Daily Texarkana Democrat., 1893-11-21
NEEDED LEGISLATION.
a Crying Shame Against Law and
Order to be Stamped Out.

w w OeoAAPO0 Oubs
The recent epidemic of train robber-
les, all over the country, north and
south east and west, has had the effect
of arousing the general public to
sense ofits insecurity and bringing
before the public mind the fact that
these long continued depredations
have, in sense national reproach.
to our legal system and the law max
ing and enforcing departments of the
Government. AS would naturally be
expected the Railway and express
Companies are the first to make a
move toward the accomplishment
of the greatly desired purpose of put
ting sudden and effective period to
this wide spread lawlessness. With
this object in view they are moving
upon Congress in an earnest effort to
secure legislation for their protection
against train robbers, and make siren
uOus efforts to secure some action in
that direction at the approaching ses-
sion. A bill looking to this end was
introduced by Representative Cald-
well, of Ohio during the extra session
but owing to the press of other bust
ness it was not pushed. The Repre-
sentatiVes of the transportation COM
panies say now that the matter is TOO
important to admit gilmore delay than
is necessary and they will do all in
their power to secure legislation dur
ing the present winter which they
fear on account of the dull times and
the number of men out of employ
ment will furnish too many illustra-
tions of the necessity for such protec-
ton as they demand The various
railroad and telegraph companies
have all eady begun to lobby in the in
terest of the Caldwell bill and are
bringing strong pressure to bear upon
congressman by the use of local in
fuence. They want national law,
and urge that only that will suffice for
their thorough protection. They say
in pleading with Senators and men,
bers that if all the states and terrific
ries would enact laws such as Arizona
has enacted, making train robbery q
felony, there would be no demand for
a national law, but they have found it
impossible to secure uniformity Of &C
ton by the states.
They argue that congress can act
for the protection of interstate rail
road or express companies just as con-
sistently as it could act to regulate
commerce between the states.
The large number of these train
robberies which have occurred in the
past twenty years and which seem to
increase rather than diminish has, call
ed for all sorts of expedients to be
adopted for the protection Of express
messengers, passengers and train prop
erty, but in nearly every case wherein
an attempt has been made to rob or
wreck train it has been successful.
The robbers have proved capable of
overcoming all obstacles placed in
their way. The burglar proof safes
which for number Of years were plac-
ed in the express cars were for a
time sufficient to Withstand the at
tacks, but of late years they have call
ed to their aid nitro glycerine, giant
powder, dynamite and other power
full explosive agencies, and thus have
been able to break open the strongest
boxes. In many instances express
messengers who have resisted the rob-
bers have been killed and railroad
passengers have also suffered the loss
Of life at the hands Of the desperadoes.
The penalty imposed by Mr.. Cald-
wells bill for attempts at train rob-
bing is term of twenty years I'M
prisonment'
The bill has not been discussed in
the house, but the senate devoted an
hour to talk upon the subject, which
was brought up by a resolution dur
ing the extra session and enough was
said to indicate that the bill will en-
counter strong opposition if reach
es the senate. Senators Hale, Hoar,
Vest and others took the position that
each state was capable Of dealing with
the question in its own way. The
railroad and express companies rep
resentatives think, however, they will
/ be able to overcome much of this OPP
position,