Opinion ID: 2407622
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: background of the cox act

Text: It is apparent that the intent, purpose and language of the Cox Act is crucial to a decision here. The opinion of the Court of Civil Appeals in this case is based entirely upon it. In some respects, it is unfortunate that Texas has no official Legislative record similar to the Congressional Record. Our research, however, including information contained in court decisions, [4] reports of the Railroad Commission, and information in the Texas State Library and in the library of The University of Texas, does show the context in which the Cox Act was passed in 1920. Before the Cox Act, there was no public agency with powers of a commission to regulate gas utilities. An Act passed in 1905, dealing particularly with cities and towns, declared that all extortionate and unreasonable rates charged by public utility corporations [specifically including gas companies] . . . are hereby declared unlawful, and the district courts of this State are hereby vested with jurisdiction and full power and authority to regulate, prevent and abolish the same . . . . [5] The Act is still on the books and is carried forward as our present Article 1125. In 1911, an act was passed authorizing the formation of corporations to generate, transport, and sell gas and electricity. Acts 32nd Leg., Ch. 111, page 228. Section 6 of that Act provided that It shall be unlawful for any corporation organized under this Act to discriminate against any person . . . or place in the charge for such gas . . . or in the service rendered under similar and like circumstances. This Act is also still on the books today; and the portion dealing with discrimination is Article 1438. Many suits have been instituted directly in court under that Act for discriminations by gas utilities as to rates charged and services rendered. The type of service rendered affects the rate which may be charged. [6]