The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-13
A PLEA BY SENATOR MILLER.
ASKED THAT DALLAS QUARTER
hill DE PASSED UNCHANGED.
Resented tho Imputations Against
Hts Coursc Made ny Political
and Personal Enemies.


Ing and take up the Dallas city charter
BILL Senator Miller OF Dallas said
Mr. Presidential support Of this motion
as well as to question OF personal privi-
lege. beg 10 impose upon the time OF the
senate, while explain to you the circum-
stances and reasons which lead me to the
course OF action shall pursue in regard
to this bill. AZ It's inception, while diff
fered with many OF its provisions, agreed
with my colleagues OF the house TO sup
port the measure. Tho question OF sub
hitting 1t 10 the people had not been dis
4 cussed. Since that time my judgment has
! questioned some of its provisions, put
not so seriously that l was prepared TO
ask this body to take adverse action upon
them but TO the extent Of leading me 10
believe that Il were better that the funda-
mental changes Ia the municipal govern
ment Of my city contemplated by THIS
4 charter be submitted to the people Tor
\ ratification,
The first question that presented itself
4 TO my mind was the legal aspect OF the
i matter On the 4th day OF March re-
quested one of my friends TO prepare me
brief upon the subject, which he sent
ino upon the 9Th. When received It, Mr..
Ellison city attorney OF the city of Dali
/ las was present | told him what It was
and he then knew that ! was considering
the propriety Of submitting this matter to
, the arbitrament OF the people | believe
IL can be legally done vet some of the
leading lawyers of the State differ With
me. Still Undetermined about this matter
[ | came TO no conclusion until after the
| bill had passed the house, and had come
} to the senate. | then concluded to oher
two amendments to the bill The one re-
:. ating to the salaries of the city secretary
. n nd has "a ny nj ~
the other submitting the changes in the
charter TO a ratification by the citizens
of Dallas at the polls, offered these
amendments in the committee. hut with
drew them In order that the bill might not
J be delayed, asserting my intention Of pre-
senting them in the senate when the bill
, should come up for consideration. / have
! concluded not to offer these amendments,
but to plead with you as ] have never
pleaded with men before TO pass this char
! ter just as 1t came from the house, and
, 1t is due to you and to myself and my peo-
pie that I should give my reasons for this
action.
: When this bill was in the house united
, fight was made upon It by the corporations
! OF Dallas. A night so vigorous aud accom-
: panied with much unnecessary ana
! rancorous talk that say to you now that
! IN my Judgment the enemies of this bill
are to be more credited with its passage
|
e and only to he understood by one who mas
mingled with the people OF Dallas and
Y Dallas county during the last few days
q was engendered by the methods pursued
: and alleged to have been pursued by the
. opponents OF the charter. Passion and
prejudice swept like a hurricane over the
o minds and hearts of the people. Crimna-
: tion and recrimination served but to in
4 fame the already aroused passion. II
o ceases to be question as to the adyis-
o ability of the charter, or the justice OF
e its provisions. Today the issue in my
e county is "for control of corporation oil
I; against control OF corporation" as you
: favor or oppose this bill. The people of the
: country, with no actual interest in tbs
fight, have aligned themselves in the
= struggle.
e In the prosecution OF criminals in my
y county; by the deep interest that l hav,
e taken in every political ,TTofglc, local Of
: otherwise, that has taxi I. ACE in Dalla,
e county since | was a b. of rs, hav,
l. made scores OF personal and politica
If enemies, and while to offset them have
n band OF as true and loyal friends as eve
y stood by any man, when announced m,
se intention TO amend this bill In the senate
to it furnished an opportunity to my enemies
or OF which they fastened to avail themselve
r like yultures that flock to feast, Coward
ly ours who would never had dared TO in
RI sinuate to my face that ! was prompte
v by corrupt motives began to poison tn
re air with their vile ISLANDERS. Men who dl
,e not know me and whose passions ha
pt usurped their Judgment maddened b
ed what they believed 10 be the defeat of thi
bill. added their fuel to the flames, an
that which affects me almost as deeply
md myself ON the opposite side of all hi
two or three Of the men with whom m
personal affilation had been closest, m
political affiliations strongest
M
could alone have faced the vile nsinu,
tons Of my enemies, but / can not col
template with equanimlty the severance
friendships which are dear to me beyon
expression, of friendships that have bee
re tested in the fire OF many a battle an
as proven as true as the purest Of gold thi
ever entered crucible. Nor. Mr. Pres
Mt dent, and gentlemen Of tine senate, a
r. ] alone. / have wife and three bo,
is dearer to me than life or all that life hoIt
beside. The cowardly attacks upon n
reputation. made in such a manner tn
no man can meet and fight them becau
= II. they do not come in the open, which won
tarnish my name, would find its rafectiC
upon them. If there we're any other WI
1T under Gods heaven, though 1t carried wi
it any sacrifice that humanity could NAL
nc TO refutc these ISLANDERS. reclaim the
friends, than that ! am forced 10 take L
VI day, would gladly avail myself of 1t, b
ne AFTER consultation with frlenaS at nom
after consultation with members of I'll
"a senate. whose friendship and whose kind
-. offices to me in this the most embarrassii
Gu situation OF my life, can never repay Al
I'D shall never forget have determln
eli that there is no way to meet and refute q
IA slanderer. traducer and liar who has be-
bounding my reputation because Of L
-, action In this matter. except to vote {
ca this bill just as II left the house and
~ ~ beg OF you, by the senatorial courtesy, tn
. is as hcnored and as old as tho senate,
! the personal friendship YOU may have I
~ me, to pass this bill without qualifcatil
In or amendment. To stand by me in this d
~ Tense OF my reputation as would stand
IA you under the SAME circumstances T
M responsibility rests not with you. tt
bill originated in the house. The peor
in OF Dallas, whether with good judgment
art rot. are demanding us passage. RE d
10 mocracy of Dallas county outside ~
rs city uninterested as they are Win
Of working yet because Of the aiignme
i've that has grown out OF H. are dsinanhi
ate II In no uncertain terms Lei The rRspp