The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-09-09
Reckless Railroad Legislation

To the Editor of the Herald:
During the recent session OF our legisla-
ture, a bill was Introduced providing for
railroad commission Of three men 10 regulate
and fx the rate to BE- charged for freight aud
passenears. The bill also provided that the
charges on freight should be prorstive, &C
oording to distance. In lieu of this bill, MIR
Hutchinson, of Houston, offered q substitute,
nv wsy of amendment, which fixed the rates
tobe charged by railroad companies for
freight on the pro rata system. Owing to
The shortness OF the session both bills failed.
A great deal has been said upon the subject
offailrosd legislation. There seems to be Q
demand by the people that these companies
shall be placed under Legislative control.
Now the question TO be answered intelli-
gently IA. would the pro rata legislation be
beneficial to the common people!
In order to answer that question l will
arst assume that there 10 law in force COM
pellipp railroad companies to charge for
freight according to distance. end allowing
no REDUCTIONS for bulk and quantity. Dallas
ia situated in the northern portion of Texas,
and Al n distance of from three to five
hundred miles from any water transporter
tion-Houston, on our southern coast, with
both rail and water transportation. Calves
ton Is situated, by rail, about eighty miles
further from any trading point in Texas than
Houston. Thus we see that Houston woul"
have an immense advantage over the other
two places mentioned; being situated eighty
miles nearer by rail 10 oil trading points In
Texas than Galveston. her merchants would
uudersell the Galveston merchants, the dif-
ference in the amount of freight charged
on that distance, and thus virtually drive them
out of business, whilst her situation on the
coast would give her merchants an advantage
over the merchants of Dallas equal to the
price Of freight for from three 70 hve
hundred miles. Now what show would Dial.
las have in the coutesti Would she moi
soon DO bowling wilderness, whilst the city
OF Houston would assume immense proper
lions. aud the citizens OF this community
would soon feel the difference In tho shape
Of freights from here 10 Houstoni Another
thing, II would give the railroad that hap
pened 10 DO few miles the shortest mon.
opoly on oil through freighm.
Another point might DO considered. Msn-
ufAotories as yet are In their infancy In the
state Of Texas. Ia order for them to b.
started, they must have cheap rates on fuel
and material. Now, II tho railroads were
un,rsmmeled they would give manufacto,
ries special rateseven II they made no money
10 shipping the same. The increase OF bust
meas because " these same manufactures
would amply reompense them; but. with the
foreeoing regulations IL any mandatory
was established II would necessarily be driven
70 Houston. No legislation would be- better
calculated to build up monopoly than
this same ieilroad legislation clam
ored for by the one-horse news.
papers during he recent session Of
our present Legislature. IL would be
glorious thing Cor Houston, but q
heavy load Tor the peale and the cities and
have only given brief S,lipe Of some Of
The points against this proised Railroad Ie o.
ilssion. will at some fnNo ,ime di,eus,
tho subject more specifically A. n ID.
DALLAS, Sept 8, 1881.