Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-08-22
TIE N0TJOE RENEWED.

During the session of the Twenty first
legislature THE GAZETTE urged the ap-
pointment of committee OF investiga-
ton to inquire into ''the railroad ques-
ton and report to the Twenty
legislature with such recommendations as
such investigation might suggest.
THE GAZETTE urged this in the interest
of both railroads and people, basing its
suggestion on the ground that there was
no conflict Of interest between roads and
people, but all identity Of interest that
demanded Intelligent and patriotic treat
ment Of the roads by the people s rep
resentatives.
This proposition, however, met no en-
encouragement from the organs and ad-
vocates OF the roads or from the blind,
unreasoning advocates of extreme legis-
lation, aud nc attention was given it.
Recent events justify TIE GAZETTE IS
conservative recommendation and this
paper renews it's motion for the appoint
ment by the legislature of a committee to
investigate the subject and report to the
succeeding general assembly. In re-
Spouse TO 4 demand for a general
reduction Of freight rates in Texas, rep
resentatives of the roads have made
statements which challenge the patriotic
consideration of every citizen, and,
while stating the inability of the roads
to make general reduction, have
suggested specific reductions which con-
firm THE GAZETTE s confidence in the
wisdom OF It's notion for a committee
Of investigation appointed by the state
and acting for all the people of the state.
It must be taken for granted that a
very large majority Of the people of
Texas fully appreciate tne fact that roads
and people have common interest in
the development and prosperity of the
state, despite the agitation of dema-
gosues or the arbitrary courses of
railroads or individuals connected
with them. The action of the
state with reference to the rail
roads should be in recognition of this
identity of interests, and there could be
no more propitious season for efforts 10
draw people and roads into sympathetic
unity than now, when railroad represen-
tatives publicly avow their desire to be
brought intoa closer communication with
the people. The roads stand pledged to
this desire, and the people should meet
them half way.
when TIE GAZETTE made its sug-
gestion for a committee Of investi- |
cation, it was urged that the |
roads would not facilitate the in
quiries of the committee, and yet mere |
are the roads to-day begging for just such |
investigation as THE GAZETTE suggested. !
Such a committee would have all the |
power OF the state of Texas behind it, as |
much so as any railroad commission |
could have; and such a committee, ap-
pointed in recognition of the COM
mon interest between the roads |
and people, could collate and pre-
sent to the public under the great seal of |
the state every fact and circumstance
bearing upon the question at issue, and T
thus make known to the people what was
to the roads, and thus what was
best for themselves.
Such committee, composed of repre-
of the agricultural, mercan-
tile, manufacturing, lumber, legal
and live stock interests of Texas
would save to the state much
agitation and do more
to settle vexed question to the benefit
of Texas than al the freight rate COM
mittees that could be appointed here and
there over the state.
The people Of Texas do not wish to OPP
pressthe roads, nor do they wish to be
by the roads, and the facts
and figures recently given out by the
railroad men at Dallas constitute CO.
gent argument in favor of committee
of investigation appointed by the state to
inquire into all the facts and figures as a
basis for such regulation of the roads as
viii be just to them and thus beneficial
to all the people.
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