The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-03-20
Chairman Hardy Has Something to
Say Concerning 1t.
ANtNT THE RAILROAD COMMISSION.
Letter writtcn In 1850 oGcred In
Evidence TINT He Has Al
ways Favored II.

!
lie. He said;
YES. am glad YOU called, hRve
something 1 want to give out The Utane
] people hs,y, maae their onslaught On MAJOR
| sayers SILVER record. but by y full expo
| sition OF ais record and that OF Mr. Craze
II WAS shown that Mayor Sayers was bat
ting for the free coinage vi stiNer hetore
ano AT u tln1 When Mr.. Crane, IN tho leg
| isiature OF Texas, was voting IOWA resoiu-
lions in favor OF il. Finuing mat tile rec
| ords OF The Two men SHOW Major SayeIs the
longer. firmer and more steadfast friend ot
silver OF the TWO, they began TO center their
| fire on his alleged non alignment with the
Texas Suite policies, that is, on the railroad
commission, opposition TO trusts etc. In
yolying the measures enacted into State
laws under the administration OF Governor
| Hogg
They have made great claims for Mrs.
Crane as q friend of the railroad commits
sion and the policies aforesaid, While l
detlact nothing from Mr.. Cranes record In
this respect, l haze TO say that Major say
ers. as Il prominent democrat OF Texas, was
fighting for the railroad commission and
against trusts and the greed of corporation
long before Nit. Crane was heard OF or
from
''As far back as 1889, before the noted
Hosg and Cook campaign, Major Sayers
put himself on record on these State poll
these Texas measures, and required no
State administration to lead him into these
convictions
Il hand you herewith a copy of his let
ter to c. w. Harmed, Esq. secretary Of the
Merchants Exchange, Dallas, OF date Au-
gust ., 1889, which find published in the
columns OF the Dallas News OF August 10.
1889. 1t speaks for itself and speaks vol
tunes against those who are msrepfesent-
ing his record and his status III public at
fairs. 1t needs no comment from he, Here
is the letter:
&C. W. Harmed, Esq., Secretary Mer-
chants Exchange. Dallas, Texas.
'Bastrop, Texas, August 8. 1852
Dear Sir: Replying TO your favor OF the
10th ultimo received while | was sick.
! have to express myself ms favoring the
establishment of commission by the
State, with such powers az may be
necessary to prevent the imposition OF
unjust charges by railways upon pas
scnger travel and improper discrimina-
lions in favor of or against communi-
ties and individuals, and also to en-
force the speedy adjustment and set
tlement of all differences that may arise
between the citizens and the corpora
lions owning such railway.
II believe such tribunal can be SO
organized as Will insure entire justice
to the railways and at the same time
afford protection to the citizens.
Honest and capable men can be
found to do the work, and the State is
amply able to so remunerate them as
to secure and maintain the best and
most experienced talent That through
improper discrimination great must
ice has been done. aud Is being done
communities and inliviauals IN our
State. no one at all familiar with the
management of the railways will DENY.
at is also as equally true that for
injury to person and to property, the
citizen is practically almost without
remedy, go expensive and so diiatory
has litigation In such cases become.
And II matters not whether tho
amount involved be large or small, the
Judgment obtained is oftentlmes value
less. On the other hand, 1t must be
Acknowledged that the railways are
not unfrequently subjected To upcon-
scionabe demands, which the courts
are scarcely able TO correct,
Il can not but believe that the laws
slow delay and the many technicalities
which attend It's administration and
which are seized upon 10 hinder and
defeat the speedy adjustment of differ
ences upon basis entirely Just TO all
concerned, has In great measure
contributed to this unsatisfactory and
unfortunate relationship between rail
way corporations and the citizens OF
the country. The arguments that hon
est. Just impartial and capable com
missioners can not be found and made
available may be as properly urged
against the appointment or election of
any public official aud against the con-
sttution OF any tribunal
To invoke the names Of Jefferson
Madison and other founders of the
democratic party against the establish
ment OF such a commission with such
powers Is but an appeal To our par
TALLY and veneration for those great
men. keeping out OF sight the fact that
such an issue environed by such cir
cumstances as now confront u.s. was
never before them for consideration.
1t should be remembered that the age
in which they lived was quite differ
ent from the present, and that the
conditions In which VIC are placed was
practically unknown 10 them.
This is a day OF corporate power,
aggressiyely exercised and extending
In It's ramifications to every mock and
corner of the land and SELLING hold OF
every Industry that may tempt its
greed.
This is also day OF enormous
wealth, accumulated In the hands OF
the fortunate few as compared with the
many.
Theirs were days when such rover
was but little known and but rarely felt
and when wealth, and influence which
atNRh3lhhffS WEALTH. Ntit MT q 'fPhif
distributed Both time and occasion are
altogether different. Old things are
rapidly passing away and true states
manship win adjust itself to the de-
mands Of the hour, keeping constantly
In view the interests OF the many a
against the Injustice and rapaoiiy OF
the few.
Nor Will II be too cowardiy to scf,
lest 1t should make a mistake. Win so
wise In the estimation Of his fellows as
TO safely say what would be the advice
OF Jefferson and OF Madison, were they
now living, 10 the people az 20 the
course which they should pursue In
this particular?
voted for the interstate commerce
bill, not because ! believe that II was
without defect. but because II was the
best that could be then accomplished.
Experience has suggested and VIII
continue to suggest Improvement.
trust that the people OF this State
will give the commission a fair trial,
a.,1 t,.4 ~. ...ttl ...l.f hold