The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-05-18
TEN PAGES TODAY.
THE VIEW CONSOLIDATION BILLS.

A comparison OF the revised Katy con-
solicitation bill which Governor sayers APP
proved Tuesday, with the original bill
which he vetoed. discloses not only the
substantial reasons for the veto of the
FIRST draft OF the measure, but the sub
ntantial benefits secured to the people Of
Texas by the amendments which the gov
ernor insisted upon as an Indispensable
condition to his Endorsement OF tho bill
And practically the same observation
applies to tho other consolidation bills
which have been made to conform to the
governors views.
In the original bills there wero no pro-
visions securing extensions of the lines
through different portions Of the State,
but in the bill as approved by the gov
ernor more railroad building in Texas be-
comes a condition precedent to the enjoy
ment OF the privileges of consolidation
granted by the State. This feature will
mean much to many counties, cities and
towns in the various sections OF the state.
II has been a long time since any extended
railroad construction was witnessed in
Texas and the building Of many hundreds
OF miles OF new track within the next year
or 80 will create something like tho old
time activity in the railroad world OF the
Southwest Aside from tho permanent
benefits to accrue from such extensions
the expenditure OF hundreds Of thousands
Of dollars for the work will quicken busi-
ness in many directions while the con
struclion ia In progress.
But another feature OF the now bills
which the governor demanded and which,
as we have recently seen. may become at
any Time OF vast importance to the public,
Is the agreement by the roads to submit
to tho rates AMI regulations Of the rail-
way commission until auch rulings are set
aside by courts Of competent jurisdiction
upon final hearing, This Is surrender
by the roads Of their right to seek an in
junction against the commissions dccrces
pending litigation.
Another and vital provision, and one
that cures any possibility OF violating
through these consolidation acts the in
hibltion against Illegal consultations as
declared by our State laws, Is that clause
in the bills expressly stating that nothing
in the act itself shall be conclusive Of the
stato's rights las TO any question Of law
or fact necessary or presumed 10 have
been determined by the legislature In or
der to comply with article TO- sections
and 6 OF he Constitution o. the state OF
TeAas'--the sections which prohibit con-
solIdaton OF parallel or competing lines
The new bills. therefore and 10 The
governor Is duo the credit for their pres
Ont form--secure another era Of extensive
railroad building In Texas protect the
railway commission from temporary in
functions and are themselves invalid. by
their own terms II they come under The
inhibition against the consolidation of
parallel or competing lines!
In such form there can of course be no
constitutional or weli-founded objection to
them. and when it is remembered that
such provisions were not Incorporated in
the original bills vetoed, the public can
intellIgently appreciate Governor sayers
Jealous guardianship OF the yoples rights
in insisting upon the revsons made. Thu
corporations can understand, too, that the
governor is not inspired by any captious
hostility or foolish prejudice against
vested capital, hut that his sole purpose
Is to do equal and exact justice to both
the public and the great business interests
Of the State