Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-05-06


IL ostensibly conducted Independently
| and without reference to It's associates.
| The establishment Of reasonable rates
by the commission Will effectually ac-
| compl.sh the purpose Of the cOnatitu-
| ton. The people should not permit the
| Issue OF perpctuatinR an effective com
| mission 10 be obacurcd or congratulate
themselves that all opposition has been
| Withdrawn. In many quarters we hear
Strange professions OF friendship for H..
and while awaiting the decision Of the
supreme court OF the United States
| undlBRulscd attacks are being made
upon the commission policy.
The People should he Heard.
within the past few WEEKS, iI1ws-
paper which IS opposing candidate
for governor with great zeal, ia an
editorial attacking some who had
formerly resided IN eastern portions OF
the state used this significant LAM
guage; And when IL comes to legis-
lation they arc true to the narrow In
Rtinctn OF the cline IN which they
sprung true representatives OF a
section that needs no railroads, de-
gpisos foreign capital, wants to attack
the land titles OF the growing west.
concocts NIL sorts Of needless and yea-
ntiOus bureaus and commissions TO
Impede and hnrrass an euterprislDg
and progressive state" From this ana
other evidences Of antaEonlsm which
might be noted. the people should take
heed lest the perfection or this policy
should be cOnnded to Indifferent ~
unfrlendy hands. There IL no proba-
bility that the law VIII be declared
void IN toto by the supreme court,
While ! have confidence that the en-.
tire law Will be sustained. II sections
b, and 7 are declared void, tho COM
initiation al
further legislation. and In order to
avoid the cost OF an extra session,
amendment OF the law may well be
postponed until the regular session In
january. These sections. IN the event
OF an adverse decision. should be
amended In conformity 20 the opinion
OF tho court aud II Will probably he
sufficient TO provide that In all suits
whether Instituted by shippers or the
state, the rates established by the
commission shall be deemed prlma
faole reasonable or suiilciunt until the
contrary be shown by tho companies
Necessarily II the entire law be hold
valid and constitutional. the commits
hnn should proceed at once to eHtnb-
llsh rates. with the legal status OF
the law established, only part OF the
danger will be removed; there Will re-
main the personnel OF the commission
ana the rntcn 10 be fixed When Mt
'HNhh upon lhr law may no longer be
HucceHrful or advisable. the forces of
tho opposition viii be directed To con
trolling tho commission itself. This "
well illustrated hy the situation In
California, where. although the Law
~ nv strong aud effective as here, no
attack has been made upon Il becauA,
inc companies have secured control Of
the commission by the appointment OF
their ndheren's, and the rates are CON
Hequcntly as satisfactory MS II fixed
by their freight agents. The Last lcgla-
lnturc by Joint resolution approved
May H. 1893 provided for the submls-
SION at the next general election Of
an amendment to the constitution uu.
der which the three commissioners
shall be elected ut the next Huoceed-
ing general election, to hold office for
Two, four and ak years respectively
10 be determined Ivy lot aud there.
after ouo commissioner shall be elected
every two years, Relieving In the
right Of the people 20 choose their nf-
iicerA, | shah vote Tor the adoption OF
this amendment. The duty ana re.
Rpunaihility OF selecting the commits.
hionerH, whether by election or np.
pulntmcnt are grave and serious
They exercise one Of the most import
ant functions Of government. In sal
AIRY aud responsibility the law places
them upon plane with the Judges Of
they should be chosen without in
tcrcst or biap ON the side OF railways
or Of shippers commissioners IN sym
pbthy with She policy should bn Sc
cured who bear such characters for
nbllity, Integrity anu impnrtiallty that
rates liked by them win carry, " DOG
alhle, tile weight Of q Judgment by our
supreme court. The statute REQUIRES
that the rates established shall be ren-
HunAble, ana II should be enforced
rcaolutoly and IN good faith This re-
pulrcmunt IN not only cmlnontlN lust
In itself but absolutely necessary To
keep the faith upon which our exist
Ing rallwnya We're constructed and
To promote and encourage the build.
Ing OF others 40 essential to the do,
Nclupmont aud growth OF our state.
Thus constituted aud governed, the
true purpose Of the commission will be
attained the placing OF all persons
and localities on terms uf equality aud
the reduction " rates to u reasonable
basis
The Power OF Labor,
or the great body ~ our people mono
are more deserving " such consideration
~ government may rightfully hpstow
upon lie citizens than those engaupd
IN Industrial Rnd mechanical pursuits
They produce the wealth and are the
authors OF the prosperity OF the state
.sH''h fNf NNsANN ANl lllN WIN me
bread OF nations, ana every Held of tho
white staple which clothes tho world
II trihute TO the beuencence and
grandeur OF agriculture The aphprism
~ the Old Alcalde that "thc civilization
which IN capable ot sclr-goVernment
begins and ends with the plow'' may be
the subject Of miAeonstrueuon. but "
by II " meant that agricultural states
are the suroNt abiding places of liberty
he but uttered q philosuphic truth o.
history, What they demand and what
government should grant ungrudgingly
are economy nnd low taxes, am ndc.
uuate nud Sound currency, aufilclput
educational facilities for their children
ANA freedom from the robhrrieS OF pro.
iectcd Industries that they may buy Ina
the cheapest and sell IN tho denrcst
markets. Turning from the mon OF tho
soil TO those OF the shop every hnnd,.
work, every luhor-sHVing machine
every lowered city, every tunnel which
piorves the mountains Ia make way for
commerce every railway train which
crosses the continent bearing tho frulte
OF hurhsndry AMI toll and every ma
leatie ship exchanging the products or
nations tells W the genius and power az
labor Chief among tile lust clninis IN
those employed In the trades arc nm
ciiolent system OF public schools nee.
dom from ciompctition with convict ana
Immigrant paupcr labor, inviolable
trade niaris and adequate alien laws.