Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-07-13
Crawford Dry Goods Compan$$|
Wholesale Retail TO Cash Only First Main and Nas &SS

the roads, but the cost of their trauspor-
laton must be paid by other people ia
order 10 obtain the necessary revenue for
the roads, and to preserve their useful
moss to the public.
Among the general, great and essen
tai principles Of liberty and free govern
ment reserved by the people 10 them.
selves in the bill or rights of our state
constitution Is the following:
Az Tree men when they form
social compact have equal rights, and no
man or set of men is entitled to exclu-
siye separate public emOluments or priyi-
leges ,nut IN consideration of public ser
The allowance of free passes Is not
n the nature of gift by private parry.
Inc railroad corporations are quasi pub
Ne corporations. They exist only by au-
cd by what the public contributes 10
their support. They have no right to tax
one citizen for the benefit of another.
This The state itself cannot do nor has ii
the power 10 authorize Il citizen or cor
p0rntiOn 10 DO so.
The constitution of the state makes
the further provision:
No persons property shall be taken,
damaged or destroyed, or applied to pub
lic use, without adequate compensntinu
being made. unless by the consent of
such person
And further:
That no citizen OF the state shall be
deprived of life, liberty, property, pg..i-
leges or lmmuuities, or in any manner
DISTINGUISHED except by the due course of
the law of the land
THESE great fundamental principles
are clearly violated when public ear
rler gives to one part of the people the
money of another part Of them, 1r gives
privileges to one part of them, which are
denied TO another part Of them. If the
railroads OF the state are able to prefer
init any part Of the money now earned
" CARRYING passengers, then II should be
gwen 10 the people as u whole by reduc-
ing passenger fare, and not part of
them In the form of free Transportation
we believe that upon principle and
Just public policy the law ought TO pro-
hihlt the allowance of free transportn-
Ton on the railroads 10 any other than
employees on such Dads when in the
performance of service for them, and
whose names shay appear on tbs.. pay
rolls OF the company"
IN support of the statement which Is
contained in the extract just read from
the report OF the railroad commission, it
presented in thar report q table shoyiur,
the revenues derived from the fares Of
passengers on the only twenty roads
from which II had then obtained re-
ports for the months of July, August.
September and October, 1891. 10 he So
loO lo'4S: While for the corresponding
four months of lS!l2, pending a politlcai
canvass, the revenue derived from the
same roads was Sl,0Dl, 50I.47. showing
decrease In revenue during four montbs
OF the latter year of S2O4,5IO.Ol, whom
II was manifest that there was mueh
more travel during the latter year than
the former, growing both ont OF tbe IN
crease of population and business, ana
ont OF the greater amount of travel dur
lhg an exciting political canvass.
In this country all government. MI
oilcers aud all Institutions owe obedience
to the law, aud are amtnable 10 public
opinion, The sooner this prlncipie is
recOsniaed and acted on by the railroad
corporations the better 1t will be for
them and for the public. When they
recognize the fact that the government
allows them to be built for the use and
10 promote the welfare OF the people.
as well MS for profit to the stock and
Dondholders; when those who control and
manage them shall recognize that these
corporations are amenable to the law.
ana when the managers Of them shall
recognize the rights of the public as well
as their own interests, they will be reeoe
nized as among the greatest BLESSINGS
10 our people. Aud they will thcn hnve
as they will then deserve TO have. tbo
sympathy, the friendship aud the support
OF healthy public opinion, as well ms
the ample projection of the law. And
the people and tho courts would tben
protect their interests with the same
care and zeal with which they protect
In conclusion | desire to say that, IT,
IN addition 10 the provisions of our ron
stitntion, and the laws Of the stnte ~
ready In force the legislature shall mss
a law Prohibiting officers and e,n.
nloyes Of railroad companies from beinr
ensased IN any business involving tTans,
hs9f!tat9n over the roads they serve; aud
rahroad companies from giving free nassas
70 any except persons In tile scryirn ~ |
snch rads, thcn Texas will have ma
t hest body Of laws Of any siate IN tbss
Sn,2n iof me rroteetlon Of tie Interests
in , roilr PsUp's' ana me rights Of investors
uluons 70 our laws properly executed IAN
property OF railroads and their stoeL.
and bonds would become as stable N