The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-04-04
| ARGUMENTS CLOSED.
Perkins Statement OF the
Railroads Position.
sT,ND NO FURTHER REDUCTION.
-. why Freight Rates Are
In Texas Than In Georgia.
comparison of Expenses.


'lss, An the application of the Fort Wortf
.sps ,.,,,s ,obbers for reduction in com
I'D n !, and manufacturers rates. Judge
vi a, closed for the railroads and Judge
VI u.n closed for the applicants. Ii
Q d ling IN opposition to the application
nlu Perkins, representing the Cotton
sps ,.ilroad. delivered himself as follows
IA erday evening.
N. !, complained by Judge Stedman that
4. Is no principle underlying the forrna-
= AZ rates as promulgated by the rail
eit This is an error. For his benefit and
h tho use of the commission, will tr,
' Eate what understand 10 be the basic
~ ciple.
y Carriers are entitled to be paid a fail
pensation for the services rendered.
means such an amount in the aggre-
|. as will be sufficient to pay operating
lenses, fixed charges and reasonabl,
rest on the capital invested.
\ The public are entitled to reasonable
d s; that Is, the total rates paid by all
shippers must be reasonable in the
II amount There must be no extortion.
system OF rates that would realize an
bunt in the aggregate above what Is
rges ard reasonable interest on the
/ ital Invested would be eNtortionGte. ANY
TEN OF rates that will not realize such
amour. would be unjust and coniisca-
i. Bear in MIND that these principles
|ly to the total amount of all the rates
b for all purposes. Under the present
DRY OF governmental control of common
(riers which has become O fixed principle
modern government tariffs are but an
er name for system OF taxation. Tho
way common carrier Of today works for
public and the only difference In what
collects from other systems of taxation
the one ume-that be is entitled to
e,ve and obtain above operating OK
pses and fixed charges enough to pay u
sonable interest on the capital invested.
ID the government will now undertake to
ermine through Its legally constituted
4 ounals the amount Of ST.. interest.
y erefore 1t becomes necessary In deter
hing what is a just system OF tariff rates
always keep In mind the sum total
llzed. and doing so n railway commits
n having authority to fix rates may reg
lte the distribution of the various bur-
D. to be borne by the public The respon-
N pity. therefore, rests upon this COM
4 ssion 10 say whether or not eny partic-
pr limo OF traffic is bearing a greater
q roen than It should. Taking these prom
iuohs as Foundation, the cities Of Dal-
- tort Worth and San Antonio have
me pelore this commission through their
nous ,obbng interests and made com
amt that the iobbins trade of those cities
bearing an undue portion OF the burdens
railway Traffic, Have they made out
eIr case! 1t is admitted by all the proof
as Mithln radius OF from sixty to
-h'e mics each city can control
~ aaGe On lne principal commodities in
{,,,aa ~ tn,s controversy. 1t Is also ad-
Bn'.eu lHat the Wholesale grocers of Texas
20 from 10 to So per cent of the grocerv
rade OF 'he State. 1t is further admitted
a sa' me lob6er IN hardware does about
&c ssine proportion, and that the jobber
'aDuely' outside of very few lines,
|as 10 very great cause OF complaint. TAX
|is lhis Alone without referring to any
bpsuniony combating their position, are
ny a., not IN reasonably fair condition? !
.hey complain, however, that taking the |
:. !'ad iate IN and adding to IT the less
s t.Ia carload rate out from their respective |
r re-, 'ueg pay greater sum In the ag-
Int. 70 points beyond this sixty mile |
n w.i man IL paid by the jobber from the
a,a G ~ territory on less than a carload
~. HoIe would seem to be some Justice
I .,Ss lopbing trade handles from the
a .s point Of production: otherwise 10
.a me computation correct and the
- Just, the rate paid by the Job
i, outside of the State to get the goods
~, "s house must be added to his less
~. va, ioaa rate 10 common point terri
=. ~. ieAas. IL is admitted by the gentle-
~ VINO nave appeared before this com
, so'Dh mat they have not made their
W. upon this basis and that they
w hiade no allowance for the cost that
outs'ae lobber incurs in getting his
:, rs 'nlo MS house. We insist, therefore.
>, N , .m1s commission must take that ques-
,troversy. 'N''
w ,nv principal trouble now before us u.s.
,ar that the jobbing centers In Texas
-, 'nuh the towns named oppose any
anse IN existing conditions. They hnse
N opposltlon upon the fact that around
n, ~ vne OF these Jobbing points is a GER
I'M 'tS,i'tory naturally tributary to such
,ce w reason OF It's proximity and dis
lad a' mat such points should be con-
il H. suFahtage within that territory.
ia 'ho exact contention that com
s,sn are making against the jobbers
, horo. me state. 1t Is the position that
n a,'a'oiore been taken by this commits
D, ~ 10 the same theory upon which the
4, h91I rates are based. The foundation {
ia "s that the policy should DO to be
d,l ~ numerous small commercial CEN
te -, Tutea NJ different points In the
y oonra Nas' mere are many advant- ,
ths uuency to distribution of wealth !
'I y, hands of tho many as agaInst tho '
10 :" gives employment to more men. The I
=, amount Of CAPITAL enraged Ia ,rada {