The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-18
NEW RAILROAD LAWS.
Text Of the Law Which Is Causing Roads
Some Concern.
coNSrRucrloSof THE STATUTE DIFFICULT
evidently ms Many Meetings Have
becn Held 10 Discuss It'll. and g..
n. Instructions Regarding II.


roads positively decline to give out through
the press anything concerning their inten-
lions in the premises. They do not exact
Nv and explicitly say, as Vanderbilt had
the honesty to, The public be id" but
meeting after meeting is held between
general managers and directors and when
information is sought no one even knows
such meeting was held.
One road, the International and Great
Northern, comes to the front and guaran-
tees obedience to the law. Under date
of August 16 the International issues the
following to its agents:
I'm all instances where 1t is necessary
to deliver freight to a consignee without
/ payment of freight charges at the time
delivery is made, 1t Will be necessary to
obtain solvent bond, with gooG surety,
| from the consignee to whom such delivery
Is made; 1t being understood that the ex-
| tending of this accommodation is to be
! restricted as far practicable, but must not
| be refused to any one requesting it and
| rendering a sufficient bond.
COPIES of all bonds taken should be
furnished this office copy, when so
| marked, does not require a revenue stamp,
| but the original bond, which should be
| filed with the agent in secure place, must
bear 50-cent revenue stamp, to be fur
nished and Cancelled by the executor of the
| bond"
The above refers to that section of the
new law which prohibits agents giving
credit to favored shippers who may refuse
| to pay for portions of freight delivered and
| thus indirectly secure rebates, the COM
pany wiping out the charge.
| In circular No. 16 the International and
| Great Northern gives the law as follows:
| To All Officers, Agents and Employees of
| Every Character.
| Palestine, Texas, August 16, 1S99.-The
| last legislature made law which goes
| into effect August 26, 1899, from which
quote as follows:
| An act to define and punish unjust dis
elimination by officers, agents, servants
and employees and receivers, their officers,
servants, agents and employees OF railroad
companies in this State.
Be 1t enacted by the legislature of the
State of Texas:
Section l. That If any officer, agent,
clerk, servant or employe, or any re-
ceiver, or his servant agent or employe
of any railroad company in this State
shall, directly or indirectly, or by any
special rate, rebate, drawback or other de-
vice for and on behalf of such railroad
company, knowingly charge demand, con-
tract for, collect or receive from any per-
son, firm or corporation greater or less
compensation for any service rendered or
to be rendered by any such railroad COM
pany in this State than such railroad COM
pany, or its said officers, agents, clerks,
servants or employees, or receiver thereon,
charges, demands, contracts for, collects
or receives from any other person, nrin
or corporation for doing like ana con-
temporaneous service; or IL any otncer,
agent clerk, servant or employe. or re-
ceiver, or his agents, servants or EN-
ployes, of any railroad company In TINS
State who shall for and on behalf of such
railroad company make or give any undue
or unreasonable preference or any ad-
vantage to any particular person, company, |
firm, corporation or locality, as TO any |
service rendered or to be rendered OF per
formed by such railroad company, or 10
subject any particular description OF traf-
flc on such railroad company to any undue
or unreasonable prejudice, delay or DIS
advantage in any respect whatever, sucn |
officer clerk, servant or employe, OF re-
ceiver, his agents servants OF employees
of such railroad company shall De deemeu
guilty of unjust discrimination within the
meaning of this act, and, on conviction
thereof shall be punished by confinement
in the State penitentiary for not less thah
two nor more than five years.
Sec. 2 Nothing herein shall prevent tne
carriage. storage or handling by railroad
companies in this State, or by It's agents.
officers, clerks, servants ana employees
of freight free, or at reduced rates LOT the
state. or for any city or county or town
government. or for charitable purposes, or
TO and from fairs and eXpostions Tor exhi-
hilton thereof or the free carriage Oh ues-
titute and INDECENT persons. or the issu
apce of mileage or excursion passensei
tickets; nor to prevent raiiroaas nun
giving free transportation TO ministers Oh
religion or free transportation 10 she.
mates of hospitals, eleemosynary anu ohai
table institutions, and to the employees
of the agricultural and geological depart
ments of the State, or to the peace olncers
of This state and nothing herein shall DC
construed to prevent raiiroaos, III.
agents and employees and ofncers run
giving free transportation 10 any iam
road offcers agents. employees, attorneys,
or directors, or 10 Tue la.l-
road commissioners, their secretaries
clerks and employees, or to any otner ON
Ger or person not prohibited by law.
And this is to put you on notice that
desire you to fully comply with al sue
of this law ana II you v'oia.u
anv Of its provisions. you do SO at your
aan neril and without my consent or the
consent of this company, and against my
Wishes and against the policy OF TINS
company, which is, to obey the laws.
Third Vice President an& Generai eupoi'
intendent. ,,,. a. /
This law has been under discussion at
the various know nothing meetings neia
Of late. Its provisions are PLAIN ~ ,n'. iii,
hpt n ia more than likely that means VIII
he found to eyade the law. With tine m
Ierstate commerce commission and the
railway railway commissions Of several States at
variance and with lack OF legal autnroly
% punish lines doing an interstate ous,
ness IL is going to be difncuit mal'er :"
strictly enforce State statute.
1. and g. n. Special Rates.
The international and Great Norlne'n =
,nnounces the following special rates. !