Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-08-05
sEIGHT QUESTION.
Letters from Senator Reagan,
Congressman Grain and Hare.
Estate Regulations of Railway Trans
portatiOn Should Employ the
Agency ola Commission.
Transportation Interests Ought Not to be
Embarrassed by Arbitrary and I'M
practicable Provisions"
Special to the Gazette.

Special to the Gazette.
DALLAS, Tex, Aug. 4.-Secretary
Harmed of the Dallas manufacturers as
ISOLATION has received the following let
tiers bearing on the freight question:
WASHINGTON, July 10.
c. W. Harmed, Esq. Secretary Manufacturers
Association, Dallas.
DEAR SIR-ReplYing to your letter Of
18th inst. have to say that I fail to
comprehend the import OF your statement
that you look to me because OF my posi-
ton "to explain the effect of the inter-
state bill upon inland7>cities, such as
Dallas, Sherman, Fort Worth, - etc. 1t
seems to me that you are in better po-
sition to determine the commercial
effect upon such cities, if you refer to
that, than 1, as you must be familiar
with the results of a practical application
of the law. When l voted for the bill l
represented a coast district and l believed
its effect would be to cause freights to
seek the nearest outlet to the deep sea
and that the seapOrts of Texas would be
thereby benefited.
AS railway corporations have peculiar
rights and privileges, believe the state
should exercise q reasonable and eQult-
able supervision over them; but L don t
think that the legislative power should be
delega4gd to three men or to five men.
WitbgBtentering into a discussion of the
QUESTION, I believe that competent men
could not be had at the salary the legisia
ture wosld attach ,tb the office, and if
they could theirailways would soon have
them in their 'empl@Ement.
|, Your Suggestion Regarding 'the limi-
station of tofls=e'a reasonable per cent.
upon the COST Of the roads constTuc-
tion'' has not,been considered by me,
but at first blush I, would conclude that
this would work discrimination in favor
of certain roads an4S against their forced
patrons because Of their greater cost of
construction.
AS have just received your letter on
my return from San Antonio, and as you
express a desire to receive, an immediate
reply, I have not the time to write at
greater length. YouE obedient servant,
4 W. H. GRAIN.
FROM HoN.f sILAs HARE.
SHERMAN, TEX, July II, 1889.
c. W. Harmed, Dallas, Tex:
DEAR SIR have just returned from
trip west and find your favor of 18th
inst. AS the committee of thirty-one
meets tomorrow l have no time to give
you my views upon the important ques-
ton you ask. VIII simply state that [
cannot see how any one can question the
necessity of a commission for the pro-
lection of both the people and the rail-
roads A commission will keep the
ApeOple informed so that they will
mot be prejudiced against the
IHanaSs1neRt of railroads by false
rumoTs or reports; and on the other hand
will protect the people against oppressive
charges and unjust determinations. I do
not believe such commission would be
unconstitutional
cannot give you my idea now (for
want of time) Of the duties of such COM
mission, furtheE, than that railroads
should be so reShFeted that their profits
would correspond SO Ear as possible with
the profits of ether Industries :, In other
words, freight should not take all or the
greater profit and leave the producer to
bear the burden. Very respectfully,
SILAs HARE.
FROM HON. JOHN H. REAGAN.
So. PALESTINE, TEX, July "A, 1889.
Mr.. {. Nv. Harmed, Secretary Manufacturers
AssociadSns Dallas, Tex:
DEAR SIR-Absence from home pre-
of the 18th inst. in time for it
to BE read before the meeting
s5our committee on the 22d inst.
II will, however, venture & very brief
answer to some of the points presented
by it. You say: ''The farmers, manu-
facturers and merchants of this section
are seeking a remedy for what they be-
lieve to be oppressive and excessive
freight rates and unjust determinations
by railways operating in Texas. - You
also mention that "manY thinking men
Believe that the Interstate COM
MERGE bill as construed by
the = commissioners and, as OPP
Spfessivaly executed by tRe railways has
much ito do with the great losses now be-
ing occasi6ned= in the state. You say
further: - We foek to you as occupying
a position that peculiarly hts you as an
|. adviser to.explaih the effect Of the inter
state commerce bill upon inland cities,
"such as Dallas, Sherman, Waco, Fort
tWorth COrsicana, Austin and San An
7tonio, and what amendments or proper
construction of the existing law is neces-
sary to our relief. And you FIR
Their: g Any suggestions respecting the
astateSAsy regulations of railways by com
: Mission We would be pleased to receive
IFuHd- ~ on > anu tsptClt1Iiy "uSlHeI the
legislature should limit their tolls TO a
Reasonable per cent. upon the actual cost
~ the railroad S construction -
The'peiRedy for the evils 4to;whlch you
refer must Befeund so far as Interstate
commerce is coIcerued in their calling on
the inter-s state commerce commission or
upon the Federal courts to enforce the
provisions of the Interstate commerce
F3aw. So far as relates to the commerce
which begins and ends in the state,
those interSsttd must rely on the legisla-
ton of the state andseh the provisions of
the common law for theIr- pRetection. In
keither case it viii be necessary for them
t0,uSderstand exactly the facts which
constitute their cause of grievance. This
being understood it Is not difficult to find
the remedy.
You do not advise me of what partlcu-