The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-07-11
THE GREED OF ST. LOUIS.
Business Mems League Still Clamor'
Ing for Advantage.
WOULD CRUSH TEXAS MERCHANTS
Rs,es which would Drive Sobbers GU,
of Buainsss, Except as Brokers.
Dagsiug aud Ties Rates.

sponOsnce) --l.ittla as has been s1,d or IL
hesng done about II. Texas johbcrs have
considerable interest In the complaint
filed with the interstate commerce com
mission by tho business Mems League of
st. Louis against certain railroads that
arc membees OF the Southwestern Traffic
association. to the effect that their less
than carload rates from st. Louis do
fined territory to Texas common point ter
ritory are eNorbltant and dsscr mnatng
The league does not casc so much that tho
less than carload rates are high as 1T does
that the difference between carload and
less than carload rates Is sreat. II II
could secure an advance in carload rates
it would be satisfied with prcsc M less than
carload rates. II 1t wins it's hight in the
lsescnt instance 1t Is suspected that its
next move will he to attempt TO force
an abandonment Of commodity rates. and
II substitution Of class rates therefor In
other words. flushed with its victory, q
w.ll demand that the common point terri
tory system of making rates fpr TcNa. he
discarded by thu Southwestern Traffic as
sociation. wMrh is rquiNHlen. TO asking
that TEXAS ioNbcrs be forced to become
mare agents and brokers and .rdorsers
manufacturers and practically lrohihitcI
from carving stocks Of ga-ds on their
own account
There may be no ground therefor vet
the suspicion is abroad that In picking
out tho Katy. the Iron Mountain. the
Frisco, the Missouti Iacinc and the Cot
ton Belt TO complain Of the league acted
deslrncdly. She companies named are gen
orally known az st. Louis roads" that Is.
more than inclined to give ST. Louis in
terests the best of II. and there is a bare
possibility. as has becn suggested OF their
bang in eolusion with the pialn,ins in
this matter und anxious 10 have the com
p.d.nt made against them stick, even 10
the extent oil quietly furn.shins pointers
t. tim, emf. So far the Santa Pc. II is
mnders' csi. is the only company which
has sieui.ie! it's readiness 10 take up arms
for the Texas iobber In this fight, which,
II Ii should 70 by default. would mean the
delivery Of the Southwest into the hands
of III" - Louis ,cbhrrs and tho nnnih'la-
ton Of local competition.
II has tcen ureeu inai the railroai com
mission .n,orvene IN the case but such
action would. in the opinion of tho~H who
realize what the impending fight means.
b. in manner preiuacial in that !, might
hsp0sG 'hs Sss naT9s most a n 'nIres,
matter In which something moro pro
nounc.d than commission intervention Is
ngSd,a tsd sn n y aSng c ag'@n I'm IN
Texas IS In order and the assistance of
The most expect of trafnc men and the
secured IL it IS desired to successfully re-
siet the efforts of ST Louis no convert
Texas into n pasture for i,s iobbers- to
the exclusion Of home enterprise.
Tlie commission law cxcmpts bel, and
suburban caiways from railroad com
mission supervision. The statutory defni-
,ion Of a suburban railway has I, that
such II railway can run Though ~ inter
sect a city and extend for ten miles he
yond its limits in any direction. Therefore
ii snburban railway might become the tsr-