Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-05-31
RAILWAY COMMISSION.
The People VIII Not be Satisfied Until
the Experiment has Been Tried.
Col. Tom R. Bonner, Receiver Of the Interna-
tional Tells Why He, as q Railroad
Man, FavOrs Commission.
spec;al to the Gazette.

Great Northern railroad company, is one OF the
broadest guzged and most liberal-minded men
in all the state He is business man and q
peoples man as we'll. THE GAZETTE man met
him to-day and talked railroad commission with
him In response to the general question:
what are your views on the amendment. pro-
viding for a railroad commission, and if the
amendment should be adopted, what do you
think of the propriety Oh the legislature passing
railroad commission biilP
Col. Bonner spoke at length, saying in sub
stances:
legislature was alphabetically opposed to q rail-
road commission. since that time have been
more intimately connected with railroads than
at any former period OF my lie. though have
been interested in railroad enterprises for the
last fifteen or twenty years was twice at Aus
tin during the last session OF the legislature not
as a lobbyist, but merely as looker-on, pend
ing the agitation before that body of the railroad
commission bill and other Kindred legislation,
and became convinced, as railroad man, that
1t was TO the interest," both OF the people and the
railroads. that this subject of railroad legisia-
ton should, as far as practicable, be removed
from the legislature, and
ELIMINATE AGITATION
before the people by that class of men who hope
to ride into power by pandering to undue preju-
dices on the part OF the people. long associa-
ton with managers mot the owners) Of railroads
in Texas has convinced me that it is their pur-
pose to deal fairly and justly with the people OF
Texas, and not be onerous in their charges.
The senate and house of representatives COM
bined consist of 1877 members, and it does not
often occur that the same man i5 elected from
the same county or district for two consecutive
terms. The great body OF members Of the legis-
lature are not only inexperienced legislators but
in the very nature OF things are not well posted
in matters pertaining TO- railroad regulation,
and many OF them are often unduly prejudiced
against railroads. Very many members go to
the legislature with the one idea of REFRESHING
the railroads and reducing their charges, with
out being in possession OF the information nee
essary to determine whether the charges now
made are excessive or not As a result, many
bills are introduced proposing to regulate rail-
roads, which, il passed and literally enforced
would deprive the railroads of the revenue nee
essary to pay their operating expenses, much
less to pay interest upon legitimate bonds. The
railroad companies seeing the ruinous tendency
OF such legislation, are often compelled, ct
great expense, to
EMPLOY MEN TO REPRESENT THEM
before the legislature, and show the evil effects
of such legislation. Some of these bills are
passed and the others are defeated. The result
Is that the legislation we have is neither satis-
factory to the people nor to the railroad COM
panies, and the question of railroad regulas
ton is again admitted to the people. and the
agitation goes on from year to year. Nor will
it cease until the experiment of q railroad COM
mission has been tried. Texas has been FORUM
ate in the last fifteen years in electing broad
Drained, conservative men as her governors. If
the proposed amendment TO the constitution lS
adopted and legislation had Hereunder, it is fair
to presume that q railroad commission consist
ing Of three or five members will be appointed
by the governor. This commission will set as
high tribunal to determine the complaints of
the people against the railroads, and
we may reasonably suppose that any
Or this state will appoint fair mided, conserva-
tive men, whose character and business habits
qualify them to perform the responsible trust
which will be confded to them under the COM
mission. Where complaints exist they will be
made known to the commission, and the rail-
roads will have to answer before these conserva-
tive commissioners, qualified from experience,
to Judge between the railroads and the people,
instead Of answering before the Legislature, com
posed Of large body of men, who in the very
nature of things are not supposed to be fully and
thoroughly posted in such matters. Believing
as do, that the railroads desire to deal Justly
with the people, and that such commission as
have indicated will have
no MOTIVE TO Cypress THE RAILROADS,
it is my firm conviction that it is better, both for
the people and for the railroads, that such q
commission be appointed. The commission
should possess plenary powers, and the people
and the railroads should have a right TO appeal
from its decision on important issues. have
aw S ta t sns pEopeF IegGlatSn OF rail
government, rather than by the Federal gov
eminent; at the same time have been opposed
psnies on the part of the legislature as
would deprive the roads of the power Of
earning sufficient revenue to pay operating ex-
penses and fixed charges; with the understand
ing. however, that those fixed charges should be
such as would amount to q reasonable interest
upon the money invested in the railroads
1t is a well-known fact that every railroad in
Texas, has been built and operated in advance
of the population. Perhaps no state in the
American union IL as much indebted to the
railroads as Texas for its present population and
prosperity. and the prospects for future devel-
opment which are now apparent in every part OF
the state: It is true that railroads have been
" IN fha 81 md hat
ceived donations out OF the public domain o.
our state for the roads constructed, and it may
be true, also, that these donations have in
many instances been used for ths ag2randze-
ment of the men who controlled the roads at
the time when they were built, but it is also
true that every acre of public domain received
by them has been used In such o manner ss TO
more than
DOUBLE THE VALUE
Of The adjoining section reserved by the state,
and II is also true that there has never been a
road built in Texas that has continuously paid
It's operating expenses and fixed charges from its
earnings, and never has declared dividend on
its capital stock. Many portions of Texas are
not y yet Oiis 6{ railroads and believe it
propose to extend the roads already built, or to
new lines, until every portion Of |
Texas shall be bound together by steel rails nofk
10 believe that 1t is our policy, even then ttf
deal unJustly with capitalists who invest their |
money in such nterprises. Every mile of rail. |
on TO the outside SGrd iPaes tssS
and commerce, and adds to the tax |
able values of our state. came to /
Texas at time when it cost S15 bale to trans- /
port cotton to market, and IS to transport every /
barrel Of -four or sack of salt which we con- /
;umed. Our people were then all anxious for /
railroads to be built, and we held out strong in
iucements, both by state donations and private /
subsidies. to capitalists to constru ct the roads,
and do not believe that it is fair or Just on our
Dgrt to compel them to carry our traffic to aud |
rom markets for less sum than is necessary 30 |
BAY the operating expenses and the interest on |
he investment. which these men made for our
benefit. On the other hand, / believe 1t to be |
he duty OF the law-making power to see that |
,nerous or unjust exactions are not permitted bv |
he railroads and that such regulations be en-
forced as should secure equal and exact justice to
EVERY MAN AND EVERY COMMUNITY.
Therefore, as q railroad man, 1 am IN favor
II the commission to regulate the charges aud
PRACTICES Of the railroad company, believing
hat no governor whom the people Of Texas |
;hall elect would appoint any man upon such q |
commission who would be unjust to the rail-
Dads or unfair to the people. The object of the
is to clothe the legislature with the |
power 70 pass commission act, and / |
hail vote for the amendment to remove the
argument against commission. |
believe that every railway which receives its
harter from this state should keep its offices and
maintain its shops III Texas and keep its de-
,een encouraged and fostered by the people Oh |
no state, should deposit their daily earnings in |
,anks in this state, and thus keep the money in
Texas and build up banks In our own state in.
tead Of patronizing and fattening the banks in
'ther states. Il
"saeSo