The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-03
TIE GREAT ISSUE In TEXAS.
TRYING TO BRING HARMONT OUT OF
THE ANTE-RJTLROAD CRUSADE

the key to tho immediate uestlnF w '"V S'"Nos
II the existing antagonism between very
lArre class OF citizens and the railroads can be
disslpntod tho remarkable march OF progress
pade in tho State during the pGst four or i've
vcnrs will develop into a rush OF prosperity
euch ne no large section OF the country has
over soon. lut radical change In public
op,nion must he brought nbout before this de-
.irahIs result can he fully accomplished. 1t is
aouolly true that the policy OF tho RAILROAD
owners and their employees must be modelled
unon an entirely now basis before any Conces-
sions from the people can DO gained. The latter
reform there Is good reason for believing, Will
he rendily ACCOMPLISHED. The real owners Of
the railroads realize at last that their agents
in Texas have been for years pushing u sui
ctdal pollcy toward the general public. This
policy OF usurpation Of private rights, Of iRnor-
ing OF reasonable public demands. has been
bitter fruit. as was briefly explained In these
columns n few days ago.
Tho popular prejudice against the railroad
interest took such deep root that the question
became the foremost political issue in the
State and 1t still occupies tho same rromi
nence in public affairs. The State Is 80 over
wheln,ingly democratic that 1t is simply
question which wing OF the party shall control
the nominations and platforms. Just now tho
leading issue with the respective contestants
road corporations should be regulated by q
Board OF Commissioners with plenary and
final power to fix rules and rates OF tratllo.
This question was deliberately debated In the
last session OF the Texas Legislature. The
Commission measure as q statutory bill was
defeated by It's opponents in the Legislature,
but its supporters in that body succeeded 30
far as % get ts idea formulated as constitu-
tional amendment for submission to the popu-
lar vote at the coming State election.
1t will readily be inferred that only long
series OF offences against public policy would
have stirred an entire State into such tur-
mol. The temptation to popular revenge Is
great but. unfortunately, to yield to 1t involves
a self-punshment fully as great as that which
will be inflicted upon the offenders II half tho
people OF Texas had their way the railroads OF
the state would not only be bankrupt, but they
would be literally forced to cease operation
within year. Such result would. OF course.
be blow to the prosperity Of the state which
1t would be slow in recovering from.
The causes VIII CHI have eliminated in this
bitter state of public feeling have been many
and varied. In many cases the railroad man
az, do not correctly represent their employ
manage MANY OF them are Indifferent to.
p"bc opinion are careless OF the rights of
their patrons, IRE arrogant ana sell simportant;
strength of the aggregated capital they repre-
sent. They become indiierentto criticism and
unmindful OF tho duties they owe the public.
Others are so far removed from the people
that they know nothing OF and care less for the
tinualIy being presented to their agents. They.
the managers, are studying results. leaving
thedetails to their subordina! es who. clothed
with contempt tho humble individual who
seeks redress for wrong committed or an in
OF the prejudice that exists against railway
corporations The more humble the indiyid-
neiehbors and the more, time he finds to air
hts Glieyanee among 81 Z. his ,s, associates at tho
Then TOO. the railroads have been ne supremely
ssived at the hands Of cities and towns: Fort
done ns Oh oH 6m has
IN city 10 an the to
their aid with b greater Snanty than Fort
INC Gf' before the 0's No City has
given them a greater volume OF business
or been more friendly In its relations
in the face Of ell this no city any Of the lines
in the state receives, less, attention from the
State but what has better facilities for the
transaction OF Its business in proportion to the
the imp9rtunities ali the protests Of the people
OF Fort Worth have been lptiIe. The same OLD
depo did Ser " S Shsn
to BE- wondered at that Fort Worth is at length
oipients OF its muniticence.
One explanation Of the neglect OF public
fact that the owners. of the raiways,the
stockholders and not infreQuently the officers
from the people with whom they do business.
and upon whose patronage they depend for
the money TO pay, operating expenses, that
Many things are neglected that would receive
their prompt attention II they were apprised
OF the true condition OF affairs.
The last Legislature made an effort to correct
th- evil. but tho effort was futile one. SO far
Gals elected under the. provisions Of tho law
requiring certain officials TO be residents OF
and hayo their offices in the state of Texas are
alumni s" in. the fullest sense Of the term.
The business OF the company aside from the
details, is still transacted where tho owners
reside. The policy is dictated from there. and
things 90 on much as II the law had never
recn written. The owners OF the roads fail to
nance their business interests. Its utter dis
regard has only tended to widen the breach
between tho railways and the people.
But tho railroads have one strong point OF
defence against the criticisms OF the, people.
Not single milo of railroad in Texas has ever
been III condition TO nay cent In DIVIDENDS.
and none Will be until there Is great increase
@ rS& 2 sne Ins r ths
81 eli Is "liercd, but ii.asmucn a. none Of the
AIS mr." able 10 do more than earn their tXed
ctaiE"s there is manifesty no harm done by
the most copIous irrigation OF the capital
stock as long as no dividends on II are earned
or paid. Il is further asserted hy the critics
Of TO r'il onds that they are bonded for more
than their actual cost. and that therefore
hIrn tariffs nro necessary. From he Comp
irolo IS rorOrts. u ado up from tue sworn
statements Of tho m tnagrls Of The thirty-sevnn
roads long bus.ne-t In Texas il would appear
that ineT' Rlc IL3 miles OF road in the State.
,.u Ouiei ini'Nte ness % VIII oh Is $685. L.
~. or IN average II t,U65O PER mile. II will
hot b" ""n;"luci that every milo OF road in
Texas cost i".o1' Tor milo, no, will 1t be- saId
that there ar" not many miles that cost thrice
and lulIr 'lmeS TINS sum. COmrany cannot
put bond 81 $4,000 On one or more miles OF
It's road and SIj,Opy on another that actually
cost THIS sum TO construct
The bonds do not sell for their face value
Eighty cents on tho dollar is the maximum AT
which these bonds are marketed which ac-
counts Tor 20 per cent, Of the difference. Again.
the Constitution and laws. fortunately for the
railroads. a. no lie the corporal ons 10 borrow
money on the SSonstrH"lion and operation OF
the railroads. But for thus every rad in the
state would have boon forec!osed. If not
wiped out Of existence. long ago. There
ia no road that has paid 1t, nAed charges
Tor the period Of its construction, wien
the interest and expenses are going on
g. ior a number Of years Thereafter. The cost
az maintenance repairs, betterments. and
operatiOn goes on. business or no business
and when the road has piled up It's floating
debt until it, credit Is exhausted. there IL no