Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-07-11
The Recent Four-Days' Sitting
of the Commission.
RATE SYSTEM NOW IN VOGUE
Is Beyond the Comprehension of Ordinary
Mortals-Sccres of Grievances.
When the Commission Finally Acts it is
Claimed There VIII be d Row, and
the Roads Will Not be the
Only kickers.
Special to the Gazette.

way circles promise to be interesting
| enough. ANY one who had set through the
! four days conference concluded yesterday
| between the railroad commission and the
| general freight agents OF the various Texas
| railroads, and got his brain added in the
vain effort TO grapple the freight-rate sys-
| ten now in vogue, could see that: and that
| is about all he could see OF understand. The
| man not posted in freight rates, or not an
expert in such matters, who could sit
through the sessions and obtain from the
multitudinOuS statements, explanations,
collequieS and arguments made, q reason
ably clear and comprehensive idea of the
freight-rate system in its protean form, and
ALMOST INExPLICABLE PHASES.
could make his way through the famous
labyrinth. Stanley'S successful search for
Livingston or the arduous pilgrimage made
for Emin Schnitzler's rescue was as moth
ing compared with the intellectual feat ac-
comphshed III unraveling in four days the
brain-rackiue puzzle presented by the rail
way freight situation in Texas. Perhaps it
is no more confusing here than elsewhere.
But that does not afford much relief TO the
three commissioners, wEo must, one way or
another, get the upper hand Of 1t. If they
Were not all men of clear heads and well
balanced minds, their friends acquainted
with the situation might tremble for them.
This task is no easy one.
When tn ey issued call to the railroad
the question of making rates on cotton,
grain, lumber and salt, heavy commodities
about the rates in which then appeared to
be considerable dissatisfaction. Prompt to
answer the call the traffic men appeared,
and
FOR FOUR DAYS
the qeStinn OF distance on mileage rates,
blanket rates or rates to common points
have been discussed in such way as TO
elicit as much information as possible.
Representatives of the various industries
were present, who stated their grievances,
and attempted to show how the rates given
them were unsatisfactory and discrim-
mating. The traffic men tried to maintain
the fairness of the rates, and We're always
cooked and DriIned with figures and rate
sheets to make good their positions. In the
handling OF figures ana rates, they were as
a rule far more expert than their antago-
nists, and were frequently able to myStify
the latter and middle the situation, although
it appeared to be against them. For exam
pie, salt from Hutchinson, Kan, and Sagi-
nav. Mich, is sold in many Texas points
where one would think the Texas salt works
Of Colorado City and Grand Saline could
better supply the trade. All Texas is G
common point for foreign salt, while tina
Texas salt company is given a mileage rate
There may be nothing wrong in the latter,
but the foreign salt maker Is given
AN UNDUE ADVANTAGE
by virtue Of the rate given him. When the
commission acts, there is going to be a row
1t may not be from the railroads, either, or
less from them than from some fortunate
people who prosper in the sunshine of their
favor Take for example the relations be-
tween the lumber mills of East Texas and
the railroads. The evidence before the
commission showed that they are very init
mate. Lumber men were here arguing for
the existing freight rates on lumber
There is no wonder. BY the favor of the
railroads they are complete masters of the
situation, getting a blanket rate on all lum-
Der sold in the state, and a rate very little,
if any, higher to jefferson City, Mo. To
give them mileage rate would disturb the
present happy and harmonious relations be-
tween themselves and the roads, and give
them corresponding offenSe.
Then there is cotton. II is claimed that
the railroads, or railway officials, own or
the state. No direct effort was made to
bring this circumstance out during the co1fssl
ference, as it bore 10
DIRECT RELATION
TO the rate question, but the impression
was general that such is the case, and that
rival congresses have no more show in
competition with the favored ones. than a
Democrat has for fat Office under Harri- |
son. But these are only single instances of |
visible irregularities. There are a
multitude of others, and all |
grow out of the existing arbitrary system !
Whether it be the pro !
duct of vicious principle, or only per |
version Of the principle; remains for the
commission to solve. That system is the |
group rate or common point system. For
almost every commodity there IS different
or disposition OF groups, and |
the whole presents curious Kaleidoscope |
yttsv to the inquiring mind. Fer through
shipments from the East, the entire state
becomes a single group, or one
common point, just as it is from Kansas
City or Michigan, or the East Texas lum-
Der mills. Under this system, the con-
sumner nearest the shipping point pays a
tate
PAINFULLY OUT OF PROPORTION
to that charged the one at the point of
,arthest distance. The traffic men justify
hat by saying that they order it so in
order to foster and encourage the distant
or consignee, or town.
There is one point wherein the traffic
men and people who ''view with alarm,
my change in the present rate system
infer and that IS where the
after contend that reduction
# local rates Will be followed BY
corresponding increase of the through rates
nto the state. The traffic men maintained
he very opposite, and sOlemnly assured the
that such a reduction would be
ollowed by corresponding reduction in !
through rates. If that We're true, the peo-
re of Texas could view with good deal Of
ompIacency the prospect OF reduced rateSl
N both local and through freight. rs +
aise through rates would have the effect |
# shutting off entirely or diminishing |
realty through freights, and adding iuh |
nensely to the volume of business entering,l
through gulf ports, which would become the |
of he entire state.
IT Is EASY To SER
hat the question presented in the adjust
lent OF rates is very ticklish one. 1t Will |
equire all the prudence and sagacity of ;
he commission to do il so as to |
i've least ofense. But there are
lany other questions with which the COM
Mission has TO deal, and in the settlement
which it will be of immense service to
ne state and to the railroads themselves.
citing independently each for itself, the
lllroads are continually struggling to get ,
ne upper hand of each other. AS one of
Ne traffic men said, they are like so many |
olives. The various practices and devices
esorted to by them to secure an advantage
YER rival lines works damage
other interests and the S
ubiic suffers. The commission
i'll stop that, and project the roads from 7
ich other as well as the shipper from | /
lem; And 1t Is this very circumstance | S
saesenuses the traffic men to regard the | V
mmission with favor to. look to it for a
d, and TO feel far less anxiety about its o
respective action than some of their lacka- C
iisical friends Y
WHO KNOW VERY LITTLE 5
,osSSz1pe situation, and are controlled BY Il
leir fears or their preiudices. It is only C
nth to say that the traffic men were all u
ost favorably impressed with the whole p