58 
Transactions Texas Academy of Science. — 1906. 
the Governor’s veto, and this company escaped without the onus of 
these restrictions. Branching privileges were denied, however. 12 The 
Henderson & Burkville Company likewise secured relief in spite of 
the Governor’s veto. 13 
Six new companies were chartered by the Legislature during the 
year 1856, and the charters of all of these, with the exception of the 
Houston Tap road, contained these provisions. The Trinity Valley 
charter was vetoed by the Governor because it did not impose the 
new regulations. The franchise was not granted until 1860, by which 
time the observance of these conditions had become compulsory by 
general law. 14 The Jefferson & Dangerfield charter experienced simi- 
lar vicissitudes, but never became a law. 
In his retiring message to the Seventh Legislature, Governor Pease 
again deprecated the prevalence of loose methods in railway legisla- 
tion, and urged the necessity of uniformity in granting charters. 15 
The people of the State had by this time become convinced of the 
soundness of his views, and showed less disposition to distrust his 
motives. Their representatives responded to the suggestions, and in- 
augurated uniformity by the passage of a general law. This was a 
supplementary act to the general regulating act of 1853. The termini 
of the routes were required to be designated, the principal office was 
required to be kept along the road, and the chief officers and 
directors were required to reside in Texas. 16 
The importance of these enactments, though little understood at 
that time, is thoroughly appreciated at this day. These laws doubt- 
less protected the State from many evils from which it stood in 
need of protection. Though often violated in after years, they still 
exerted a wholesome influence on the railroad development. In them 
we must seek for the beginnings of our Railroad Commission and our 
salutary Stock and Bond law. 
NOTES. 
debates of the Sixth Legislature, Regular Session, Vol. 1, p. 177. 
2 Report of the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos & Colorado Railroad to the Comptroller 
for 1860. 
3 Debates of the Sixth Legislature, Regular Session, Vol. 1, p. 178. 
*Ibid, Vol. 1, p. 178. 
5 Journal of the House of Representatives, Fourth Legislature, Austin, 1853, 
p. 15 et seq. 
fi Journal of the House of Representatives, Fifth Legislature, Austin, 1853, 
Part II, pp. 22-25. 
7 Acts of February 13, 1854 and February 4, 1864, “Laws of Texas,” Vol. 4, 
p. 142 and 70. 
8 “No new charters should be granted over a route where a road is already be- 
ing constructed, or near such route as materially to impair its value. 
“Every railroad company should be required to hold all meetings for the elec- 
tion of its officers within the State, and have a majority of its directors resi- 
dent citizens thereof, and also to keep its principal office for the management of 
its affairs within the State. * * * 
