The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-13


tractcd National attention expelled pugil-
ism from our borders and made It infa-
nous. In itself brutal and demoralizing,
II was not only proposed to offend the
moral sense Of the people and leave de-
grading influence. but prescribed and ban
ished from all enlightened States. II was
proposed In defiance OF law to distinguish
Us In shame by Offering here a SURPRISING
insult to public decency and making Texas
the asylum OF retreating barbnrism. AL
ready DETAINED, the good name of the State
was to be measured conspicuously before
the world. The strength OF our laws and
the integrity OF our civilization were at
issue. That this insolcnt undertaking
might succeed slander ran riot, character
was ruthlessly assailed and official motives
basely impugned. whatever the wrong
and injury In this TO those charged with
public duties, some compensation came In
the memorable victory for social order and
the splendid answer OF the people to the
appeal from ruffanism to tho gontility and
morality OF the State.
ANTITRUST LAW.
HI The evils Of trusts and consplrncics
against the freedom OF trndc are thorough
ly established. ny the act OF the legisia-
ture approved March 30, 1889. these coin-
binations were defined and their suppress
sion provided for. Tho constitutionality OF
this statute was continuously questioned
and several times legally attacked by cur
rorations, chiefly because OF the exemption
ffom It's operation OF live stock and ngri-
cultural products while In the hands OF
the producer or raiser. The supreme court
or this State, In an action brought by the
attorney general, decided that the act was
constitutional Notwithstanding this pro-
vision, but II also held that It did not pro-
IN 1f Ia ,N.t trra 6xr
fire insurance companies. As the trust
formed by fire insurance companies, and
which Is now In operation, lis in the highest
degree detrimental to public interests, the
act approved April 30, 1896, was passed
expressly denouncing and prohibiting such
conspiracies The authorities were thus
provided with a measure with which trade
conspiracies could be prevented or de-
stroyed, but, as has previously occurred,
an obscure Federal district Judge was
brought into the State, this time from
Florida, who held the law unconstitu-
tional and void, contrary to the opinion OF
our supreme court. II can not be said
that judicial integrity, courage and learn
ing are exclusively confined to the Fed
eral courts. and 1t is therefore significant
that throughout the Union as general
rule corporations turn to the Federal ju-
dietary for relief from laws passed to
curb their exactions and rapacity.
An exception to this, Mt once rare and
gratifying. is found in Texas. where the
present Federal district judges are not
sought by corporations for such purposes
and enjoy to marked degree the respect.
the confidence and the friendship of their
neighbors and fellow citizens. The case
In which this statute was held to be re-
pugnant to the constitution Is now pending
In the supreme court Of the United States
and several prosecutions under It, as we'll
&c uny nvtP ANA NJ a-t1t
held In allegiance until the question is de-
tcrnined
LABOR LAWS.
The present administration takes spc-
cial pride In the enactment of several i'm
portant statutes In the interest and for
the protection OF labor general voluf.-
tary arbitration act was passed, which no
Doubt has had some effect in preventing
disagreement between employer aud em-
ploye. and been the means of adjusting
ainicably some that have arisen. BY an
other act workingmep were protected In
their labels, trademarks, designs aud forms
OF advertising. It has also been provided
that where personal injuries are received
by workingmen, not resulting In death,
the rights to damages shall survive to
their wives and children. and 10 not lost
formerly. So also the benefit OF the me-
chanics' lien has been extended to clerks
accountants, bookkeepers artisans. crafts
men. factory operatives, servants, quarry
men, far;n hands and common laborcfs.
But the most important OF these measures
is the Fellow servant law. which is intend
ed TO give Just protection to railway ep-
rloyes against the negligence OF such cor
lorations. The legal doctrine of feliow
servants is that person engaged in SER
vice may not recover damages OF his en-
ployer for personal injuries, nor his neirs
II death results, II the cause Of the injury
or death is the negligence of a fellow SEP
want, and under II corporations and other
employers escaped liability. The act un-
der consideration. while not in my judg-
mort not sufficiently radical, for II an.
pears TO me that the whole principle
should be expressly abrogatcd, wprks an
important change In the law and does jus
tice to large and deserving portion of our
population. II provides. in effect, that per- |
sons who are engaged in railway service 4
In the same grade of employment and are |
doing the same character of work or scr. 7
vice. ana are working together at the
same time and place and at the same piece |
OF work and to common purpose. are
fellow servants All others are not fellow
servants. and In case of injury or death
damages may be recovered though the in
Jury or death resulted from the negligence
,f fellow employe.
DELINQUENT TAX LAW.
From 1873 to 1898. inclusive. nnpaid
taxes. including poll, school and general
ad valorem, aggregated s2.052, 765. almost
enough to pay the general expenses OF the
state for one year. or this sum s7265s6
was school and general ad valorem taxes.
and with efficient laws and officials mos.
u II should have been collected. II shows
hat large number a people evade pay
nent OF their share of the revenue neces.
'ary to conduct the government, which op-
crates to cast an additional aud unjust
burden upon those who pay their taxes.
The failure to collect this delinquent tax
was mainly due to inadequate collection
avs and agencies. and these were sought
o be remedied by acts passed in 1926 and
1897. The beneficial operation of these
statutes will strikingly appear from the
act that while the total amount collected
n 1894 In redemption OF property sold for
axes was s2s475. this collection steadily
increased under the new laws and reached
he sum OF $209,279 In 1895. with these
avs vigorously enforced the total school
md general tax still delinquent since 1855. |,
to SS2s.si4 should be collected
md the annual delinquent list practically
disappear. Not until this is done will