The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-01-09
an ABSURD TRADE.
THE RAILROAD COMMISSION HAS
MADE AGAINST THE SOUTH
ERN PACIFIC.
WHOLLY UNWARRANTED BY FACTS.
The Commissions Forthcoming Annual
Report Singles Out This System
for Some Political Jingoism-The
Facts in the Case.

In its forthcoming annual report, which
is now in the hands of the printer the
railroad commission sees fit to take
whack at the Southern Pacific system. A
two-column synopsis of the report was
given in The Statesman last week, and
the public is therefore in possession of
the substance of the report before it is
issued in book form. ine fling of the
commission at the Southern Pacific sys-
TEN is totally unwarranIed, uncalled for
by the public and wholly without provo
cation.
The report of the commission bearing
on this subject among other things says:
80 long as the railroad commission is
clothed with power to make and maintain
rates, the interests of the public may not
be seriously affected by the joint owner
ship and management Of railroads in this
State as to non-parallel and non-compet-
| ing lines. But the provisions of the con
stitution of the State should be respected
as relates to parallel and competing
| roads"
| The commission evidently seems to fear
the Southern Pacific system in that they
think it will mix in politics II little too
much to suit them. They therefore eau
| ton the public to see to it that the consti-
tuition respective to consolidation of rail
| roads is not violated. While the commits
siOnS hangs out the red lantern of danger
against the Southern Pacific system in
Texas they fail to tell the people of what
benefit that system is to the Lone Star
State. 1t is now operating something
over 5000 miles of road in the State and
controls the main outlets of the States !
traffic. Without the Southern Pacific sys-
tenn the State of Texas would COMPARE |
lively be wilderness, as it touches points |
not reached by any other road. Ii is a |
well known fact that others than the COM
mission have seen fit in times past to hop
onto the Southern Pacific system and
write of establishments" and the like
until the average reading public were led
to think that this system was Il great
octopus that was trying to gobble up the
entire State. Those acquainted with the
facts in the case can not deny the asser-
ton that the Southern Pacific system of
roads in Texas have done this State mil
lions of dollars worth of good, and certain
ly no harm.
There are other systems in the State. of
course, and some of them are just as pow
crful and also tend to tramp on the con-
stitution, if the Southern Pacific does so,
|
hue and cry is against Huntington and
the Southern Pacific system. The wall
was taken up in this city last January
when the legislature met. and ever since
that time certain politicians, having
taken their cue at that time
have rallied against the Southern Pacific
system. Verify it would seem that the
matter of criticism of the Southern Pacif
ic system has long since passed the
hounds of just criticism and condemna-
ton, and now partakes of that railing
and bitterness characteristic of the boy
who fails to lick his larger opponent and
thcn goes around the corner to
II safe hiding place and abuses
and talks about the other boy who
did nothing save protect himself eifec-
lively when assailcd The Southern
Pacific system is in the State to stay and
for the benefit of Texas interest Its
lines will be in operation long after the |
politicians who are now defiing it have I
passed in their political chips, and the |
public is respectfully requested to look {
well into the matter before they pass CEN {
sure on the Southern Pacific system. If |
the commission has any charges against |
the Southern Pacific system they should y
frot them out, but in heavens name stop J
this indulging in glittering generalities S
and inslnuations and creating an impress 5
SION that there is Il negro in the wood 7
pile where there is none. T
This TRADE against the Southern Pa I
,ihc system had its origin in the people
wing along several small lines in the S
state asking for the consolidation of said
Dads by the legislature last January.
The instant this request was made the
official family and the demogogues in /:
politics began to howl that it was Il
scheme of Huntngton's to gobble up all |;
he railroads in the State. Such talk was I
'ot and proved ineffective before the {!
aw makers. A veto power, however, Il
stopped the consolidation and that ended s
he matter. The Southern Pacific system &
vas doing business in the State at that
ime, and it is still doing it, and what's Il
more will continue to do so. G
In view of this fact it is very evident
hat the life of the system did not hang
IN this consolidation of two roads, even ,
it was interested III such consolda- S
ion, which, up to this good hour, has .
lever been set forth by any of those 3
wolf criers' who made the assertion at
he time. The people of Texas and the
world at large do not expect the railroad
commission to use its annual reports to l.
make filings at any system doing business
n the State, and do not desire them to @
o SO. Because, without proyocation, '.
the head that wears the crown" is rather u
ncasily watching the Southern Pacific w
yStcm ancnt the coming campaign is no u
cason why the commission should also =
ave bad dreams and imagine that the |,
southern Pacific system intends to con- q
olidate its general offices with the rail W
Dad commission and throw some worthy ;,
Id politicians therein out of job. The :,
outhcrn Pacific system will continue to -
o business at the old stand and will not :,
the least interfere with the SILVER :;
ommission office" at the State capitol. e. e.
II view of this assurance it would seem -,
$ though common sense would dictate N,
nat cessation of TRADES would be more L,
ccoming the commission and would GER I
linly love more to the liking of pub n,
c that desire wise and not political cr
gislation. q,
THOUGHT HE WAS ROBBED.