The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-12-27
CLARK NO LONGER 4 LEADER.
cBY L A. PETTY.

DcUfey might nay, the Hon. G<urSe clark
"cut some fce." It used to be easy for
him. when he felt 90 Inclined. to stir up
tho animals and start big discussion By
simpiy talkins . little for publication.
'Jedges" by courtesy galore and "kur-
nels' and ''majahs" without commissions
innunerable who accepted his fulminatfons
a. the sacred mouthings OF q joss once con-
sidered It an honor to be permitted to
trsspass upon newspaper space TO let an
anxious public know that they agreed with
him in everything he said. while men with
correct views and clear ideas thought 1t
combating some Of his propositions.
But such ID the case mo longer. He
can now submit to as many interviews rs
he likes with impnndty 20 little attention
will There DO paid TO what he may say.
As soon as he could AFTER the promulga.
tFon OF McCormick's order temporarily re-
sbralning the railroad commission from en-
forcing such rules and rates as 1t has es-
tablished since August 10. 1894, to govern
the transportation Of freight, this Waco
prophet emerged from tho obscurity In
which he has been negotiating since che
collapse OF Hardy's scheme to promote the
growth OF republicanism In Texas and de-
Mvered himself OF review OF the courts
decision, In which the same contempt for
facts he has ever In the past exhibited
In discussing the railroad commission law
and dts effects was manifested.
~t<
Yet mot one OF his former worwhlpers
came to the front TO sound note OF APP
proWal. Neither did single individual IN
a position wind him up so tight that Il
would have been impossible for him TO run
again pay the least attention TO his noise.
This failure ito call forth the least ex-
PRESTON either of approval or disapprovAl,
was no doubt what prompted him to more
recently come again. But the second at
tempt to get Within the range OF current
comment was no more successful than the
first.
BRIEFLY stated. the burden of these late
Clarkisrns was THAT the railroad commits
sion has been OPPORTUNITY restrained from
committing great wrong; that 1t has
been called TO time for disobeying an order
OF the supreme court OF the United States;
that time purpose of its creation was to
deprive railroad corporations of a remedy
at law, and that the valuations 1t has
placed upon railroad property are ridicu-
lous
The great wrong complained of is not, as
Judge Clark would hnve 1T understnoIi to
be- established. The railroads complain and
Mccormick is evidently OF the opinion
thai the commission is determined to pre-
vent them from earning what they are
entitled to, but, on the other hand, the
commission contends that if the practice
Of wilfully sacrificing revenues An attempts
to "buy business" were discontinued
enough would come in under its tariffs
to represent a fair return for the aggre-
gate service performed.
Again the commission points out that the
subserving of the Interests OF Texas roads
to those OF their interstate connections
Is as fatal to their revenue account as
the practice of unlawfnlly buying bust
ness cam possibly be. When the supreme
court has had Its say In these matters
tnen. and not before. can they be referred
to ms settled. q
As to having been called to time for dis
obeylng an order of the supreme court OF
the United States, which. i'm effect is what
means the statement which has been haz-
aried by others besides Judge Clark, that
Judge Mccormick WAS sustained by said
court In 1894 when 1t disposed OF the first
injunction cases, the commission can with
a clear conscience and successfully Mead to
the contrary, for as a matter Of fact Nc
Cermiok was reversed on every contested
point ON the occasion of his taking a hand |
in the initiatory attempt to shear it OF Its |
power.
In so FAR as THE purpose of the commits |
lion law Is concerned one has but to read |
II TO become satisfied OF the falsity OF the |
,harge that ITS enactment was the express
sion of desire to deny tie protection OF
he courts to railroai corporations. Article
1886 of the Revised Statutes. which Is part
" the commission law, especially provides
hat where said corporations have cause to
complain OF the commissions rules and
arlffs they may proceed against their en-
in the district court OF Travis
'cunty.
With regard to the commissions valu2.
ions OF railroad property, about which
Judge Clark has so much 70 say. 1t is only
ecessary to call attention ITO the tact that
hey were made more for the purpose of be-
ng used In dispcsing, ais required by law, OF
uture applications for authority to Issue
additional stock or bonds, than to servo as
uides In the construction Of rate she.s,
ltbruigh they have at times proven hand,
. demonstrating that from q corporal on
iandpoint railroad property can an ocoa
lon shrink or expanli Ii wlws to meet y c
Sigencies OF the situation. Another point
! this connection not TO be overlooked!
Though 1t has escaped the attention OF tle
'aco iuttst. is that under the law railroii
'mpanies hiwa the right. Within cos
lin Emit OF time, 10 object to The valua-
ems placed upon their property b, lie
and TO demand a ravaluaticn.
~ that Alt hoihsh full nofica u,,x civn,, 4