Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-01-01
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APPLYING NEW RULE.

Cattlemen are about the first to feel
the enect Of the new pass agreement
for the ensuing year, and for the first
time in the history of their association
win have to go down In their jeans and
FISH up cash for transportation to their
annual convention at san Antonio on
the l4th. 4 telegram was received
here yesterday evening from Chairman
W. W. Kent OF the southwestern pas
senger committee Of st. Louis stating
that all lines had agreed 10 put on a
one fare round trip rate to san An
tonic from and west OF the Missouri
river. and all roads in Texas have
agreed to put on the same rate.
This is u radical departure from the
policy OF the past few years. ana lead
ing cattlcmen do not appear In the
best OF humor in consequence. They
say that 10 other class IN this state
contribute more business to the rail-
ways tnon themselves, and they feel
entitled to moro consideration than n
onc-rare rate. n the precedent Of free
transportation had not been establish
cd by the railways themselves when
there was no general understanding
and the spirit Of competition was a
great deal keener, there would not be
Be- muca room cor complaint
II Is understood that the trausporta-
ton committee OF the state Cattle Rails
er's as citation llbored strenuously with
the railways for more llberality, but
on account Of the general agreement
binding all the lines were only able
10 secure the one-fare rate.
To the credit Of the stoclmen, II
should be said and borne in mind, that
they are among the most liberal OF
men, and there Is not one among them
who objects to paying his own way in
everything that comes along. They
care nothing for the amount Of money
involved, hut they cannot see the ne
c"eaitv which has begotten such hasty
and radical action on the part OF the
r'IiwnNs, after years OF such extreme
liberality.
Railway people say that the free
transportation problem from an humble
beginning has grown to alarming pro-
portions, The Idea that the riglnator
Of business must have free transporta-
tlon had progressed so far ns to almost
create the Impression that passenger
trains were run to maintain and stimu-
ate the freight traffic department. OF
co""se tho general tendency OF this
state Of affairs was to Impair the pas
stnEer revenue of all the lines to such
an extent as TO render the evil great
burden, and this occasloned a general
desire 10 get together and agree upon
somc plan OF protection TO every ar
fected interest, From this mutual de-
sire for aolf-protection there originated
the general agreement that no free
transportation would be Issued by any
line for the purpose Of innuon Ing busl-
ness. This was n long step forward,
and while II appears radical and drastic
in many particulars, yet II simply rep
resenis the first step taken by the rail-
ways In tho correction of what they All
feel has been n great and growing
abuse
The stoclkmeu of Texas have not been
selected as the first victims Of this
vigorous policy OF reformation In the
due course Of human events II seems
they are the FIRST to mako application
for an extension OF past favors. and MS
the lines have already been drawn,
they are the FIRST TO run mp against the
ruling. Railway people have no lnten-
ton or desire to discriminate against
the great stock interests of Texas. and
they could not afford to do so They
have too many interests In common
and there should exist no unklnd feel
ings between them
II the railways have been forced to
those extreme measures as a matter of
self-protectlon, stockmcn Will utter no
further complaint. But at the same
time they must sec and understand
that the new regulations are general
In their applications and involve no
discrimination. Such seems TO be the
case, and perhaps It is best for all in
teresta Mike