The Fort Worth gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-189?, 1891-04-02
The House Becomes an Enthu.
siastic and Yelling Bedlam.
FOR THE RELIEF OF SHERIFFS.
A Strong Commission Possessing Vigor. VI
taIity and Force Now Certainty.
Speculation AZ to tho Personnel Of the
Commission Watch for Sur
prise-The Corporation Bill
Ably Discussed.
ADOPTION OF THE REPORT.

AUSTIN, TEX, March 2S-The adoption
by both houses so promptly, and almost at
the same moment, Of the conference report
on the commission bill was matter Of
genuine satisfaction all around. II had
been noiZed around that there might be q
struggle in the senate that would delay
matters, but ii became known TO few yes
terday morning that II the conference re-
port would strike out the injunction clause
and make an unanimous report the senate
would gracefully recede and let the bill go
galloping through. An understanding had
been reached, so il was said, to that effect
among those senators thought to be favor
able to contest. The fact that the three
elective senators were on the committee to
the report. thus destroying the majority
against the bill, rendered
A CONTEST USAyAILlSd
and may have had some share in determin-
ing the action of the minority. Just at the
moment the vote on the report was taken
il the house, Secretary Kennedy Of the
senate appeared with q document in his
hand, which he read, announcing the adop-
ton Of the report in the senate by L unani-
nous vote. Instantly the house burst into
cheers, and for some moments members in
dulged in gleeful and boisterous spirit of
satisfaction. All acted rs if they felt that
they had been relieved Of q great burden
The strain was over, all doubts and fears
sprung up that Texas was at last destined
to have railway commission-not a weak,
nerveless and pulseless thing, not shadow
and will-o'- the-wisp, but an agency well
charged
WITH LIFE AND vIGOR
and the power 10 do something, if anything
good can be done While it is not every
thing that could be desired, and while it
may not bring 10 the people that measure
of relief or satisfaction looked for, it IS
capable of much good, if properly exc
cuted
The law empowers the commission to
make rates and clasSitications for the rail-
roads and such other rules for their oper-
alton and management as may be deemed
necessary. These rates, rules, etc, are to
pass unqueStiQpeo, to be the law of the
land, and be held conclusive OF their reason
ableness in all suits between individuals
and railroads, until they shall be finally set
aside BY judicial proceedings instituted for
that purpose by the railroads. The main
STRENGTH AND VITALITY
Of the law may be said to reside herein. 1t
is the backbone Of the law. A board Of
able. practical and sensible commissioners,
such Us it is believed the governor will
choose, have in the commission law IN
agency wherewith 10 do much in the line of
correcting whatever irregularities may eX-
list, equalizing burdens and preventing ex-
tortions.
Speculation will be rife from now on IS
to the personnel of the commission. A
good deal of CUES sing will be done, and per-
haps already certain gentlemen have been
hit on as the first commissioners. In the
end it is not at all unlikely that when the
appointments shall have been made, some
OF them will surprise the prophets and the
public, too.
THE GOVERNOR WILL NOT,
il is thought be hasty in making his selec-
tons. Upon the wisdom Of his choice de-
ponds largely the success of the law, and Of
his administration as well. 1t behooves
him therefore to exercise great caution and
care, and for that reason he will look well
about him before he finally decides upon
the III en- to be entrusted with SO much re-
sporsibility.
The discussion Of the various features of
the corporation bill yesterday made things
quite interesting in the house at times.
Z he effort of some Of the ablest members Of
the house, notably Brown and Terrell, to
clothe the municipal authorities with the
power to remove. alter or change street
railway tracks, wires, poles and the ike
was ably and successfully combatted BY
owSLEY AND sTAYNE,
the latter. leading off and Owsley coming to
his support. They contended and very
too, that such things were purely
matters of home rule that should be regu-
lated in accordance with city charters and
the ordinances made in pursuance thereof.
What may be q good thing for one NIL
may be very bad thing for an
other. Circumstances altered cases, and
they favored giving circumstances fair
show. They made stubborn tight, and
won. They we're equally successful in OPP
posing the amendment, striking out the
section that authorized merchants TO in
for the purpose of conducting 4
wholesale business. In that contest they
had the aid of Gresham, which made them
practically invincible. OwSley has devel-
oped strong parts as q DICTATOR during the
session, and when IL earnest Is a rather
Formidable antagonist.
THE BILL FOR THE RELIEF
Of sheriffs, championed by King Of Bur-
Lesson, had tight squeeze also. The oppo-
SiUion was powerful, and but for the pains
taking and industrious manner insThich he
had previously mustered friends for the
BILL it would have certainly gone by the
board. The bill, if it becomes law, is one
that will put every sheriff in the state under
to Representative King, who
worked like trojan to get it adopted oy the
house. 1t allows shel1ffs $3.50 q day and
actual expenses when attaching non-resi-
dent witnesses for the grand jury. At
present they get nothing, and to that ex-
tent are victimized by the state.
IT WILL BE REMEMBERED
by the readers of THE GAZETTE that when
the commission bill was first under consid-
GRAFTON in the house, Baker Of Tom Green
took strong ground against certain parts Of
sections 5 and of the bill, and made some
in reference TO other portions
Of the bill. 1t must now be- quite crafty
ing to that gentleman to know that the
conference committee agreed to all Of the
suggestions made by him in his initial
speech on the bill, and that it will be just