The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-07-09
THE COMMISSION AND THE
RAILROADS IN CON-
VENTION.
TWO INTERESTING SESSIONS AT THE
CAPITOL BUILDING YEsTEsDAY.
WHAT WAS DONE.
When the Commission and the Railroads
Meet, Then Comes the Tug of Rates.
Excursion to the Dam and
Banquet Last Night.

III was q mOSG interesting SESSION
which was held in the ante-room of
the legislative halls at the state capitol
yesterday. Some0twenty.five orthirty
railroad officials aud gentlemen rep
resenting the commercial interests of
Galveston and other points, upon in
vitation of the state railway commits.
sion met with them in consultation.
The convention was called to order
at 10 o'clock yesterday morning with
all the members of the commission
present and with representatives of va
rious interests as follows: j. Waldo,
traffic manager, Missouri, Kansas and
Texas; Daniel Ripley general freight
agent, Houston and Texas Central; W.
H. Masters, general freight agent,
Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe;
J. Kirkpatrick, general mana
ger, Southern Pacific; R. s.
Collins, general freight and passenger
agent of the Houston, East and West
Texas; w. F. Groseclose, general
freight agent of the Cotton Belt; Chas.
Dillingham;, receiver of the Houston
and Texas Central; j. B. Bartholomew,
assistant general freight agent of the
International and Great Northern;
L. J. Polk, general freight agent of
the San Antonio and Arkansas Pass; E.
G.. Bleker, general freight agent of the
Galveston, Harrisburg and San An
tonic; E. H. Lovett, of the Texas and
Pacific; Richard Lord, general freight
agent of the Fort Worth and Rio
Grande; G.. H. Turner, of the Texas
and Pacific. There were also present
Hon. Walter Gresham, of Galveston;J.
w. Terry, general attorney for the
Santa Fe system; d. NJ. Ebreich,
prominent wholesale grocer of Calves
ton; E. o. Flood, secretary OF the Gal
weston Freight Bureau and Cotton
Exchange. Geo. B. Walter accompa-
MES the Houston and Texas Central
representatives from Houston to keep
a record of the proceedings.
Chairman Reagan called the session
to order and stated that the commits
sion was charged with the adoption of
classiications and rates Of charges for
the commerce of Texas and he thought
| it but for the interests Of all concerned
that the commission should consult
with those actively engaged in work
ing the roads in order to get all posi-
BILE light. They invited general con
ference and would gladly accept all
information preferred. Information
as to rates on grain, cotton, lumber
and salt, was specially desirable and
he would be pleased to hear from the
gentlemen present. their views on the
present rates and desirable action to
making just and uniform rates on the
articles named.
He also wished to be informed on
rates beyond the state and would be.
glad to learn why cotton is in the first
class in Texas classifcations. Infor-
nation as to the basis of common
rates on mileage basis with percent
age above and below the common
rates. The commission, he intimated,
was hungering for knowledge as to the
great multiplicity Of rates, and han
kered after a single standard rate if it
could be secured. He held it would
be convenient for the roads and a bet
ter protection for the shipper. Group
rates was also a subject on which he
desired to draw the gentlemen out,
also as to the basis on which they
erect, and whether or 10 or Is
rules is best for groups, how
large group can be arranged with
out injustice. He would also be glad
to have definition of common rates
and the reasons for them. He also
desired information as to the practice
which has existed among Texas rail-
roads in making rates of different
roads of varying length SO as to meet
competition. Under the law the COM
mission understand no more should be
charged for short than for a long
haul, except in cases mentioned in the
law, and which, manifestly will infict
harm on no one. The correspondence
of the commission shows that roads
have made rates without reference to
their length, and without touching on
or altering rates between intermediate
points. Chairman Reagan stated these
facts forcibly, and then declared he
wanted to see what could be done to
conform to the laws in the matter re-
ferred to and he stated emphatically
that the commission would have for
its object the securing as far as it can,
justice and equity between shippers,
aiming also to do no harm to the rail
roads, holding they should have fair
profit upon the investment of their
capital. The idea obtained that the
interests of Texas railroads and the
people OF Texas are made subordinate