The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-03-25
WOMB MN nr srorrrn.
GoNcrrcr's Veto rut an End 20 e., n.
and a., '. Construction.

and a.. y. Construction.
Mr.. Jrhn ". kirby president OF the
Gull, Beaumont and Great Northern Rail-
way company aud vice. president and gen
crsl manager Of the Gulf, Beaumont and
by reporter at his Main stree, office
yesterday The two corporations named
are those which we're sought to be con
soldsted under the bill which was vetoed
by the governor on Thursday last
Mr. Kirby said the veto was a great sur-
prise to him and especially In view Of tho
reasons that were assigned Tor same.
When the Gulf Beaumont and kansaa
City Railway company was organi2c1.
said MIR Kirby. provision was made for
the issuance Of bonds on seventy 1--we miles
only This mileage was completed when
the road reached Newtonvils. Any bends
issued on the line NORTH Of that pont
would b. second mortgage bonds anu nn-
salshlc and 10 get around tnts difficulty |
conferred with Judge Reagan OF thu rail-
road commission and he suggested that a
new corporation be organized and that
when tho legislature convened the two be
consolidated. Acting on his suggestion
took out the second charter at considerable
expense and have also expended consider
able money IN making surveys and per-
nt0FnL LOCATIONS from .N'MtuhNllit .ulll a.
ward. All NJ this expense l have borne
personally and individually. When the
Legislature convened J applied for an act
~ consolidation In pursuance OF Judge
Reagan's original suggestion and our bill
passed tho house without a dissenting vote
aud there was but ono dissenting vote IN
the senate. Tho reasonH assigned by the
governor for his veto have no application
10 our bill at all and can nor he inferred
from any reasonable construction OF its
language.
THE bonding privilege Is left solely
within the discretion OF the railroad COM
mission and Is to he based upon their
ascertainment Of values. From their con-
cluson there Is absolutely no appeal and
there can be nothing obnoxious In this
provision II the people have any confidence
IN the judgment and honesty Of the COM
mission. There is not one word In the
bill which relates TO the bonds or obliga-
tions OF the Gulf. Beaumont and Kansas
City railway. That corporation is not
permitted under the bill TO either increase
or diminish its outstanding obligstlons In
fact there is absolutely no reference 10
such obligations and yet the bill Is ve-
toed because Il Is alleged TO provide Tor
the cancellation OF the bonds OF the Gulf,
Beaumont and Kansas City railway.
'All | sought at the hands Of tho legls-
lature was authority 20 build this road
coupled with the privilege under the or
dere. guidance and action Of the railroad
commission Of issuing sufficient Hecur-
| ties % provide the means to pay con
struction bills. The refusal OF the cover
nor TO permit the bill to become law Is
a serious disappointment to me and will
be a moro ser,ous one TO the counties
through which the road was 10 he built
and which stands ereatIy'in need OF trans
portation facilities. | have labored In this
effort for six years practically without
compensation and had made my financial
arrangements for pressing forward With
| the work as soon as this bill became q
| law, This veto destroys all prospects, a'
without some such measure ar the one
proposed II Is impossible TO act outside
| help to build the line. and neither mol
the people whom the road will serve have
| the money with which 10 build 1t.
80 far ] have personally furnished all
| the money expended by the Gulf Beau.
I mont and Great Northern, but as | have
| not the means 10 put It through It would
| be unHise and foolish 10 continue the
struggle with its incidental expenses and