Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-11-09
THE COMMISSION
The Hardest Worked Body at
the State Capital.
A SAVING OF $1,000, 1000 MADE.
A History of the Tariffs Issued Up to Date.
The Merchandise Tariff Being Prepared.
Tho Farmers of Texas and the One item
of Cotton-The Railroads Generally
Carrying Out the Commits
sion's Orders.
A SAVING OF 100000 MADE.
Good for the Commission,

AUSTIN, TEX, Nov. S.-Since the railroad
commission organized June 10 five months
have elapsed. The work of that
body began with the commencement
of the summer solstice and con-
| tinued uninterrupteoly during the
torrid heat of that season, and still goes on
without intermission. 1t would perhaps be
no exaggeration to say that the commission
is the hardest working body at the capital.
1t has not only to gather data and prepare
tariff rates, but 70 attend to heavy CORE
spondence growing out OF the rates prolnui-
gated, issue circulars explanatory of those
rates, attend to the complaints of traffic
men on the one hand and of shippers on the
| other, and give audience daily to visitors
continually dropping IL for one purpose or
another. Its duties are multifarious and to
some extent complex. 1t has proceeded
slowly and with deliberation in the reor-
ganization of freight rates, which work is
gradually
NEARING A CONCLUSION.
1t began two months after organizing
with the fixing of rates on a few of the
leading commodities, the hauling of which
constituted the principal part of the local
traffic within state lines. The first tariff,
promulgated August -, was that on grain,
-four meal and all the produ cts of grain,
salt and hay, in carloads. 1t became effect
i've September 9, and can be said to have
given general satisfaction. The commits
sion figures out a reduction from the pub
liShed rates of the roads on these commodi-
ties of 10 to 80 per cent. Complaints were
made by the roads, by some stronger than
others, that the tariff was too low. but all
of them put it into effect and have been OPP
Grating under it ever since. Shippers are
well pleased with it, and the commission is
reliably informed that under the wholesome
influence of the grain tariff more corn is be-
ing shipped than ever before from the
western prairie region to East Texas, and
there exchanged for lumber, and that every
-four mill in the state is running full time.
A second grain tariff on less than car
loads went INTO effect October 81, but was
set aside by another issued a few days later
revising and altering the conditions of it.
This was commodity tariff No. s. ana be-
came effective October 81. Shippers have
got these two tariffs-that is, tariff No. l
on grain, etc, in carloads-confused with
tariff No. ON the same articles in less than
carloads. The difference between the two
IS VERY CONSIDERABLE.
Commodity tariff No. 2 on cotton became
effective September IA. This was SUISSE
quently cancelled by tariff No. 6. which
added conditions respecting the COMPRISING
of cotton, and went into effect October IL.
The COMPRISING feature has produced some
friction and misunderstanding. 1t has so
complicated the question of cotton rates as
to make it difficult for the commission to
regulate the rates on compressed and IN
compressed cotton so as 10 leave no loop
hole for traffic manager to crawl through
and defeat the purpose of the commission.
Several rulings have been made with that
end in view, and still the effort has not been
wholly successful. The commissions esti-
mate of the reduction effected in the cotton
tariff is 80 cents bale. In some instances
it is more, and in others less, but that is
thought to be a fair general average. The
~ ic nf them
putting it at 81 a bale, but that is probably
an exaggeration. That the commissions
estimate is nearer accuracy than that of the
railroad men may be gathered from the
action of the latter when they met some
time ago and ordered reduction of 10 cents
hundred, or so cents bale, on all cotton
handled by them and destined TO points be-
yond the state. This reduction of 80 cents
bale in the interstate rate was intended TO
meet the cut made oy the commission on
local rates, and may be taken as
A FAIR CRITERION OF 1T.
So that whatever they may say in general
way of greater reduction, their own ac-
ton in meeting it outside of the state seems
to be sufficient answer to the statements
of the railroad people
Tariff No. 3 on lumber. laths and shingles
went into effect September %. The reduc-
ton effected by this tariff from the pub
llshed rates is put by the commission at 20
per cent anu ny bue fOduS d bFlllt Of
about % per cent. This tariff went into op-
Grafton with little or no trouble, subsequent
notifications and rulings removing what
ever cause of complaint certain shippers
may have had. As far as known, it is
working smoothly and satisfactorily.
Tariff No. fixed the rates on cotton seed
and its products, and went into operation
smoothly enough on October 5.
Nc. was tariff on wood, coal and COKE
which was subsequently cancelled by No g.
which lowered the rate on long-diStance
hauls of coal.
The last commodity tariff issued was No.
10. on brick, stone ard sand, effective No
vember Is. This about concludes the list
of commodity tariffs to be issued, with the
possible exception of one on fence posts,
and another on pig iron. After these will
come
THE GENERAL MERCHANDISE TARIFF
for which the commission is now preparing
data. This will not be as big thing as
some may imagine, for very large, and
perhaps the largest, portion OF the traffic in
general merchandise Is interstate, and be-
yond the Jurisdiction Of the commission.
1t is not the intention of the commission to
make any very appreciate reduction in the
general merchandise tariff, the rates being
considered already reasonable as rule.
The chief advantage of the merchandise
tariff viii be its uniformity and stability,
to favorites, and so forth. 1t should not be
forgotten that the estimated reductions
effected by the commissions commodity
tariffs mentioned above are those below the
published rates of the reads, and not the
rates actually received by the railway COM
panies, which in a great many instances
are much below their published rates
There is often quite a difference between
the published and the actual rates, the
former being sometimes misleading, and
the latter not easily got at because of their
secrecy.
The blanks prepared by the interstate
commission and sent to the railway people
by the Texas commission some weeks ago
have been.
NEARLY ALI. FILLED OUT
as desired, and returned. They show the
financial condition of the roads, their in
debtedness and general condition and SO
forth. Similar blanks have been prepared
by the Texas commission, as required by
section II of the act creating that body.
These blanks were sent to the owners of
the roads-not to the general freight agents,
but to NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ten days ago to
be filed out. In filling these blanks the rail
way companies will state under oath the
amount Of money expended per mile in the
construction and equipment OF each road in
the state, the cost of right of way OF each
and the amount necessary to reconstruct
roadbed track and replace all the depots
and other properties OF each road.
They will also state what their outstand-
ing bonds, debentures and Indebtedness,
when issued, the rate of interest, when due,
for what purposes issued, how used, to