Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-06-20
TEMPEST In A TEAPOT.
The Commission Howl Harmless Cry It Can
Neither Accomplish Much Good Nor Much
Harm-Hogg's Free Pass.

Nothing could be palmer to a cool, conserva-
tive, methodical business man land as such 1
write) than that all of this howl about the rail-
road commission is mere hellabelloo raised by
the demagogues for their own advancement po-
litically. This is emphatically the campaign Of
big and little measures. The railroad COM
mission will thwsTt and retard the development
of the state because am opposed to It, and not
because the measure amounts TO much either
way.
On the other side, the railroads are robbing
the people and we must have a commission to
prevent il for I am in favor of it, when in fact
the railroads in the main are treating the people
fairly and the people will never be able to tell
by the rates they psy the railroads that they
have got commission.
Well, now, let's see how the matter
really stands; The supreme n1s court ,fe IN
that a commission could not fix rates
that were nos remunerative to the railroads,
hence commission cannot fix rates that are
oppressive; for if they do the railroad will only
have to appeal to the national courts and have
them nulIfed, and no body OF officials Will per-
sist in course when they realize that their pro-
ceedings will be set aside by higher court
Previ Gus to the rendering of this decision COM
mission might have been hazardous, but
nov it is perfectly harmless. Capt. Paddock
and other leading anti-comml ssionlsts claim
that the roads Of Texas are barely making ex-
penses; then commission could not reduce the
rates with this decision of the Federal court
hanging over it like Demoliele's sword suspen-
ded by single hair If the railroads are not
making reasonable dividends upon bhe1r legltl-
mate inve stmentS commission will be harm
less and foreign body to them Then why all
this howl, for things are as they are, and will
with this supreme court decision impend-
ing is simply surgeon restricted
to 1ancfng abcesses and letting out the cor
ruption. for whenever he would strike healthy
part and let out pure blood this decision will
stay his hand. What capital requires Is II con-
dition, solution, for 1t readily adjusts itself
to a condition, but never to threatening
hoWlism that indicates a possible danger.
A commission means solution, settle
ment, a. condition. while this CON
FOR office upon anti-railroad platform signl fes
a terrible howlism that always makes capital
trembIe. With commission in operation its
shortcoming will attract all OF the time and at
tention of the 6emsgogues. for we need some
thing for them to cuss, and give the railroads
complete political rest, so they can donate all
of their energies to the development OF our re-
sources.
It strikes me that of all interests the railroads
should most desire and demand commission to
take this controversy out OF the domain of
howlism, there would be perfect understanding
and adjustment between the railroads and the
people. What the railroads need most is peace.
On the other hand the roads are not, as
rule, robbing the people and making exorbitant
profits; neither will the people be materially
benefited by commission nor the roads injured
to any great extent for things are as they are,
and will continue to be they are; so it is all
great hellabell 90 about nothing on both sides.
The same thing might be said of Mr.. Hogg's
free pass, in the main, for when he used 1t to
the benefit of the state and not himself person
ally 1t created no more obligation upon his part
than any other citizen that pays taxes; but when
he takes advantage OF pass that was courtesy
to his official position to travel in his own pri-
vate personal interest, he is either sponging
upon the state or the bounty OF the
railroad; so, to say the least, Brother
Hogg was guilty of a very small. dimin-
utive little improperly in travelling upon
a free pass while making canvass apparently in
opposition to the railroads, though really in
their interest for "tbings are not what they
SEEM Good breeding demands that you must
not antagonize an interest while enjoying its
bounty. The business maxim is If you owe
man first pay him and then cuss him. 1t is but
reasonable t. suppose that Brother Hogg was SO
completely absorbed in his great mission, and
not his self-importance as Warwick would
say that he must overlook these little amenities
of life, so Brother Hogg is excusable if not
iustifable. It is Mr.. Hogg's position as attor-
ney-g general that makes him appear to be an
extremist, but have noticed that these vlgor-
Gus prosecuting attorneys make our most i'm
partial and fairest judges, so Hogg will give ms
an administration that will be honest, faithful
and fair. J. A. KIDD.
springton, Tex, June Il, 1880.