The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-03-26

an the East Line and Red River. II these
u,ner roads, SO referred to. were under
tne same ownership, managemont and
con'roi as the Missouri Kansas and Texas
ana the Sherman, Shreveport and South
en-, tnere might be more plausibfity In
ms remarkable assumption. can not
suppose that they took into consideration
me necessary effect OF such a ruling upon
the other railroads OF Texas.
IL the principle shall be established and
aunered to that railways not under the
same ownership, management or control
can be coupled together. or with other
railways, in order to make out case ~
parallel and competing railways. then tho
Houston and Texas Central. the Missouri
Kansas and Texas and the Gulf, Colorado
and Santa Fe railways, upon the saua
principle, may be held to be parallel ana
competing railways. and their charters
may be forfeited. They are, in fact naraI-
lei railways. but their competition being
unuer tne management Of different cor
porauons benefits the public. while ~
they were all under the same ownership
management and control II would he
monopoiisiio and Injurious to the public.
my statement illustrates the vice OF the
decision and message above referred IN
AS TO the case OF the St. Louis s,nth.
western railway 1t enters Texas in ths
nnor.neastern part OF the State, passes
throueh the city OF Tyler and runs ofs
west beyond the Brazos river. The rvler
southeastern road runs from TYLER so,,,i,
10 Lufkin, nearly at right angles win Tho
~ Louis southwestern and there can
70 no pretense that these two roads aro
her parailel or Competing At Lufkin
the Tyler Southeastern connects with tha
Houston East and West TEXAS railway
which extends thence to Houston. Bnt n
- aiieged, TO meet this difficulty, that
me TWO reads, the Tyler Southeastern
anu tue International and Great Northern
are all parts OF the Gould system. that
ihe international and Great Northern ex
tends from Tyler to Houston. and will
become parallel and competing line with
.he iyier southeastern, but, as shown
ABOVE, the Tyler Southeastern ends al
Lufkin. does not reach Houston. SO here
again to make out the case OF parallel and
competing roads the Houston East and
west Texas, which Is under an entireIv
diHerent ownership, management and con.
trol, is enlisted into service.
II this is to be the established law of
Texas, not only the Houston and TEXAS
central, the Missouri Kansas and Texas.
tne 1ult, Colorado and Santa Fc the Cal
weston, Harrisburg and San Antonio and
the San Antonio and Aransus Pass rail-
ways, but with them every railroad of i'm
portance In Texas will be liable TO have
their charters forfeited for being parallel
and competing railways. The sword of
Democles will be thus suspended over
them. wv
can not suppose that the supreme court
OF the governor had in view such conse-
auences. Surely our great and growing
state, which is substantially without
navigable rivers. and is dependent on
railroads for the modern means of trans
portation and travel, Is not going DELHI
erately to enter on such a course of van
dalism against the railways and against
the best interests Of the people OF Tess.
Notwithstanding this difference of opin-
Ion, no one has a higher respect for the
court which delivered the opinion referred
TO- or for the present supreme court. ,r
Tor Governor sayers, than have. I do
not question the patriotism, the intended
ndeiity to the constitution and public in
terests Of either, but believe they have
made a mistake, which. II adhered IA.
VIII be most hurtful to the honor and In.
terests OF our beloved State
1t will be impossible even for great
names, exalted positions and the highest
characters to sanctify such a violation of
principles, and such wrong TO the best
interests OF Texas. The profoundness NJ
my conviction Of this truth impels ma
now to come forward with this expression
Oh my views, with full consciousness
OF the criticism It will expose me to, but
do not abandon the thought that truth
is mighty and will prevail" Very respect
fully, John II Reagan