The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-10-07
HE GOES INTO DETAILS on SOME
INTERESTING TOPICS RELA-
TIVE THERETO.
THE SITUATION FULLY EXPLAINED
The Galveston Wharf Company, EN-
press and Cotton Rates All
Come in for COnsidcra-
ton by the Judge.

press with an interview as to his recent ac-
ton in the matter of the Galveston Wharf
company and express and cotton rates.
as follows:
First-The charge that he had voted
against putting the Galveston Wharf COM
pany under the control of the commission.
Second-That he voted against putting
the express companies under lower tar
if.
Third-That he voted against a reduc-
ton of the tariff on cotton of 80 cents per
bale.
In his reply to these charges the judge
said:
II have seen those criticisms, and they
have come TO me about simultaneously
from different parts of the state, widely
distant from each other. And this cir
cumstance, and the fact that the charges
and the comments on them are so nearly
alike to each other, induces me to believe
that they have a common source, and are
intended as a concerted attack on my ac-
ton as commissioner, and that they ema-
nate from some one who is familiar with
the business Of the commission"
what have you to say as to the charge
that you voted against putting the Wharf
company under the control of the commits
sion?'
To this he said:
"NO such question had been before the
commission The question submitted to
the commission was as to whether the Gal.
weston Wharf company's railroad was one
over which the commission had jurisdic-
ton.
my answer to that question is contain
cd in the opinion which delivered at the
time, and | hope your newspaper will do
me the favor and the justice, in view of
these criticisms, TO publish it in this con-
nection."
The respondent presents a plea denying
the jurisdiction of this commission in the
matters set forth in cOmplainant's petit
ton. Many witnesses have been exam
ined on this plea, and the question has
been discussed by counsel with marked
ability.
Five main lines of railroad enter the City
of Galveston from the interior of the
state to-wit: The Galveston, Houston
and Henderson Railroad; the Gulf, Colo
RADIO and Santa Fe Railway: the Interna
tional and Great Northern Railroad; the
Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway of
Texas, and the Galveston, La Porte and
Houston Railway. Each of these rail
roads has its own terminal facilities at the
end of its track in Galveston, separate and
distinct from the Wharf company's track.
The international and Great Northern
and the Missouri, Kansas and Texas roads
using the terminal facilities of the Calves
ton, Houston and Henderson Railroad in
. Ia, Of Galveston nv yirt1n Of a
tract between these railroad companies.
The reads above named have their sta
ton building, ticket and freight Offices,
side tracks. turn-outs. switches, turn-ta-
bicS. in fact everything necessary to com
pine their terminal facilities, disconnected
from and Independent of the Wharf COM
pany's road.
BY the act of the legislature of Texas,
passed August 4, 1870, entitled IAN act
to the Galveston Wharf company
the right to make railroad connection with
their wharves and the railroads entering
the City of Galveston" said Wharf COM
pany constructed the track of a railroad
their wharves with the depots
of the railroads which enter the City of
Galveston. This track is some two miles
in length. 1t has no depOts, no ticket or
freight offices, no engines or cars, nothing
which pertains to Il railroad, except this
short track entirely within the City of Gal
weston. 1t was built to facilitate and to
cheaper the transfer of commodities and
between the depots of the sew
aral railroads and the company's wharves,
in pursuance of n wise and judicious poll
ry, and for the benefit of all the commerce
passing through that city.
BY an arrangement between the Wharf
and the railroads they are per-
nitted to run their engines and cars over
he track of the Wharf company, in con-
'ideration of their paying to the Wharf
company one dollar for every car so run
,ver their track. This enables the rail
'oads bringing merchandise from the in
erior of the state to place it directly at
he wharf for shipment. and to receive
merchandise intended for the interior of
he state at the wharves. without incur
ing the expense to the shippers and own |
'rs of the merchandise of separate car
'iage between the depots of the several
and the company's wharves.
This has been Of great value to the COM
nerce of this state by cheapening the
through that city To illustrate the truth
If this statement let us consider the single |
lrticle of cotton. Before the construction
If the Wharf cOmpany's track it cost ten |
'ents a bale. and later eight cents a bale |
o carry it on drays between the depots of |
he railroads and the wharves. Now, by |
he arrangement between the Wharf COM
,any and the railroad companies. if n car |
will carry fifty bales of compressed cot |
on. which is about the number of bales a
ar will carry, it costs two cents a bale, |
md that is not paid by the shipper or own |
n of the cotton, but is paid by the railroad |
So that under this arrange |
nent the cotton from the itnerior of the |
tate is placed Immediately on the wharf. |
eady for shipment, at the rates prescribed |
~ this commission. The highest rate pre-
cribed by it is 1926 for 5O0-pound bale,
md this is what it now costs the owner |
# cotton: whereas before the Wharf COM
'any's track was built and the present |
made here would have been |
dded to this rate the cost of drayage be-
ween the railroad depots and the
vharves mostly ten but part of the time
light cents a bale. So that the rate. with
mt the benefit of the Wharf company's
rack, would be 1886 or 1888 bale.
These facts show that there is no just
eason for the harsh criticisms made
y counsel on the action of
he Wharf company, nor any
It the great dangers we are warned to
,uard the commerce of the state against
" retaining the jurisdiction of this case.
If Mt any time the wharf company
hould attempt to use that corporation
lnjustlv. md TO the injury of the pub
ic or Of individuals. the legislature and
he. courts have ample power to correct