Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1914-06-24
Proposal Discussed.

"Is his proposal constitutional, | waive
this question. recognize that thi~ cry
j. the refuge behind which reforms are NJ
tackled. However. | 10 not doubt that m
the professional opinion Of the bar 81
Texa~. uninilucnced by any political pre-
iudice. this measure would not run the
gauntlet of the courts. State or Federal
advocates of the regulation ~ land
rents profess ~ zee a parallel N the leafs
laiion against u~ury: Yet the power ~ ne
legislature to regulate interest ! conferred
IN the State constitution. Does Mr. Fer
gnSon's faith that such law would not vio-
late the Federal constitution manifest
itself by an effort 10 amend our State con
Stitution! Was the demand for the sub
mission of such an amendment made 10
the Democratic executive committee Has
there been any effort Ia pledge candidate
for the legislature To agree to vote for
such an amendment ia the absence of IN
-truciion~! Does he believe that two
thirds of both houses. in the absence Ut
such instructions. would agree - submit
~nch IA amendment Under these circun-
stances does il not appear that this plat
form l. built 10 ret IN on rather than ~
stand on!
~ the proposed law practical! Does u
not %pre~uppo>e conditions which do not
exist and can never exist: that MI the
lands in Texas are equal in fertility aud
desirabilitv: thai they have equal conven-
fences and Improvements: that they are
equally near church and school and mar
ket: that all tenants are equally indus
'triou, and capable. and careful 1T prop
erty!
is the proposed Law enforceable
would the penalty 81 double the amount
of bonuS prohibit the violation: would the
right Of recovery justify the tenant IN np-
pcaline 10 the courts: does not half nj HE
amount IL bc recovered belong 10 the ten
ant which he need not nave paid had hc
not desired: would not the los Of time ii
attending court and the expense Of ltiea-
tion all hut eat up the remaining half! II
the teEant decidad To move, would he be-
compensated for bringing suit; ii he
brought suit. would he not have to move!
"Would not the proposed law be cyaded !
l. not the u>ury law all bui a dead %lcttcrl
Did not the Bolton Land aud Trust com
panv of which Mr.. Ferguson wa~ m active
officer. find a way 10 evade the u~nry law
did not hi company charge a u=nriou- rate
for loans 10 farmers: and before money
was advanced even az an exnrbitant rate.
did not hi comlslnv exact a. q pnrt paw
ment of the contract. the right t. market
the farmers cotton al one dollar per bale.
and did not the farmer have 10 pay he
one dollar per bale. whether or not he
made the cotton or the company marketed
the cotton: and are not the records ut Bell
county plastercd with hundreds of such
contracts made by Mr. ~Forguson's com-
pany la the Bell county farmers.
"lf other Governors and legislatures
have not been able to pass faw~ rcorlat-
lng interest that will prohibit NIr. Fer
gn>on charging a u>urlou~ bonn~. what
success will Mr.. Ferguson and the next
legislature have IN passing laws r%egulat-
inc land rents 10 prevent other landlord.
collecting an excessive bonus!
would not landlords end tenants re-
sort to Suhterfuge to make their own con
%tracts' A. a partial consideration for
renting, would they not agree that the ten
ant should build a fence. or dig n ditch. or
pull some stumps ar buy some mules at
fancy prices And ii the landlord be-
forced Ia rent land for les than he de-
sires, Will the tenant not suffer Tor hack of
'convenlenceS that makes hls hard Dot
harder would lac not hc charged far VA
ieh and wood and garden viii h. not have
even les ccmrodiou- quarters IN which a.
shelter his family; will not the landlord
forrgo whitewa~hing the premises ~ stop
PING the cracks IN the walls or tbs leaks
al the roof!