The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-12-28

vaiuaG.on, 40 lar As wo KNOW. eNccpt tne
railroad commission OF Texas" After tbs |
mention is made o. THO duty OF the COM
missioner ,ruder tho eleventh section OF |
the act OF the legislature, approved April |
:. 1891. ito establish railroad comnia-
eson for the State OF Texas to ascertain |
ps carly as practicable The an,cun, OF
inonev expended w tho construction and
equipment pcr mile of every railway in !
Texas, the amount Of money cxpeadsh to |
procure the right of way. the au,o,tnf OF |
money Il would anuwlro 30 reconstruct the |
| roaslbed. track. depots and transportation
and to replace all tho physical properties
J nolonginS 10 the sailrcads, and state
mcnt Is then siven Of vac plan pursued ny
/ the commission for usccrsRJrlng The values
| OF a,alhuslis. Next we lind the coinm.s.
! sion making the following statement; AS
we understand the expressions OF the SUI
prcme court Of tho United States. L holds
that the railroads ars Only entitled to sr-
! enumeration On tho value OF their property
! There could he no other Just concius'on.
| hut the question Is still open as Ito how th's
value Of their property is to DO asccrtained.
! We submit our Views on this question,
4 which We rccognaze as very Important
one, This is antagonlzed In the hllis iiled
by the railroad companies S~kac fntunctlon
4 suits now pending Proceeding then TO
i insist that the railroad commission has
Il ractcd faariy and Justly howard tbs rsfl-
fnsds Of Texas, they denouncc as mon
Il sirous' the suggestion tSat the value OF
railroad shouad be determined BY the cost
OF construction.
+ The commission admits that "the q'ice-.
4 lion is still open az 10 how the value OF
railway property lis TO bo ascertained
they .'rccogsAize the question as a very I'M
!, r,orhant one" In tho face Of these adn,'s-
slons they cornplNin that a judge or IN !
circuit court OF the United states has been
found whose action affects millions OF
,k. a
, islature Of Texas In the act quoted from
). burden the commission With tine duty OF
a | sscerainfsw the amount or money cxpend-
tsd In the construction and equipment per
: mdle Of every railway In Texas and the
amount OF money expended IN procuring
, right of way" ~ Il was "monstrois .
, cornider this phsec Of Ng II Is not the
!. purpose OF this communication 10 exNrc Ms
an opnfon on the question However We
/ may Inquire did the legislative mind then
i recognize ttsat the question OF asccrtaining
1 the value WAS an open ONE. ABOUT whch
: there would be contention and conflicting
r views? IF the question liz stu open ana
/ affects qnlflionr OF dollars Of property
4 sind the industry OF the Slate generally,
> why can II not be met calmly and w 9
+ spirit o. Fairness 20 aid interests inNolVeu
r And by whom Is II TO be settled sni deter,
mfnni n not by the courts? Surely u VIII
4 not ba cla,mcd that the commission has
Z
{. executive, smd that a. Is tnblllbso IN ~
: coucl,lsions? Tho nier who usually furnist
n ilae money to construct railroads thell
3 general managers ard officers nrc gen,
crally men az intelligence. refinement en-
r good character, inerttinS and receiving tnt
n confidence end respect OF ther negapors
, end citizens OF the communities IN wafer
j thew live May they not assert 10 IN
,r courts what they conceive TO bn tne
Il rights under the constitution aud laws
II Inc country without brins dhfurasteTate
IN va highway robbers. whose avarica an
= greed fmpels them to rob mo farmers I'M, an
4, n,ddiemsr OF their substance? the mar
1. Of the reople should not be Unframed. 70
! their prejuddces and passions Grouse
!. s,pnirst t4orpora.d0ns 30 as 10 ferroHse W
;, t-our.w BnA fieter .theni from giving gu
crn,s,dsliatTon TO bills of complaint whe
l. cslled uron TO do so.
(, d,yo,ton n, duty MS they undershand II Q
N an, rqflroed commission OF Texos can nc
Ia be questioned 81 fact the high persons
" character. undoiIhted INTEGRITY and grei
r. ability. as we'll as uatr ana Vhse'i =
d purpose OF the men who have nc. etol !,
ar constituted or who nov compose tDe w w
Nv rv,ad commission of Texas has IN Larry
- measure allayed opposition OF those WI
A. nnon principle do not believe IN me sy'
mr. Tam nj ALI and who fear the LANCER OF 81
cd mower ~ linscrupulous politicians enou
SO In the future succeed In being cieetcu
a. commissioners. Neither can tacre DC ~
On question as, iLo the ability, integrity OF COZ
an ,,dlent.ous devotion to dusty rs ne unls
stands 1t OF Andrew r. Mccormick. 1hd,
or Mccormick comes OF a family notca
r. having IN a marked degree The courIRe
u, thelr convictions and ITO clamor az "
n iust criticism can sway him In. tne 'es
al from the Isath OF dwny a. ddreote1 by !
M own conscience He Is q native Of ~aaor
Of county, still owning the OLD piantau'
a. nome OF his birth situated on the peIilii
,er Sam Bernard No matter how WIDELY ~
,ln ferinx IN poylt,oal questions, we ieei
IA iuat pride In him. We know the exac
nd ness. love Of truth. high character an1 .
ser tAtnr,ents OF the man. residing smong
she apptll appointed Untted States d,str
ID iudlrs and serving in various capacities
,od chdef justice, district jufgs and s'ate 81
pat a,tor. his strong Convictions HIS stern
Of honesty. his sense OF justice and fearle
civ discharge OF every duty commanded W.
ed yersaa respect OF his fellow mon; As
caizan and neighbor he was nsia ~ /.
ind hirhcst esteem. dflJ father. J N. McDo
ND mick, was a Chrisian geptleman an ~
ulp right man, most "oFVny e'''N0'' 49, 4