoke of the railroad laws
passed by the Twentieth legislature.
These were not passed from choice by the
senate, but as dernier resort, and being
forced to it by the people. Yet these
laws were not operative-they we're as use
less as last years birds nest. He said
rates would be cut into, but that when
commission should inquire into their
affairs, such large profits would be dis
closed as to induce eastern capt.
tai to come here land parallel
existing lines. In proof of this
theory he contrasted railroad building in
states where a commission existed and
where it was not in force, showing a much
greater amount of building in the former
states He read letter from an ex-
president of q railroad, now merchant,
complaining of determinations by the
railroads. He referred to the opinion of
ex Governor Roberts. He said seemingly
it would be public calamity if he should
die, as it appeared from the argument of
the other side he was the only man in
all Texas who was capable of understanding
or constituting the Constitution. No man
had higher opinion of Governor Roberts
than had he, but he did think that now,
after feeding for thirty years at the pub
lie CRIB, he should in his retirement upon
the University fund leave the decision
of live questions to live men.
He should in these days Of his
dotage leave live questions alone.
He read from the Galveston and Dallas
platforms, showing how the party of the
state had demanded such legislation as
this. AS to Reagan he said there was
a senator on the floor who had a letter
from him, written only twenty days ago,
declaring the only hope of the peo-
pie against the grinding of the railroad
corporations was in such bill. Kill the
commission bill and you murder the demo-
cratic party of the state and defeat the
promises of that party made from time to
time for years. He said seventeen mem
bers of the democratic committee of the
state were under deep obligations to the
railroads-this octapus was reaching out
over all interests. The party was in in
finite danger. He said letter from a state
official of Tennessee said that its commits
sion had saved the people of
that state $4,OO0,OOO in fifteen
months. Recently, in erecting water
works at Galveston that cost 100000,
they bought iron moulded in Belgium at the
same price it cost at Rusk, but they landed
it at Galveston 3 cents a pound cheaper
than they could get it from Rusk. He
cited numerous instances of this kind.
The idea that a commission is an ex peri
ment IS Ridiculous. The history of COM
MISSION in states where in force proves
commission practical and most advan-
tageous thing. The lowest estimate of
saving to state, except in one, was in
Georgia, where $6,OOO,OO0 were saved for
the people. If the commission proposition
was defeated in the Dallas convention, it
was done by the fine italian hand of the
railroads.
The lobby of railroadamen have been
working like beavers, have flooded the
legislature with passes and subsidized the
greaterl part of the press of the state.
He thought in the latter instance they had
spent at least $4,000, because when he
wanted column of the Galveston news it
was $500, and the railroads were using
two columns day. The railroads, from
their published figures, do not pay taxes
on but 2312 per cent of the cost of their
construction. He followed the line of
argument of each senator opposed to the
bill, hitting each at his vulnerable point.
He talked for an hour and a half,
making an excellent speech.
Senator Morris at 4:30 began to speak
against the commission bill. He had not
Aa.Zg