The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-07

- cos', salt' cotton piece goods, sugar
ard tnoIassss. tropical frui,s, iron arti lies
~ iu.niture. and showing the prorort lo,,
o. me through rates received by the Texas
hnes Tor the transportation CT SAID arJ,lss
-; what is the volume Of tao business
o. iexss moved wholly within the limits
OF the state. aud what Il thu volume az
interstate traffic originating at or term
.nauhg az points in thu State. or psssi <
30, 1896. ''"' ''"s
l. To what extent, II at al. are Texas
INES, forming parts Of interstate systems,
oeing used to foster the intcrest Of the
systems by imposing undue burden, upon
SUCH Texas lines. and how far, II at ali.
DIVISIONS are made between such Texsv
Ines and their associated o. affiliated lines.
WHEREBY the revenues OF the Tcxas lin, q
are diverted and made TO inure 10 the
neneht OF the systems to whi,h they b..
long. and made TO produce the appearance
mat the Texas lines are carning Less thsn
they actually aree
y. What are the divisions Ct Interstate
rates between Texas lines and their con.
hections upon all articles carried?
?. To what extent has the Southwestern
iranic association or the board OF admin.
istraticn OF tho Southwestern Traffic rs-
soclation been given by the carriers mem
bers OF that association. Jurisdiction. or
mas 1t assumed jurisdiction Of rates ap-
plying on Interstate freights originating
at or destined to points within the State
OF Toxas7
10 To what extent has the Southwestern
lraNic association or the boird OF admin
istration OF the Southwestern Traffic as.
hocletion been given by the carriers, men,
ners OF that association. Jurisdiction, or
mas II assumed Jurisdiction o. rates opply-
'hg wholly within the State OF Tcxas7
j. What effect has the Jurisdiction, con
| Icrftd GlDn tho Cnntbt IL
sociatien or the board Of administration
al the Southwestern Traffic ass ciation. or
assumed by such association or beard, had
IN preventing cutting rates and mafing
determinations, In maintaining the stabil.
ity of rates, In depriving traffic managers
and general freight agents OF the free ex-
erclse OF their judgment In the establish.
ment OF Interstate rates and in conseating
TO proposed State rates? And what has
been the effect OF the acts OF the South
western Traffic association or its board
o, administration in respect tn fair and
equitable adjustment OF interstate rates
to State rates and the according of justice
1 To the producers. manufacturers, mor-
chants and consumers OF Texas7
| II. To what extent has the adjustment OF
| June l. 1895. OF Interstate rates, whereby
| upon forty articles the difference between
carload and less than carload rates r. m
outside markets to Texas poiuts vas Will
cnod been observed by the tines par y
10 the adjustment. or by tho Southwcs crn
Traffic Association or its board of admins
tration? Is it not true that as to hfteon
of the forty articles. the adjustment i.,:-
been dlsregarded so that. as 10 those ar
ticlos. the difference between carload a u
less than carload rates from outside mar
/ Ects TO Texas points has been narrowed
since said adjustment? and what justiiica-
ton is there FOR such ac,ion?
| Shpull not tlpTp lg 4 larger list or
articles than exists with widened dift
onces between interstate carload AID less
than carload rates. II so, what articles
should be embraced?
H. To what extent. II at AL. arc rehat's
given uron interstate and stlte shipmcn's
by the Texas lines. and what effect has tha
giving OF such rebates upon the reNend
of the Lies?
| John II. Rongau
Chairman.
l.. J. storey,
y. a Stedman.
Commssi lners.
Hon. John II. Reagan, Chairman Austin
Texas
Dear sir: Answering the questions IN
circular 3s7. issued by the railroad COM
mission Of Texas ON October 3. 1880, "e beg
TO submit tho following replies
]. Tho existing freight rates applying
within the state are not just ana reason
| able. as they Nff LOO iON VIVA ~ NN''N
source OF revenue to yield sufficient rev nut
10 meet the cost OF operation the cost ol
| niaiptaining the property and equipment ol
these companies at a standard NECESSARY
for safe aud economical oporaion To ihcci
obligations incurred in providing 'tcllut'
to perform the service required ny tue run
lie: and to provide for payment OF iAe'
charges and a reasonable interest to iht
owners or stockholders 20 whicn they arc
justly entitled ,.,
The different circumstances nraat Nnlcl
present rates would not he 10 loW Woni
be- those OF a largely ilr:cisri ropn'nl"I
and traffic, the expectation ~ WHitn Is Sc
far distant that same ought not 20 he con
lsidcrtd IN fixing rates iur ne praseM.
Under existing circumstances. ne Wcll a
under any normal conditions that have o.
any time heretofore pre- AIDED D. That ar'
likoly to hereafter prevail. the rates are
ana have been too low.
During periods Of deprcss!ou ti'esc en-
cared In other classes oi buslross have tbs
uenns 81 reducing their cEpeni3s Of opera
alton ard maintenance. while inilroad'
must, at great expense. 9ro'iic facilities tI
properly and satisfactorily h1rd'c Ill th'
traffic offered to them, which facilities Tr'
idle during periods of 'n3.NilY. but mus
be maintained at as great expense. Tor 1t II
an established fact that they ietcrlorato a'
RAPIDLY. II not more so, while Idle rs ~hci
in constant use. The wood and metal II
cars aud engines are more durable Indti
use than when not used; ana I h%s been
demonstrated that the cost Of maintaining
Imam lines and side tracks. per ton. is inucl
greater under light than under heavy trai'
flc
Railroads under existing general dpres.
sion have lost 10 tonnage. THIS loss, 1dded
TO the losses they have sustained and nov
sustain on account Of reduced rates made
by the commission, make their losses lgeot-
or than hat suffered by othes business IN
tercsts OF the state.
Statements showing earnings, exl ones.
and nxod charges Of each road separl.sly
viii lee presented.
. The rates applying within the Suite
of Texas should be increased On The fellow
ing articles: General clnss rates. cotton
cotten seed products, grain. grain PRODUCTS
live stock coal and Ignite, sand. stone.
brick. cord wood, lime, packing house lrod-
,uc,s, salt, canned goods and fence posts.
And the following articles In less than cfi
load lots. Agricultural implements. firm
wagcns baking powder candy. maohinGY
engines and boilers cotton IN inachine.y
crackers, cagned goods. beams, columns ANA
Orders. rlvets, nuts and bolts. washers. hsy