The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-08-28

meeting rates put In by q rival line.
1t seems to me that the negotiations
should first he carried on with the Nor
gan line. which originated that scale Of
rates. ! believe. as between the Mallory
and Lone Star lines. the Lone Star can
hold Its own: but the Morgan line. with
its rail and steamship lines into Texas,
mas the advantage OF both. The fight to-
day Is not between the Lone Star aud tho
Mallory lines. but between the Morgan
line ON the one side and the Mallory and
Lone Star lines on the other. think Il
would be proper to approach the Southern
Pacific. which has made these rates. II
might be that they aro willing TO restore
them and that the Mallory line would be
willing to follow suit
Colonel Grcsham---I don't know that I
have the right 20 say so. but nave known
that the Morgan line is willing to restore
their rates the minute the others viii. and
that they will maintain TIE difierential II
they win be permitted 10 do 1t.
II Was finally agreed to appoint COM
mittee Of three merchants TO draft the
address to the merchants OF Texas and the
Southwest generally. Various suggestions
were offered as to how telling blows might
be dealt the Southern Pacific and the NAL
low line. but these ideas, as expressed
were frowned upon.
MIR. Lasker moved to have committee
Amounted TO raise n fund OF from $1,000
10 SouuV 10 soma cuiSsATitS tnTouHuOut inc
Southwest to educate the merchants AZ to
their interests In this matter. There was
much discussion on this subject, and then
MIR. Adouc argued against 1t. lie said
the position seemed to him to be very
plain, Galveston had three lines OF steam
eis, two OF them carrying freight for
cents per 100 pounds, and the other for 3 or
10 cents per 100 pounds. The three lines
were fully able 10 take care OF themselves.
Mr.. Ripley of the Lone Star declares
that II sufficient freight Is given to him
at the present rates to I'LL his boats his
line will continue them indefinitely. All
Texas is lust as much interested as CAL
weston 1t would be imprudent for Gal
weston to try to settle this alone. The
fight is not hers. She is but the gateway.
The thing is to support the Lone star
Fill the Star boats at the Lone Star rates
and give the overplus to the Others That
Is the cheapest and the simplest. The
Mallory and the Southern Pacific are the
only losers. Under tho present rates the
interior towns can compete with st. Louis,
which previously controlled the State as
against Texas jobbers. The Mallory and
Southern Pacific are furnishing the am
munition with which Texas is fighting tie
outside competition. Why should Texas
fight them? Texas is In u very comfort
able position What Galveston should do
Is 10 talk to her local and interior friends
and have them support tho Lone Star line;
the trouble would In time be adjusted ad-
vantageously. The Mallory and the South
ern Pacific were not wealthy enough to
carry freight frse, which was what they
were practically doing with a cent rate
He considered that any interference by
Galveston further than to insure the re-
tention in the field Of the Lone Star line
to be unwisc.
Mr.. Adoue's ideas seemed to meet with
favor. ~ ar
Mr.. Wallis said he understood the mo-
tives Of the Morgan line in putting on the
2 cent rate to be to bring about an adj
tustment through increasing the demorali-
cation. Some Of the gentlemen seemed
10 think the courts should be appealed to-
They considered the cent rate as ma
licious. and madb for the purpose OF run
ming thA Lone Star company out and mo-
nopoiizing the business. They also wanted
the cases OF discrimination against inter
ior towns brought to the attention Of the
interstate commerce commission, but this
was thought TO be unwise, and II was
determined to rest ON the plan outlined
by Mr.. Adoue; give all aid to the Lone
Star so that the boats OF that line will be
filled at the Lone Stars present rates and
then let the warriors fight 1t out to a fin
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