Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-07-27
Mr.. GIBBS TALKS.
An Interesting Chat with the Arkansas
Pass Statesman
On Important Matters Now Claiming the At
tention of the Publie-Railroad Regu-
lation Necessity-PoliticaI
Pointers.

! Special to the Gazette.
DALLAS, TEX, July 26.-Hon. Bar
nett Gibbs, who has been quietly attend
ing to business of late, was called upon
by THE GAZETTE representative, and I,
! being found in a communicative mood !,
said some things that will doubtless
prove interesting to the readers of the
great Texas daily. In answer to some
leading questions, 8Ir. Gibbs said:
1 am not a candidate for governor
or any other Office by the clark horse
! or any other route, - having neither the
time nor the disposition to run for or
hold office. But l feel an abiding inter-
| est in the prosperity of the state and a
! proper determination of its political
| issues, 'just this and nothing more. -
! ! don I know yet who viii be Iny choice
| for governor, but feel sure there will be
a large field TO choose from. As Texas
! politics at present is altogether a matter
| OF HpeFsonal manipulation - l
! think that candidate will succeed
! who Is the best manipulation. and who
! does the best trading and combining on
! the rest of the state ticket. None Of
| them VIII take the chances of helping
make Issues or Il specific platform. If
| they can get the delegates fXed'' they
! will let the platform take care of itself.
1t would be better for Texas to have
| late primaries next year and force call
! didates to canvass in advance. It
would also help things if the
/ Republican party would put q
respectfully strong ticket III the field and
force fight. Too much "dead eddy
| and personalism in politics are democrat
| izing' Under such circumstances the
| people cease to think or take a healthy
! interest in the administration OF Affairs
The conflicting elements in the party
| ought to have frst-olass discussion
among themselves, and after the con-
vention has nominated be forced to a
| JOINT discussion By the Republicans.
RAILROAD LEGISLATION.
What do you think of the demand and
necessity for railroad legislation, and
the power OF the state?
So far as the power of the people Is
concerned, l don t see how that can be
questioned. All corporations voluntarily
become the creatures of the law for the
benefits accruing from their incorpora-
tons, and there should be no cOnstitu-
tional limit to the right of statutory
regulation. 'fCorporations were first
created only by special grants, closely
scrutinzed, and for the purpose of doing
those things beneficial to the public
which could not be done by indIvid-
uals - They are now created for all
purposes, and are fast SmOthering indi-
Vidual energy and enterprise, and cor
nering the earth and all its products.
Corporate power and arrogance will
be checked by legislative enactment
af 81
We have some strange freaks in legisla-
ton Why shouldn't the receivers of
the International railroad be made feIOns
for intorrupting and incOnvenienCng
travel by the hours daily delay at Tay-
lor, as much so as the man who lays the
tie on the railroad track? How much
better is one than the otheT2 When both
lines were under one management that
was considered the most important con-
nection Now, when the international
railroad wants to fight for control Of the
Missouri, Kansas and Texas the public is
yictimized This is only one of the many
ourages of corporate power, which
should be corrected by civil and criminal
statutes.
AFTER TIE RECEIVERS.
WHY should the people be forced to pay
in excessive freight rates $50 200 per an
mum salary to two receivers to oper-
ate a railroad, when an expe-
rienced railroad man would be glad
to operate it in a better manner
for one fourth the salary. Why, for
years al a time, should the citizen be de-
MED remedies in his local courts against
q railroad i'll the hands of a receiver?
When debts, whether fictitious or real,
are wiped out by foreclosure. Why
IL
be adjusted on last cost? In order that
few men may manipulate stocks and
bonds and draw big salaries the people
are denied their remedies for damages in
the ordinary courts Of justice, and OPP
pressed and Inconvenience at the will of
receivers and courts, who are often ma
nipulated one by the other, and both by
Wall street spectators or pulled up by a
little brief authority.
NO COMMISSION.
Some railroad corporations OF their
managers are guilty of many abuses or
expressions, and the iron hand of the law
ought to be laid on them instead of aP-
pointing u ''dilly dallvh expensive
commission to treat with them. The
people ought to have mere and speedier
remedies against railroads, aud the Fed
eTal courts less power to obstruct justice
IN the interest or corporations. IneT6
are great many things better and more
democratic and less expensive than a
commission. 4 maximum freight rate
fixed by statute; the right of a jury to
determine i'll each case if there has been
IN excessive freight charge, ana award
cases and damages not less than sufficient
to cover expenses by suit. On this ques-
ton there can be no compromise, sgcn as
q commission. 1t will prove 10 more eff
fective than the Missouri compromise did
on slavery. Either the railroads must be
allowed to run at their own sweet viii on
the theory that the public have no rights,
or there must be specific, ironclad
statutory enactment. Political eompro-
misses are never INDUCED in except for
the purpose of delaying a final reckoning
and beguling the innocent and unwaFy.
THE ISSUE.
The issue from now on should be between
"No regulation, or specific STATUTE
~ enactment, - and it should be fought
to a finish iii every sehoolhouse in Texas,
just as prohibition was, and every dele
gate to the convention, and every can
didate for political Office, should rise or