Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-05-27

I
with all the reforms we have made In
the last -four years and We do not de-
sire TO intrust them TO the care of any
man who Is either doubtful OF their
wisdom or unfamiliar with their spirit
| and purpose, II was John "a. Reagan
who. In the grnndest exhibition OF pa
/ tfiouc love OF his state exhibited by
any man OF his time. resigned the high
/ est position within her gift TO accept
the craftsmanship Of our railroad COM
mission, And through all OF It's stormy
| ltic he has stood by II with a faith and
| trust horne only of deep conviction.
4 put II TO You. my fellow citizens, n
| u IL not The exercise of wisdom 10
place him In the executive chair so
mat should the supreme court OF the
United States sustain that law we can
nave the benefit OF his untirinK indus
try great experience and thorough In
Nestigation OF tho railroad problem.
Ana should tho federal court strike
down said commission, we would need
him TO aid IN the formation of another
that VIII atnnd the test OF any court.
fot, the people are determined that we
VIII have a commission law IN Texas
that Will stand the test OF federal critl-
cism,
As TO other reasons why we should
call John II. Reagan TO the executive
cnair l Gull attention 10 the dcclara-
tiona OF his policies and purposes as
set forth IN his letter published In the
doilies OF the state OF date May "a
lSV4 There are too many OF them for
me 10 attempt 20 discuss serlatim. It
would take up too much OF your time
ana You can rad and mature them for
yourselves l viii content myself with
saying that each OF them Is wise
conservative and salutary. and evinocs
thorough understanding OF the needs
OF the STATE.
some OF the Issues.
There are some measures. however
70 which he commits himself that Il
might be well to briefly consider. He
says that he win favor revision OF
the law In regard TO the allowances to
district attorneys, sheriffa and clerks.
anu a modification of the laws In re-
lation 10 the service OF attached Wilt
ncases IN distant counties, DO you
Know my fellow citizens, the import
ance contained In this sugrestion to the
people OF TeNasl Do you know what
such expenses aR are referred TO an
nually cost the people OF thia stato2
" amounts TO the sum OF about $780,
600 This may account FOR the
threatened deficit In the treasury. Have
YOU ever examined sherifr's account
Tor travelling with an attached witness
from one county 20 another II not |
recommend that you make inquiry OF
your district Judges. l tell sou that
II IL the most prolific neource OF fraud
ana unjust cNaction that today exists
upon our statute books Witnesses
ana eheriffs, IL sometimes appears, vie
with each other In running this itemr
OF expense 20 such enormous proper
lions MS 90 shock the thoughtful oiti-
zen, since the passage " the bin nj
lowing sheriffH and witness foes the
average cost Is SEQ IN each case OF
conviction FOR n felony. OF this sum
the clerk gets $40. the district attorney
$50 and the sheriff and witnesses the
remuindcr. II needs no argument 20
demonstrnte that Il this law is not
modified II viii bankrupt tho state.
Another provision TO which he pledges
himself desrc briefly TO discuss Tint
Is the transfer OF fees OF otlcora OF thia
state over and above reasonable COM
pensatlon to be fixed by law TO the
several counties In which such officers
respectively reside. DO you know my
fellow citizens, that IN the county OF
Tatrant and CITY OF Fort Worth. where
J reside, the Office OF county attorney
Is said to be worth more than ten
thousand dollars per nnnumg The Of
flee OF county Judge more than seven
thousand dollarRg The office of county
clerk twelve thousand dollars? The
office OF district clerk eight thousand
dollnrs2 The office OF sheriff Ave thous.
md 10 SIX thousand dollnrHY And even
the office OF constable In the precincts In
Guiding the city OF Fort Worth IL worth
i am told, more than three thousand
dollars.
Now, l am in favor OF giving to the
| officers lust and fair CONFORMATION.
| But when II comes 10 such exhorbltnnt
salaries m these, they arc too rich
and tempting and too often attract
| the eye OF the vicious. tho corrupt and
the unworthy. | say this not with ref
erence TO any particular officer IN the
| state OF Texas. nor do / purpope TO re-
| nect upon any OF them. 30 far ms I
know, with but few exceptions. thoy
ARE honorable men and faithful OIL
| GERS. Hut the methods TO which come
| OF them have lot themselves to secure
und pcrpetuatc themselves In office
] condemn, And moro. our supreme
judges Of the state OF Texas only re-
| eeive $500 per nnnufn. our governor
$4,000. with all the great responsibility
| attached TO said position, and surely n
| like sum should secure tho best talent
| and the most competent and efficient
services In the offices IN the countios
The Interstate Commi-sion.
There is matter in Connection with
! the history Of this great man we should
| remember with gratitude when
member Of congresa OF tho United
States. single handed and alone he be-
gan the gigantic struggle to regulate
the great public highways by law
known as the Interstate commerce bin.
And for many and long weary ya6rs
he battlcd undnunted by opposition
and undlsmay0d by power until he In
the end ochieyed the first great victory
for the people over Incorporated power,
IN tho field OF federal politics. His sue
cess In that historic struggle. though
condemned. and criticised by those who
do not comprehend the magnitude OF
It. VIII send his name sounding down
the ages along with the greatest statea-
men that have battlcd for tho rights
Of mnn
And further. my fellow cltlzens,
while n member OF tho Bennte Of the
United States. II was John H. Reagan
Of all the great and patriotic men IN
that distinguished body who first lifted
his voice and entered HE protoht
against the unwarrantod and unconsti-
tutional provisions OF tho law OF tho
United States creating privileged
Glasses IN the form Of civil pensioners:
who after they have enjoyed the hon
ors and emoluments OF office for life
lime are retired upon pensions, These
are called civil pensioners. Thus crdat-
ing a privileged class apeing royalty.
contrary 10 the genius OF our institu-
tons. Had he remained Ia the senate
that abuse ard outrage upon the rights
OF the people. would have crumbied I'M
der his slodgehamiuer blows. Although
my fellow citizens. he has paused from
that dald ~ ugffnu wa ftaed baslc ~.