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

he use of the commission appropriations
In bulk for postage, stationery, books, ex-
press charges and telegraphing for each
year as follows:
Year ending February %, 1892 .....s1,bOo
Year ending February 2S, 1S93...... 1900
Year ending February 2S 1S94-..... i230
Year ending February Is, 1S95...... 1,250
Year ending February 30 1S96.....- 1000
Year ending February rs, lS97...... 1.0o9
Year ending February IS, 1SsS...... 900
Year ending February 2S 1884,. 5jD
With the exception OF the years ending
February 2s 1892, and February IS, 1881,
the commission has never used the entire
appropriations. But it is now apparent that
with an appropriation for the purposes
stated of only $500 per year, although We
have purchased no books and have only
purchased stationery that was absolutely
needed in the transaction of the business
of the office and have expended the mini.
mum sum for the other items named, an
unavoidable deficiency must occur for the
year ending February %, 1898, OF about
$500. For the purposes named not less
than $1,000 should be appropriated for each
year, as asked for by the commission.
There is always a considerable demand
for our annual reports and we think they
should be freely distributed to citizens of
the State. on their requesting them. The
number printed by order OF the printing
board Is generally 1000 copies, nearly all
Of which are sent out by mail, and as the
postage is from to 10 cents copy, 1t will
be seen that much of our allowance 70.
postage is thus expended. The mailing of
copies of our tariffs in compliance with
nume,ora 'equcsts for then aiao consumes
a considerable amount of postage.
While no charge should be made to citi
zens for copies of our annual reports, or
for copies of the tariffs. circulars, and rules
and regulations relating to railroad trans
portation, construction etc, made by this
commission, all of which relate to mat
tiers affecting more or less the general pub
lie yet copies of records, maps and other
documents on file In this office are often
applied for to be used for private purposes.
1t seems to us that in such cases the
copies should be paid for by the parties de-
string them. We think, therefore. that
the law should be so amended as to author
lie the commission to collect for the use
of the State reasonable fees for such copies
furnished.
VALUATIONS OF RAILROADS BY
COUNTIES.
In our fourth and fifth annual reports
we presented tables of our valuations of
about fifty railroads in Texas by counties.
During the past year copies of these tables
have been in considerable demand by asses
sors both of counties and cities, which has
been supplied in part by sending them
copies of our printed reports and in part
by making blue print copies of the original
manuscript tables on file in this office. 1t
is believed that these tables have had much
influence in eqQalizing assessments.
MAP OF OUR GULF PORTS AND M
PORTANT RAILWAY TERMINALS.
Mention was made in our last report OF
five maps OF this character which had been
prepared by the commission, viz: Sabine
Pass and vicinity, terminals and port Of
Galveston, terminals at Houston Calves
ton bay and vicinity and Velasco and vi
entity. During tile past year in response
to requests for the same from legislators.
traffic men, ship sbrokers, commercial bu-
reaus and others, more than 800 blue print
copies of these maps ere made in this Of
flee and supplied. 1t Is hoped that the cir
cuation of the maps Of Galveston and its
vicinity will remove to some extent the
impression created by the coast survey
map published by the Federal government
in 1895, that only one railroad reaches CAL
weston bay.
SUITS AGAINST RAILROAD COM
PANIES.
With reference to recent pro executions OF
several railway companies by the attorney
general 1t is proper TO state that the COM
mission, believing that some of the rail-
road companies of this State, by the pay
ment OF rebates and other devices, We're
discriminating in freight rates in favor OF
certain favored customers and clt!es,
sought In public hearings 10 elicit the
facts, hoping thereby TO secure evidence
sufficient 10 Justify prosecutions to re-
cover the penalties prescribed by law. In
these Investigations many witnesses were
summoned and appeared before the COM
mission from various parts OF the State
and testified Under oath. Some OF these
We're railroad officers and some were ship
perswhom the commission supposed would
be cognizant OF the facts.
In some OF the investigations we called
TO our assistance the attorney general OF
The State to aid In the examination OF Wit
nesses But in no instance could we. by
these public examinations elicit facts suf-
ficient npon which TO base prosecutions.
The legislature had failed TO make an
adequate appropriation 10 pay the ex-
penses OF commissioners and .expeJFs sent
out 10 various parts OF the state to make
the necessary Investigations 20 nneartn
these frauds and il became apparent tfaf
without such investigations at various
points In the State. not only at points OF
origin ard destination OF shipments. b'if
iorfen at intermediate compress stations.
and also at the general offices OF the raii-
roads. that very little could be ac-
complished without an appropriation 70
The The commission thereupon determined
TO appeal 10 the legislature for an appro-
priation OF $4,000 per year for the years
1897 aud 1895. The attorney general tne
s,aie ireasurer a:,d the governor OF the
state we're all made acquainted with the
aifficulties ia our way and the necessity
for such an appropriation, as well IS me
nrospects of success II the appropriation
ras made. The attorney general and safe
treasurer. at our request, went Win me
49, ho,,ses ~ the legislature and Joined
~ IN our appeal for the appropriation.
uhile the governor sent verbal msssase
bv one or inc house ccmmiiiee 10 tne