The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-06-30
A sLANDEHous PUBLICATION.

The following appeared In the current
number OF the Railroad Gazette:
Prominent in railroad matters dealt with by
the Texas legislature this year was that OF
the partial consolidation OF NUMBER OF IN IN
portant lines, affecting the Southern Pacinc.
| the Missouri Kansas and Texas. the ST. LOUIS
Southwestern and the Gun, Beaumont anu
Kansas city; Most Of these roads were pre- pre-
pared to build extensions into territory when
needs new railroads. but declined to proceed
except on condition that certain branches ana
controlled lines should be consolidated with
| the parent company. AS the tundamental
| theory which prevails among Texas people
| concerning the treatment OF railroads is TO
take them by the throat and to hold them
continuously under water eXcent for few
minutes now and then that they may catch
their breath, these consolidation propositions
were looked upon ny ANY members oil the
| legislature with terrified sSsnicion. but at
length by some means or other majority
YVES secured aud the bills were passed.
but only to be vetoed BY the governor. The
movement. however. was not abandoned ana
the bills Mt length became laws.
j Ignorance could hardly be pleaded sue
cessfully in excavation of the above, as
the Gazette poses as reliable" collector
Of news relating to the transportation In
terests of the country, and is certainly In
n position to obtain correct information
with regard to the subjects with which it
} concerns itself almost exclusively.
No one who knows anything at all Of the
: legislation to which the Gazette refers in
this instance can avoid coming to the
/ conclusion that, continuing policy adopt
ed some years ago by publications OF its
class, that paper has deliberately taken
advantage of an opportunity to add to
the long list Of ISLANDERS OF Texas for which
it. IN partnership with other railroad Pc
riodicals, Is responsible.
No member Of the Twenty sixth egls-
lature looked with terrified suspicion
upon a single consolidation bill passed dur
inu the recent session. Each bill OF that
character was, in the first instance, passed
practically without discussion and with
very few negative votes recorded against
IT. careful examination having salts
fed the governor that said bills contained
nothing but turkey for the railroads and
buzzard for the State, he vetoed them
Subsequently new bills, in which the
States rights In the premises were recog-
nzed and provision made for their pre-
seryation, were passed and they received
executive approval.
During the contest waged over these
latter bills no opposition was manifested
towards the railroads. neither was there
any display OF enmity towards those In.
terested in their development. Everybody
was agreed that their prosperity was dc.
sirable, but there were differences Of
opinion as to the latitude to be allowed
them In the working out OF their plan:
for the enlargement OF their operations
An agreement having been reached upon
tho question at issue. and equitable re.
strletions having been provided for the
protection Of the State. there WINS no
further objection to the consultations.
AS to taking the railroads by the throat
and holding their heads under water. thai
Is anything but a fundamental theory
prevailing among Texas people" There
are several railroads in the state tits true
which have been in drowning condl-
ton for some time, but they have been
! rescued through the efforts Of the agencies
provided by Texas for their regulation.
For example, there is one trunk line which
7 was projected and built BY Toxans and
afterwards sold 10 one OF the big systems
! OF the West II does plenty of business
and makes money, but its books never
, show it, Bled Tor the benefit OF the line
dominating IL, there Is but little chance
for It TO keep its head above the water
except with the assistance OF the railroad
! commission Used as dumping ground
for the worn out equipment OF the foreign
! corporation controlling Its stock. II had
up to short time ago no place Id rail-
road annals save as an Garner OF rentals
for the use OF broken down locomotives
and discarded coaches forced upon It by
It's parent.
Another trunk line in this State has
been held up for great deal OF rolling
stock by its Interstate Kin for the pay
! ment OF which 1t is bonded ana for the
taking care OF which 1t 10 expected 10 de-
vote part OF its earnings. Not so very
long ago II was carrying at least IS .coo.-
900 Of bonds which properly constituted
part OF the Indebtedness Of Kansas cor
poration with which II is allied. transfer
Of which bonds to their legitimate foun-