Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-12-14
RAILWAYS.
Early Opening Of Com
mission Campaign.
RAILWAY PEOPLE WATCHING SIT
UATIoN WITH INTEREST.
RIFT CAV NOTHING
BUT SAY NOTHING.
HAVE COME To LOOK UPON COM
MISSION AS A FIXTURE AND
ANTAGONIST IS PAST
Sentiment Indicates That Next Com
mission VIII Come from North,
Central and south Texas.

The question OF the election of the
next railway commission is already
beginning to attract considerable at
tentlon, as II has been definitely an
nounced that at least two OF the pres
ent incumbents will not be candidates
for reelection.
Railway people as yet are not taking
much stock In the gossip that is GO
ing the rounds, and parry questions as
to their opinions with the dexterity OF
n French fencing master. They hay
| their attitude in the matter Will be en-
! tircly passive. and their chief interest
| lies in the PRONUNCIATION of such rates
! as VIII enable them to earn an honest
| living.
! It Is apparent from an Intelligent siz-
4 ing up Of the situation that the aver
/ age railway has at last accepted the
/ advent of the commission pretty much
! as the visit Of poor relations-one of
/ the things that are inevitable and
! must be endured as far as possible.
| The recent warfare between the com
mission and the railways has UNI
| doubleday redounded to the common
I good. The decision Of the supreme
| court In that celebrated injunction
/ case while II was much Of the nature
/ of Il dog fail, has operated as some
| thing OF a puclhcator, ana has i'm
/ bucd each Interest with more respect
/ for the other than existed prior to the
| legal battle.
Under the terms OF that supreme
! court decision the railways have been
taught that there is no attacking the
| constltutlunality of the commissions
existence. That II is not only here in
response TO popular demand. but the
manner Of It's birth cannot be shadow
| ed with doubt of legitimacy. II Is
the legal offspring OF the great Texas
| law factory, and II is here to stay.
Under that self-same decision of the
! supreme court of the United States.
the commission has been taught that
there are bounds beyond which there
can be no infringement. These great
arteries of commerce must not bo
! ground down by conilscatory measures
which will prevent the earning of a
Just compensation from their operation.
| While they are to be restricted from
imposing burdens upon the commerce
| OF the country, there must be a middle
path pursued broad enough to do JUS
tlce to all interests.
The realization ~ these facta has
| operated ms a pauacea for much OF the
| former troubles and differences, and
has begotten not only feelings or re-
spect. but also OF confidence. Many of
the railway men who two years ago
were loud In their denunciation OF the
| commission and its venerable and In
corruptlblc chairman, now express the
| utmost confidence In the intentions OF
| the commission and faith In the honor
and Integrity not only OF John II.
Reagan. but In each member OF the
body over which he presldes.
1t is believed, too, that many or them
| view the announcement OF his retire
| ment after serving his term with I'M
feigncd regret.
Judge stedman, the member Of the
| commission from this city, has i'm
| nrpagR1
fair and Just mana man who Is 80
| close student OF all matters pertain
Ing to the Discharge OF his duty, that
he. accepts no halfway course, but
doiyes to the very tap root of the sit
| uation-a man. too. who from his long
| legal training and fine sense OF jus
| tlce will do naught but that which
he knows to he right. The desire IL
often expressed, In both railway and
commercial circles, that Judge Stod-
! man may consent 10 be candidate for
his present position in the impending
/ campaign
In the matter OF candidates. It Is al
| ready clearly apparent that there will
be no doarth Of that element in the
campaign. The fact that each OF tho
present members IL lawyer will
doubtless stimulate the idea that the
! position must carry with II thorough
| knowledge OF the law. But this Is not
| necessarily 30. Those who have the
0
bent upon the position and tho objects
| and lntents of the law are OF the
opinion that Il Is desirable that one
| member should be n man who has
acquired emincnce in the legal pro-
| fesslon, another should be n man with
| O full and comprehensive knowledge OF
! tho objects, aims ana necessities OF
commerce-ln other words. success
full and conservative business man,
and the third should be n man thor,
| nlrhlN t.f .aI NHftI Nt. \
varied railway interests OF the great
est state I'm the union
II Ia not meant by this that the third
! member OF the commission should be n
man whose Interests lic particularly
| with those OF the railways Of this state
but n man who has acquired thor
ough railway education. broad aud lib
oral In his Views, and capncitAted TO
give suggestions and advice from
source rendered valuable from practi-
cal experience in the management and
direction OF railways.
In tho matter OF sectional represcntn-
tlon. It is conceded that the vast In
terests Of North Texas will always
entitlc this section of the state to OF
least one railway commissioner. while
South Texas has pertains almost
equally MS strong n claim. East Texas
| md Central Texas must alternately
furnish the third member. and there Is
I n sentiment that next year n Contra,
Texas man ahould have the place. or
course there win always be serap
between Galveston and Houston over
the South Texas mcmher. as there "
over the question OF differentiais hut
that VIII only add spice to the sit
| uatinn.
It is wce bit carly 10 bring these
matters before the public but as the
undorcurrant has already net IN, with
numerous lines east TO windward.it will
be quite interesting and Instructive to
watch the drift as e bears 10 the sur
! faNa