Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-03-06


ganization OF the commission that 1t has not
had time to accomplish very much. and the
people do not appreciate that which 1t has
done because they do not understand the
! full force of IL The rates Oh all agricul-
tural products to and from points within
/ the state have been reduced and much grain
raised in Texas has been marketed in the
state that would not have been able to COM
pete with the products OF other states
under the old rates. a large saving has
been made on the cotton crop of last year,
and an impetus to manufacturing interests
has grown out Of the expectation of the
good work OF the commission which will
reach hereafter that which has not before
been touched. We may expect fromthe COM
mission fair rates. so that the people of
Texas viii not be Disseminated against by
the railroads, and Us consequence the
business of the state will be greatly i'm
proved One of the greatest benefits
derived from the commissions work
so far is that it has converted
Judge Clark aud his heretofore
auti-commission friends TO belief in the
virtue of the law, and they are now seeking
to take the lead in its enforcement. Those
who oppose Governor Hogg charge that he
has been partial to his friends, and especi-
ally Mr.. Chiffon. Judge Clark ingeniously
seeks to make the most Of this and the
elective feature Of the bill. He is in poor
secretary of state by his friend Governor
Coke, and afterwards appointed by the
same friend attorney general of the state
His friend Governor Roberts appointed him
one of the judges of the court of appeals of
the state, and lately Governor Ross, his
warm personal friend, appointed him one
of the attorneys OF the state to represent it
in the Greer county case, from which he
will get fee amounting to more than the
salary of a senator. No one ever heard of
either Of the governors canvassing the state
to find out whether the p, ople wanted
Judge Clark appointed TO either place or
not. Judge Clark served the state faith
fully and ably in each place, and it proves
that he does not object to the appointing
power nor that the friend of the governor
be appointed provided he is the appointee
1t also proves that the appointed officer
may be of as much service as one elected
for the judge certainly would not claim that
he alone would be q faithful appointee
1 concede to Judge Clark ability and hon
esty. Being hoLest he must, if elected, use
his influence to change the law so as to
force the people to sue the railroads in each
case Of violation of the law and at heavy
expense meet the expert testimony of their
employees, with the certainty of being worn
out He knows that they will not sue. He
will use his influence to so change the law
as to offer premium to the railroads to
litigate with the state by suspending all
rates and penalties during the continuance
of the litigation, whereby the railroads
would get all the advantages of long-con7;
tinued suits and eXtortionaJe rates collected
By them from the people during the tiEg
The question is shall the railroads cokiect
their own rates fixed by their officials dur
ing litigation and continue it as long agpossf
sibe, or shall the people have the beng ftof |
the reduction of the rates during the ktiga- |
tionl Shall all the railroads besef1en a |
premium for enjoining the c6saEdission iasI
the way of eXtorIion on the business of the |
or shall they, like the citizen, take |
OF paying the penalty if they /
are wrongl Clark and his friends say give |
the commission fair trial, but they wish |
to take away from it all of its power to con- |
troll and then turn it loose in q contest with |
the most powerful combination that has |
ever existed in any country. They would |
take its heart out and stand it up lifeless /
corpse TO be laughed at by the railroad COR
poratious.
II is now in order for some of those who
lssail Governor Hogg and his administra-
ton to specify what he has done that is
contrary to the interests of the masses. or
what he has failed to do that they have de-
sired him to do He has been faithful, and
f he is wrong the people were wrong in
heir platform at San Antonio.
In conclusion, wish to say that Judge
Clark misrepreseuts, no doubt from false
Governor Hogg's connectionst
with the commission bill as passed When
was appointed chairman of the committee
IN internal improvements in the lass sesS
'ion of the legislature, I went to GoEernbr
dogg and asked his advice with reg4rakto
he BILL and at my request he gave vdpable
i'd in it. l am more responsible fe*it if
wrong than he. shirk no respons iAilty
md indorse the bill and say that Governor
dogg in that matter did right.