The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-02-21

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that q disclosure of the facts discovered.
| II Il did not defeat the appropriation,
might defoat the success OF the investiga-
lions we desired to make. In urging the
legislative committees 70 recommend tnss
appropriation we asked them TO trust to
tne judgment OF tho commission as 10 the
necessity for the appropriation, and. IL
made. stated that we believed We could.
by the collection OF penalties, put $40
back into the State treasury for every 81
they appropriated for the purpose.
The legislature finally made an appro-
priation of $4,000 for one year only March
=, 1897, to February %. 1SaS--which was
divided so that $4,000 was available for The
employment of additional experts, and
$1,000 to pay expenses of all employees en-
gagged In the work
We had among our regular employees Mr.
II. @. Askew, known to be especially qual-
flied for this class OF Investigations, but
on account OF the great amount OF rain
road records to be examined and the great
number OF places to be visited in making
these Investigations, and but one years
appropriation for expenses provided for.
1t became necessary to employ and assign
others to aid him in the work The COM
mission therefore employed Messrs. L. NJ.
underhill and II. S. Spangler, competent
expert accountants, 10 assist him. all OF
whom at once entered upon the mvestiga-
assigned them, developing facts sufficient
to Justify number of suits. These facts,
as fast as the links In the chain of evi-
dence We're supplied, We're referred by the
commission to The attorney generals de-
partment for suit to recover the penalties
prescribed by law.
Many suits were brought by tho at
torne. general uroD the evidence so fur
nished by the commission. and others are
yet to be brought. In the suits brought
some of the offending parties suggested a
compromise. and on account of the evil
dent difficulty OF getting the cases
promptly tried, and the delays and uncer-
tainties necessarily incident to law suits,
and because of the expense which would
be involved, and the considerable number
of cases the companies offered to plead
guilty to, the attorney general consented
to compromise these suits in so far as he
could bind the State. with what is known
as the Southern Pacific system of rail-
roads. and with two others of the Offend
ing roads, upon the condition that they
should pay penalty of $500 in each OF an
agreed number of cases, and pay all costs
of suit and further agree TO faithfully In
the future abide by and obey the law, and
IN case of failure so to do, proceedings
were Immediately to be commenced for
penalties in each of the remaining cases
of violations on file.
have pleaded guilty In ninety-fiye cases.
and have paid into the State treasury $H,-
500. These compromises were made with
the approval of the railroad commission.
Under this arrangement the Southern Pa
cific system has paid into the treasury
s25,ce0, the international and Great
Northern Railroad company has paid into
the treasury $4,000, and The Missouri.
Kansas and Texas Railway company of
Texas has paid into the treasury $12500.
Cases against other roads, for want OF
time, have not yet been disposed OF. and
from these we may reasonably expect like
results.
This appropriation of $4,000 is nearly ex-
hatisted, and could not under the law be
used after March /. 1898, even il not en-
tirely exhausted. This will substantially
cause, particularly the expiration of that
part OF it-$l000-- available for expenses,
a suspension much to our regret, of this
mode OF Investigations 20 effectualy car
RED on by us during this year until a
further appropriation can be made to de-
fray the expenses of such Investigations.
VALUATIONS OF RAILROADS.
In our fifth annual report, on cages "a
and 260, we gave summaries OF the work
done bysthis commission. in the matter OF
the valuation of the railways Of the State
which were In operation except the Rio
Grande Northern) previous to the enact
ment Of the stock and bend law. 81 NNose
securities did not come under me Irovi-
sions of that act FOR our approval. Ihose
summaries show thas t mere 6aa ossn sai
roads, with an aggregate mileage of
9057 81 miles of main line and a total value
of s14o .49o,i1T OF, or an average value OF
S15T31 .01 per mile. Our niiease tanles
show that there are yet some.aing more
than 400 miles OF railroad whisn aaye nos
been Officially valued by us. On ihacn ai
this amount. while the TRACKS arc ia'a
the constipation Is sun In pfogress' 'ysrs-
fore the time has not yet arrlven lor me
completion 81 their Valuations ~ w,
eludes extensions o. some ilaea wnlsn. n ~
been previously valued by us. During 'he
spring and summer OF 1873 We cxpnc, 70
reduce ,,s considerably the amo'h' OF ''''Ns'Aea
RAILROAD CONSTRUCTION UNDER
THE STOCK AND BOND Law
with reference 70 railways D oa sp 'hs
htlustsu ~ ~ 49, e,ooS .rd h1,r,l law. which
provisions OF me s,ucn ~ soa 80. n,ns.ri
became enectiVe Ansns' 9 30 =. -, b, ,,nr,aa
the following summary co ss ., , .oS