The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-07-06
RATE WAR RUMBLlNGS.
Railroads May Whip the Ste ms hip
Lines Into Submission.
CAN NOT AFFORD TO LET EN- FIGHT.
Decentralization of Tariffs Nav No
Prevented by Forcing Warning
Elements to Prepay Ercights.

galveston. Texas, July b.--Commercial
Agent Christian of the Southern Pacific
returned TO Galveston this morning from
a trip to the interior. on his arrival here
he found telegram from New York ad-
wishing him that the Morgan line and
| southern Pacific would make the same
rates from New York TO Galveston as these
announced by the Mallory people. These
rates become effective tomorrow. Fur
ther than this statement Mr.. Christian de-
clined TO discuss the matter.
Railroad people declined to discuss the
situation one way or another They are up
tree. tall tree, and thcy know 1t. The
situation is so serious that they are ex-
tremely cautious as to what they say about
1t for fear OF aggravating the condition
which confronts them. One thing appears
noticeable. The railways SO far as can
be Judged from the outside, are a unit in
opposition to the threatened demoraliza
tion, and they will refuse TO be drawn
into the maelstrom Just as long as posi-.
Bile. The unanimty of this opposition TO
the position taken by the Mallory people
may result in checking the war before
even one more little sltirmish is fought.
There is no doubt that railway men are
feeling one another just as rapidly as they
can. and until the Interchange OF views.
which is now going on, is completed. the
railroad managers VIII not be apt To do
very much talking out In meeting.
The situation is not so hopeless as might
DO supposed at first glance The railways
nave much at stake in this matter. Their
interests are common and What affects one
limo will equally affect all That being
the case, 1t s among the possibilities that
oNertures looking 10 pence between tho
warning steamship people may be backed
up with such force az 10 bring thom 10
terms and prevent the decentralization now
Threatened such overtures are now beng
made, so IT is understood vi will be made
before the fight goes any further. In this
connection the railways are not without a
large and substantial club which they |
may use in case diplomacy fails TO do thn
work in hand. For instance. should the |
railways decline to receive freight from |
the steamship people unless the fun local !
tariff from Galveston is prepaid the steam
ship people would be up a tall, tall tree |
themselves, 1t is not known that any
thing of this kind Will be attempted, but
1t might be done In tho meantime cooler
councillors are at work to find way
out of the wilderness.
lines from 81. Louis Chicago. Kansas City
and other Western 1obbng points viii an
lounce any open cuts in the existing rates
until the situation Is thoroughly threshed
,ut and every effort to stave OF fight
shall have failed. 1t is admitted that they
Nil protect their patrons, and 1t is also
admitted that just so soon as they slash
he intcrstate rate the Texas commission
Sill lay the ak heavily upAn the Texas rate
between Texas jobblng points and Texas
common points.
This being the case, the utmost caution
s being used, and il may be IA day or two
,efore the railways give away their hand
me way or the other.
Just at this time the railway men are all
leplorng the fact that they have no
trong association through which 10 treat
he refractory steamship people. An as
ociation with full powers 10 Lyeak for
nd bind all the roads could prevent de- |
astating and demoralizing rate war at
his time, n traffic man declared this
morning, He further remarked that II the
'eoplc of Texas have to pay the freight
n tho fight now promised they viii have
themselves and their laws 10 thank for II.
Al tho Mallory line office today Traffic
ianager Bartholomew was busy. as usual |
n spite Of the Fourth of July holiday. He
ad no news to impart. further than that
ho rates announced from New York to
galveston will apply from Galveston to
,ew York.
Mr. Bartholomew declined to state what
ction the railways had taken on the mat
er Of the reductions already announced
Mr.. Dan Ripley. agent of the Lone Star
ne. said there was no new developments
4 the situation. His line. he declared. (
t0uld simply meet any rates which its
ompetitors saw 1T to make, and that was
ii there was TO II.