Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-10-15

on the money invested or II will b
! abandoned.
Demagogues have succeeded in plac.
| ing upon our statute books many law.
concerning railroads that an enlight-
ened people should be ashamed OF. For
ton years the statutes Of Texas required
all passenger trains when leaving or
coming into Texas 10 stop 40 the state
liue for thirty minutes and ring bell.
J was puzzled at first 10 know what
| great question Of state policy induced
| TIE passage OF this law. 10 was this.
Some follow at Taxarkana owned a
tract OF land at the state line about the
| size and SHAPE ofan iron wedge. He
wanted to establish an eating house
there, and by making all Of the passcn-
gers stop at the state line for thirty
| minutes he thought he could sell a
meal. All passengers leaving or com
ing into Texas az every other point
we're required 10 lose thirty minutes,
and the railroads required 10 lose half
an hour OF valuable time, In order that
the fellow at Tcxarkana would stand a
better show TO sell meal This is one
instance out OF thirty that could be
given Of laws equally as absurd and un-
just.
But It was OF no use to oppose the en-
actment OF such laws. All who stood in
the way were denounced as railroad
hirellngs, and enemies OF the people,
and the bill would 60 through with a
'who0p.h ! never could understand
how fair minded man could read such
contemplate laws without rblushing
for his country.
A few months age / was travelling
with an intelligent stranger who
seemed TO be deeply interested in mat
tors affecting Texas. He asked me,
among Other things, about the Inter-
national receiyership. | told him that
II had bcenyery much exaggerated; that
the facts were simply this: At TYLER
they had district judge and several
lawyers-the lawyers worked to elect
the judge, and the judge did what he
could
FOR THE LAWYERS,
in business way, towards stirring up
litigation and creating fees, without re-
gard TO who IL hurt, provided the suf-
lerers didn't have rates. During n
dull season the lawyers and the Judge
met and concluded they would put the
international railroad In the hands of
Il receiver, for the benefit OF the re-
ceiver and the attorneys. They agreed
in advance who the receivers should be
one broken banker, and the other
lean and hungry lawyef-and upon the
amount OF their salaries Also upon
who should be general solicitor, and
the amount OF his salary; where the
railroad money should be deposited by
the receiver, and what attorney should
receive toll fOr the order having II
deposited there, and the amount OF the
toll.
They all went into court and carried
out 1.-THE program, and some Of the
papers upon which the order was made.
the receiver were merely
blanks, containing nothing except the
endorsements on the wrappers The
railroad kicked so vigorously against
the appointment OF the lawyer as re-
celyer. that he resigned In consider
alton OF ton thousand dollars paid him
by the railroad and with a proportion
OF this sum he bought up some promis-
sorry notes on the Judge. Our then at
torney general was hail-fellow-well.
met with all concerned, and in the name
OF the state Of Texas, he sued out In
functions and interviewed in the case,
and helped the boys all he could.
He asked me II they were In the pen
itentiary. ! told him no. the attorney
general had been elected governor,
by a hundred and eighty thousand ma
lority' the lean, but no longer hungry
lawyer, was chairman OF the Demo-
cratic executive committees; one OF the
ring leaders had been placed In the
United States senate by the governor,
but had been pulled OUT by the peo-
pie; the judge was running for re-eloe.
ton upon his record and i thought IL
would DO endorsed, for his usefulness
TO men In their business. This strnn-
ger said to me, capital aud enter
prise will shun your state like tray
eler VIII shun plague striken city.p |
said | was in hopes not but | was
AFRAID so, far il had money I would
prefer meeting the Dalton boys in the
dark to being placed at tho mercy Of
that gang.
Upon par with this was the Trunk
line receivcrship. some cnterpiising
mon had conceived the plan OF build |
Ing railroad from Dall0s to the pine
lands OF Southeast Texas, to be known |
ms the Trunk line. 10 was TO extend |
from Southeast Texas with It's vnst |
forests Of timber, but with few houses |
or fences TO build, to North Texns |
where the timber was needed. II wns |
to be great lumber route, and useful
iaclor In tho development and progress
OF Texas.
They began the construction OF the
road from Dallas In u Southeast diree.
ton, and built about fifty miles when.
for tho promoters OF the
enterprise, two dear friends Of Att, .nev.
General HOgg had settled in Dallas
one i, lawyer without practice, and the
other business mAu without business.
The attorney general, To telp these
friends, went before court al Dallas
and, secretly and without notice To the
ruilroad, had tn business man an
aointed receiver Of the Trunk Line.
and the receiver employed the lawyer
rs general attorney. But the railroad
the venue 10 another county.
aud tho appointment was revoked.
ana tho attorney general and his two
friends got mad.
The atioruey-general kept pegging
away AZ the railroad trying to forfeit
rs charter and thereby
so IMPAIR IT'S CREDIT
Is to render II unable to raise the
money to complete the enterprise, and
ultimately forced the road into bank
ruptey, rs ii had never been extended
.ar enough TO pay running EXPENSES.
ME- Hogg at last succeeded In having a
receiver appointed, and some Of his
wire pulling friends pensioued Off, at
! has Al ~