The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-03-25
AFTERNOON SESSION.

At the afternoon session discussion OF
Mr. VOTERS motion to substitute the I'M
favorable minority report for the favorable
majority report on Col1uitts bill to OK
tend tho jurisdiction of the railroad COM
mission was resumed.
Mr. Ward favored the motion and said
that no sooner had the supreme court held
that the commission had tho right to reg
ula,e tho compressage Of cotton than the
legislature was confronted with a propo-
sition to extend said Jurisdiction over in
tcrstate cotton and with the further most
remarkable proposition TO confer upon the
commission the power to dictate tho man
ner OF preparing all kinds Of produce and
merchandise for shipment. IL was pecu-
liar to all tribunals, he remarked, to seek
and extension OF their powers and he call
cd attention to the fact that 1t kept tho
law making branch busy checking said pc
culiarity. The bill violates the spirit OF
the constitution. he maintained, and In
vadod tho right of private contract.
Mr. Tracy supported the majority report.
He insisted that the power asked for should
be conferred on the commission to enable
| 1t to give the people the FREQ measure Of
protection expected OF them In the matter
OF freight rates.
| Mr. Ayers announced that. although he
was what was known as an original COM
mission man, he favored tho minority re-
port because there was nothing In the mat
ter under discussion except n war between
corporate interests and because the Gal
weston cotton exchange favored it. lie did
/ not believe in giving the commission oi
any other bureau authority TO protect one
set of compress stockholders against an
other. 1t is wrong in principle to confer
upon any commission the right to regulate
the private affairs OF citizens and the bill
was not the result OF a demand from the
people.
The previous question having been order
cd, Mr. Blair closed the debate on the mo.
ton TO adopt the minority report and call
| cd attention to the notorious incompetency
Of some of the interior presses and the con
sequent loss TO shippers from fluctuations
in the price Of cotton, which was delayed
at such presses. He characterized the tall
about Houston and alleged Few monopo
Hes" at that point as an effort on the par
OF the friends OF the bill to direct atten
ton from its import by excrting prejudice
against an imaginary combination OF cor
porate interests. and he did not believe
that the house could be led into a scheme
TO cripple the Houston presses. The mex
thing that would be asked would be Il
confer upon the commission 1urisdictioi
over the ginning OF cotton.
a vote having been ordered the minorlt!
report was adopted by vote OF 80 to ~
whorcupon Mr.. Wolters offered n motion 4
reconsider and table the vote by which tn
minority report had been adopted and Mr.
Bailey yelled, "If you do that. I'll move
call OF the house." and Mr.. Wolters re
tortcd. move your call II you want to-
insist on my motion"
MIR. Bailey made good his threat an
moved a call OF the house, which was or
dered.
Meals bill authorizing guardians TO LOAF
the money OF wards on real estate OF a
least double tho value OF the amount o
the loan was laid before the house on thir
reading and passed finally.
A motion to excuse the absentees car
ried. whereupon the motion to reconside
and table the vote by which the minorit
report on the compress bill had bee
adoTsed prevailed by vote OF 50 to ~
killing the bill and the house adjourne
until 0 o'clock tomorrow morning