Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-08-08
FREIGHT 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.

DALLAS, len, aug. 4.-SecreLaEy
Harmed of the Dallas manufacturers as
ISOLATION has received the following let
ters 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 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 inland 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 practical application
of the law. When | 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 1 believe the state
should exercise q reasonable and equit-
able supervision over them; but l don t
think that the legislative power should be
delegated to three men or TO five men.
Without entering into ? discussion of the
question, | believe that competent men
could not be had at the salary the legisla-
ture would attach to the office, and if
they could the railways would soon have
them in their employment.
,Xour suggestion regarding 'the limi-
H.
upon the cost of the roads construc-
tom has not been considered by me,
but at first blush I would conclude that
this would work q discriniination in favor
of certain roads and. against their forced
. patrons because OF their greater cost of
. CONSTRUCTIONS.
AS have inst received your letter on
m return from San Antonio, and as you
express a desire to receive ah, ANN rebate
reply, have not the time to write at
greater iesf$StiR. Your Obedicnt servant,
F~>~ W. II. GRAIN
FROM HON. sft2s: RARE.
SHERMAN, TEX, July =, 1889.
c. ". Harmed, Dallas, Tex:
DEAR SIR have just returned from q
trip west and find your favor of 10Th
inst LAS the committee OF thirty-one
meets tomorrow, / have no time 10 give
you my views upon the important ques-
ton you ask VIII simply state that I
cannot see how any one can-question the
necessity of a commission for the pro-
lection of both the people and the rail-
roads commission will keep the
people informed so that they will
not be prejudiced against the
management of railroads by false
rumoTs or reports; and on the other hand
viii protect the people against oppressive
charges aud unjust determinations. l do
not believe such commission would be
unconstitutional. =.
IcannDt give you my idea BOW 'Cfor
want of tifhe) Of the duties of such COM
mission, further than that railroads
should be so regulated that their profits
would, correspond so far as possible wish
the profits of other 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 RsAGAN.
PALESTINE, TEX, J1zy "a, 1889.
Mr.. CIV: Harmed, Secretary Manufacturers
Association, Dallas, Tex: -
DEAR SIR-Absehce from home pre-
vented me from answering your letter
of the 18th inst in time for it
to be read before the meeting
OF your committee on the 22d inst.
| viii, however, venture a. very brief
answer, TO some Of the points presented
by it You say: ''The farmeIS, 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.
merce bill as construed by
the commissioners and as OPP
pressiYeIy executed by the railways has
much to do with the great losses now be-
ing oceasioned in the state. - You say
further: 1--WE look to you as occupying
a position that peculiarly fits you as an
adviser to.explain the effect of the inter
state commerce bill upon inland cities,
such as Dallas, sherman, Waco, Fort
Worth, Corsicana, Austin and San An
tonic, and what amendments or proper
construction Of the existing law is neces-
k~sary to our relief. - And you say far-
t'ther:, Amy suggestions respecting the
state Regulations of railways by COM
mission we would be pleased to receive
from you, and especially whether the
legislature should limit their tolls TO q
| Reasonable per cent. upon the actual cost
of the railroad s construction.
The remedy for the evils to which you
refer must be found so far as Interstate
commerce is concerned in their calling on
the inter state commerce commission or
! .lLeon the Federal courts to enforce the
provisions. of the Interstate commerce
law Solar as relates 10 the commerce
which begins and ends in the state,
these interested must rely on the legisla-
ienS9f the state and on the provisions of
the common law for their protection. In
either case it viii be necessary for them
ito understand 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 partleu-
lar construction of the Interstate com
merce law by the commission you. COM.
plain, and l am therefore unable to an
swer as to that point. Thosss, who be-
lieve their grievances to be CAUSED By
| the interstate commerce LAW have. as