The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-20
BARNETT GIBBS VIEWS.
Why He Opposes the ANTITRUST Bill
as 1t Now IN.

as IL Now In.
Dallas News.
Hon. Barnett Gibbs was then recognized
and addressed the meeting in opposition
to the bill. lie said in substance:
81 have not carefully considered this
antitrust bill. but know that the trust
question is a State and not a National
issue. The United States congress can't
forbid the sale OF trust goods 10 Texas
any more than 1t can forbid the sale of
liquor. / have no patience with either
democrats or populists who whine around
the Federal throne for relief legislation
over which the State alone has iurisdlc-
ton The tariff and the financial questions
are Federal Issues the trust and railroad
questions are State issues. Texas is an
able-bodied State and not weak province.
We have TOO much heel-hy legislation and
throwing of political sand in the eyes OF
thu people. Politicians as "a rule don't
want to go to the root of any evil. The
way to always have an issue on tap is to
make ii a National issue
II don't know what effect this bill Will
have on fire Insurance companies and don't
care, unless they do business with us on
the same basis as with the most favored
States. Insurance legislation should not
be mixed with legislation on other mat
tors. and 1t rs not in any other State or
country, unless 1t is Arkansas In matters
OF such Importance neither business men
nor Legislators should be hRsty Every
business man knows the necessity of in
surapce, but wants 1t on a fair basis
Premiums may not be too high considering
losses IN Texas, but losses are greater and
premiums higher than they would be I'M
der a proper code, Texas should keep
some of it's insurance premiums at home
or 1t ought to be SGT attire. Trusts and
combinations in restraint of trade and
against the prosperity OF people should
be punished by State law, Good State
county and city government in Texas
would enable us to stand any kind of eX-
travagant Federal government Honest
and Vigilant voters mako honest and vigil
liant legislators
III Governor Savers carries out his
policy To make taxes equal and uniform
ana thereby lower, to make freight rates
uniform and reasonable and 10 sion ex-
travaganee and stealing In public office.
am willing to help pay for fireworks
toc him while living and "A monument
wnen dead. for he Will have performed a
great work. II outside corporations see
no benefit and proNt in doing business
WIN us on fair terms they have right
TO Withdraw. | don't believe any more in
statutes in restraint OF trade than do of
eorporation combines in restraint of trade.
TeNas is AS large as England and should
preserve her dignity and defend her citi-
zons from any and all combinations.
don't think this bill does this
The French code of insurance laws has
slood the test of thirty years and given
tnose people low premium rate and the
companies reasonable profit, and there is
uttle inoendiarism and no professional
nrenuss in France Under the French coda
the premises upon which FIRE starts pavs
the republic 10 per cent of the premium
ana on inns guarantees vigilance against fires
u the insurance company is proven to
nave overinsured IL Is, In case the FIRE ex-
tends to an uninsured house, liable also
Tor that loss. In France Insurance. il ex-
clusiVely business transaction; in Texas
1t is largely gambling transaction the
agent playing for big commissions and tho
insured for big fire. 1t results, in low
ering the average of morals and in a loss
70 the state OF taxable values for houses
pay taxes and money don't. The insurance
companies may have lost money in rexas
out their policy has caused the state a
greater loss in morals and taxable values
unreguiated insurance tempts the in
surer and the insured Agents are nosi-
tlVely forbidden from nsurug the Texas
Isrmer ana the high gambling rates in
ieNas cities force men who want Drotec-
ton only to carry their own risks. We
are not willing to accept the well-tested
laws and policies OF any other nation ON
insurance or railroad questions or any
thing else, Our legislators don't considei
them, neither do our business men.
This bill should not pass until public
groups nave considered its provisions AKA
its probable results The business men In.
terested should submit something in place
of it--draft an insurance code to be sub
mitted to the next legislature
The present legislature mas killed the
bill looking to mutual or eo,operaliye
home insurance, and II may have con-
Guided not to permit insurance of any
KIND put iair insurance law can he cub
mitted TO the different commercial and
farmer organizations for an expression In
the selection of the next legislature. bills
introduced this late are rarely exose,sl to
become laws, even by their authors.
Delegates to &. A. II. Convention.