Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-01-18
CULBERSON
Tells Of the Past Years
Work.
THE EXPENDITURES HAVE DEEs
GREATLY REDUCED.
FINE LEGISLATION
WAS THAT OF rnE LEeisLA-
TupE OF LAST
YEAR.
The Schools, Intcrests of the Labor
Ing Classes. the Farmers and

Austin, Tex. Jan. 17-(speciai)--
Governor Culberson today gave out the
following address:
Executive Office.
Austin. Jan. 10 1896
To the People of Texas:
Twelve months ago the present admin
istration was charged with the conduct
of the state government, and a sincere
appreciation OF your confidence in
duces me, for my associates and my
self. TO make you a general statement
of the more important operations OF
ments during that period.
Many laws enacted by the Twenty
fourth legislature are Of exceptional
value and will materially contribute
to the public welfare Among those OF
general benefit and with which refer
ence to which no detailed statement
need be made. is that regulating con-
tested elections. which, besides provid-
ing for the trial OF the right to office.
will put an end to the corrupt and
fraudulent removal Of county seats and
the consequent destruction of public
and individual rights; the law regula-
ting primary elections. which win tend
to preserve the integrity of the primar
les; the revision of the civil and penal
codes. which will put all the laws In
cheap and compact form: the laws
making occupation taxes uniform by
imposing them upon Insurance agents
and better ascertalning the class OF
merchants; the fish and oyster law.
which has arrested the wholesale de-
struction of the food fish and natural
oyster beds on our coast; the laws
equalizing the burden of taxation by
levying 1t upon the national bank and
treasury notes and the gross receipts
of express companies; and the law CIV
ing to the colored people the manage
ment of their schools by the election Of
colored trustees.
Heretofore when freight was shipped
over several lines OF railway and was
lost, delayed or damaged. the owner
was compelled at his peril to discover
on what road the loss damage or delay
had. The hardship OF this rule IS
manifest, for the facts In such cases
are peculiarly within the knowledge of
the railway companies and correspond
ingly difficult to be obtained by the
shipper II has accordingly been
changed by law so that now In case Of
through freight In this state all rail-
roads over which II passes are made
connecting lines, each the agent of the
other. and either is responsible to the
shipper for damages and in turn when
free from negligence 1t can recover
from the company on whose road the
damage was actually done.
From first to last the railway COM
probably ten million acres of land be-
longing to the public. within the past
four years judgments for two million
acres OF this land have been rendered
in favor OF the state. Where any Of
the balance have passed into the hands
OF actual settlers or Innocent purchas-
ers considerations OF equity as we'll as
a sound public policy suggested that
the titles be validated, reserving the
right to recover the remainder. and
this was done by the act approved
April 6. 1895.
The Confederate home was form arly
supported by fees received from sew
eral state departments. As these fees
were uncertain and varied In amount
from time to time, the efficient maina
tenance of the Home was doubtful and
precarious. BY an act Of the last legis-
iature all question is removed and the
Home has been established upon per-
manent basis by appropriation from
the general revenue where disabled
veterans OF the confederacy are gem
erously provided for.
Among others, two great evils result
from the operation OF trusts ana con-
spiracies against trade. One OF these
Is the artificial increase or matnten-
ance OF prices. The other Is the con-
centration OF business, throwing many
out of employment. thus combining even
legitimate profits TO a few and creating
colossal fortunes. Recognizing their
Injury to the state, the act OF March 30.
1889, was passed TO suppress them. This
law was amended broadened and
strengthened by the act approved Aprii
90 1896 and the cffert has hnan wN~ie-
some The insurance trust has public
ly announced its dissolution; the cot
ton-seed trust has been Destroyed. and
an oil trust ia now in the meshes OF the
law To those who decrv the passage
and enforcement OF such laws these
serious words OF Associate Justice
Prown of the supreme court OF the
United States, the most thoughtful and
phliosopic member OF that great trib-
unal, are commended: "Wofse than
this. however. is the combination OF
corporations In so-caiied trusts 10 Limit
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