The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-01-30
(From Fridays daily

The commission and railroad case took
up all of Judge Morris time yesterday,
the forenoon being consumed reading
dispositions. During the afternoon SEES
sion several witnesses were examined,
among them Mr.. G. +. Carter, an eXpe-
ricnccd cotton buyer and compress man,
interested in compress at Dallas and
one at Weatherford. Question as to de-
lays of cotton at congresses by the
State, he said they were always the re-
suit of lack of rolling stock and the fault
not with the railroads. The mere com
pressing of cotton caused no serious de-
lay. Blockades of cotton at interior
presses were always the result of the lack
of rolling stock.
He testified that congresses paid all
charges for loading and unloading cot
ton and for switching of cars and paid
all insurance. He stated that compress
ing the cotton permitted more than
double the quantity being loaded into a
bOXcar.
Insurance on cotton shipped on open
natcars was much higher than when
shipped in boxcars. He had seen train
loads of cotton on flatcars being wet
down at stations on the line of the ii. 4
Il. G. to lessen the danger of fire. He
thought such cotton reached the ports
in worse condition than cotton shipped
in boXcars, rs the wet cotton collected
cinders and SCOT and reached its destina-
ton very dirty. He testified as to the
number of presses tributary to the III. u
Y. G. railroad and as to the losses by fire
along the railroad, which he stated were
very seldom and did not reach large sums.
He testified that he had more claims
for damage to cotton shipped over the
Central than over other roads.
Asked by Mr.. Lovett if, in his opinion,
the abolition of the commission rules
and regulations would not benefit ship
pers and the railroads and all congresses
except the inferior ones, he said he did
not. | can not see how shippers and the
railroads would be benefited.
Asked if he didn't believe the abolition
of the rules would not benefit the III. II
II. G. and shippers he said: Il cant see
how the road would be benefited unless
it intends to help somebody"
To question by the State he stated
that: II believe if the rules and regula-
tons of the commission were enforced
and the people adjusted themselves to
them it would be better for all hands"
He was questioned at length on the
capacity and efficiency of interior presses
by Mr.. Lovett. especially those ut Nc
Kinney, Calvert, Corsicana and Austin,
the object being to show that they were
insufficient and did not do satisfactory
work, and often caused delays.
Mr., Nuesome, of the Mckinney COM
press, testified as to the efficiency and ca
pacity of his compress and said he had
no complaint about its work. He testl-
fed along the same lines followed by Mr..
Carter, and from some contest that came
up between the able attorneys and ques-
tons asked it was impressed upon those
in the court room that the interior cot
ton presses are taking a big dish in the
proceedings. Indeed, one not acquaint-
| ed with the style of the case, after hear,
ing the contest for Il few minutes would
inevitably conclude it is a fight between
the interior congresses and the railroads
and not fight between the commission
and the railroads.
The case will be taken up again today.