Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-08-10

suited to Texas specially, in consequence
of its passage. Still it must not be con-
demned because its advantageous results
are not instantaneous. It was an ex-
preston of the authority of the govern
ment and was designed for the good of
the people. It is not yet perfect by any
means. Time and tide will doubtless
suggest and apply cOrrectives and amend
ments. The commission feature of the
act do not think was fully approved by
all who supported it. Indeed, do not
believe that our hOnored Judge Reagan,
who so earnestly and honestly devoted so
many years of his valuable service in OPP
position to the oppression and intolerance
of railway corporations and monopOlies
generally, wholly Endorsed this provi-
sion. He regarded it. 1 think, as
an experiment, if not with disfavor, in
very able and exhaustive speech made By
him on March %, 80 and 80, 1882, before
the committee on commerce in answer to
the opponents of his bill, he said among
other things: "But might defer to the
judgment of others and agree to COM
mission as an experiment in addition to
what is provided for in this bill, but not
as substitute for it. Ny fear as to
commission is that it would be more
likely to represent the interests of the
railroad companies than those of the gen.
eral public. The railroad companies can
always combine their influence either di-
rectly, or if thought more prudent, indi-
rectly, to influence the making of the ap-
pointment of such commissioners by
whOmsoever to be appointed.
This, l may add, seems to be peculiarly
an era of congressional commissions.
We had a commission to settle q contro-
versy about presidential election and
the people were cheated. We had what
is known as a silver commission, COM
posed of good and able men, who went
to Europe to learn whether an American
congress should authorize the coinage of
silver. We have provided for a commits
sion on the rights of women and must
await to see whether it can propose an
Improvement on the laws of God and the
experience of the world. We have a
commission on the traffic IN alcoholic
liquors and must await to see to what ex-
tent it can promote temperance and to
what extent we can safely violate the
constitution of the United States. And
we have before US a proposition for
commission to revise the tariff and
must await to see how long it
can delay that revision, and whether
1t can make our tariff legislation
more monstrous and uncomfortable than it
is at present. And this is still followed
by the proposition to create another COM
mission to make inquiries and reports in
relation to railroad transportation
Whether the object of proposing this last
commission is to defeat needed legislation
on the railroad problem, or to do some
thing of real utility, must be determined
in the future. Whatever may be thought
Of the value and Importance of these sew
eral commissions and proposed commits
sions, it seems to me the people might,
with much advantage TO themselves,
constitute themselves into a commission
10 retire q sufficient number of members
OF the two houses Of congress and send
others here who can and will legislate on
subjects instead of putting them into
to obtain information.
1 am inclined to believe from the
known character of the commissioners
appointed, and such of their decisions as
have examined, that their investiga-
tons and recommendations NAV prove of
value and Importance as aids to future
legislation and in adjusting grievances as
tar as the scope of their authority may
contemplate. They are, in fact, mere
luxiliaries to the real object of the act.
very useful or merely supple