Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-03-06

testimony. he cited druggist VINO ~
first was opposed to the commission, but
who now said that his trade would be ma
terially injured by the Adjustment OF the
! commission.
On the north side of town is the greatest
manufacturing industry in Texas Ask
John r. Roxie of the packery, and he viii
tell you that he would rather give 500, 900
than have the commission law repealed.
The Wood harvester company have placed
| their headquarters here on faith in the COM
nilsson and would withdraw it but for the
commission.
If there is any place in Texas that ought
to be solidly for q commission it IS Fort
Worth, an interior railroad point.
Analysis-Mr. Ball was probably IN
| aware when making these assertions that
the Texas railway commission law pro-
vides, that from the cate the act became
effective not rate then in force could be
changed except upon authority of the COM
mission under due process as provided in
the act, and that the rates now in effect on
every commodity, and article enumerated
above are the same as they were prior to
the law going INTO effect. What is tho
logical conclusion then between Mr.. Balls
statements, and the conditions as they eXiStl
IL is shown by Mr.. Ball himself that
prior to the commission law going into
effect the cracker and candy factory was
receiving protection from the railroads
the value of their stock, and that they
would cheerfully make this sacrifice rather
than abandon the mythical protection
afforded them in the commission which up
to date has never afforded them penny of
protection.
We ind further that the brewery under
exactly similar circumstances in regard to
the commission and rates is shipping its
products all over Texas, and into other
states and Mexico, and all this under pro-
lection rates afforded by the railroads pre-
vious TO the commission law going into
effect, and yet without the commission 1t
would come to standstill Mr.. Ball argues
that logic was granted US from which to
draw conclusions opposite from those ar
rived at by logical investis ations of condi-
tons.
The maltery not having commenced OPP
erations yet, am unable to speak for them.
/ believe, however, the gentlemen con-
rected with il will be glad to state the rail-
road officials whom they interviewed
showered upon them every courtesy and
gave them every possible encouragement TO
induce them TO locate their plant with US,
and that the question of commission cut no
figure in their decision to build their works.
If l am wrong in this belief, l sincerely
trust the gentlemen themselves will take
occasion to publicly state so through the
press. as 1 would neither do them or Mr..
Ball an intentional injustice.
The iron works confronts US with an
anomalous condition of affairs. As regards
the commission and rates, they are in the
same happy protection tide as the cracker
factory and brewery Afforded by the rail-
roads, and not by the commission. We are
told that the railroads are the blessing
evidently in disguise) which enables the
iron works to add $50, 900 to their capital to
manufacture car wheels for them, and that
vet mot one cent more would be put into
the plant were it not for the commission"
II am not mistaken, this euterprlslng con-
Germ had very largely increased its original
capital prior to the passage OF the comnlS-
sion law, and largely incident to railroad
patronage. This statement regarding the
iron works certainly evidences that instead
of the railroads trying to strange nome
manufactures they sustain them by their
patronage, and that the railroads and not
the commission are the benefactors.
The wall of a large body of the lumber
men to the commission, given through the
press, complaining of the commissions ad-
justment, not the railroads adjustment of
retes has hardly died out of public memory
before the people are told that here the
commission has made happy family.
We find the packery also in full swim IN
the protection tide afforded by the rail-
ways to the cracker and candy factory, the
brewery and the iron works, the commits
sion up to date not having made rate
touching their product, and yet Mr. HoXle,
its principal owner, will tell Us he would
give 100000 sooner than nave the commits
sion law repealed. 1t must indeed be
qualification to the railroads to know the
protection they have afforded MIR. HoXie
has enabled his packery TO make this much
money to give away 70 insure its contlnu-
ance. l can almost see Mr.. Hoxie smile
when he reads this about the railway com
mission and the protection it affords him.
The logical conclusions from Mr.. Balls
argument that no additional protection was
or is needed by any of these home indus
tries is invincible and l shall not endeavor
to refute it. 1t would be almost contrary
to human nature to presume the gentlemen
financially interested in these enterprises
would not be willing to receive still further
additional protection from the commission
to that already given by the railroads, but
under what law of equity can the commits
sion accord such projections Unfortu-
nately they are not required to consult
equity in their measures. -
Mr.. Ball presents figures, furnished hF
the auditor of the commission, which shows
the following results:
The International and Great Norfhern
railway, the Galveston, Houston ana Hen
derson railway, the St Louis Soul west-
ern and Tyler Southeastern railway, and
the Houston and Texas Central railway
Gross earnings July 80, 1890, to
November 30, 1890, months. 81, 575, $50 As
Gross earnings July 80, 1891, to
November 30, 1891, 3 months. ASA 257 10
Increase, 1891 ..................S 26S,s67 62
Total number of loads hauled July
l to November go 1890. ........... 400, 474a
Total number of loads hauled July
to November 80, 1891. ........... 442.910