The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-04-01
DALLAS JoBBERS' WANTS,
Testified on Their Application for
Reduction In Rates.
MR. KEMP MADE A SrA1EMf nj
Small Jobbcrs Would re Hurt hx
Proposed Rates and Wanted 10
he Let Alone.

Austin. Texas. March 3l.-Hearing of the
application OF the Dallas and Fort Worth
loppers for reduction in commodity rates
having been resumed before the railroad
COMMISSION this morning. MIR. Tension. a
Daiias saddlery manufacturer. was placed
on the stand by complainants. Wanted a
4s-cent rate on saddlery and harness and
s2-cent rate on leather for $50 miles.
SAID such ratio was absolutely necessary
10 enable him to do business in COMPETE
ton with st. Louis. Read letters from
customers complaining of present rates and
informing him that they would have to
place their orders out of tho State unless
they were reduced. Leather can be manu-
featured in Texas no said. and there are
first-class tanneries in the State, but they
nave been compelled to close down because
| tho distributing rate Is against them.
In answer to questions by MIR. Sanford Of
Sherman. Mr.. Tension admitted that he
sold goods in the Indian Territory, New
Mexico. Arkansas and Louisiana. and had
the best OF st. Louis in the matter OF rates
In the majority of cases in Sherman ter
ritory.
Mr.. Hughes OF Dallas. manufacturer Of
| 1ellies, groceries, shelf goods. vinegar. etc,
called to the stand, said he wanted dis
tributing rate based on tho difference be-
tween carload and less than carload rates
| from st. Louis TO Texas common points.
| Had advantageous rates to Louisiana and
Indian Territory points, but could not get
| out more than ninety miles in Texas.
Wanted a rate that at $50 miles would put
him on an inequality with st. Louis. Was
not seeking jobbng rates, but manufac
turers' rates. Wanted to be able TO cover
the entire State, but did not ask that any
body be shut out. All he wanted was TO
be on the same footing as the outside in
the matter OF rates a blanket less than
carload rate OF 40 cents on baking powder,
ginger ale, mineral water and vinegar and
a 37-cent rate on cider. tellies and pre-
serves would suit him. Admitted that for
distances under ninety miles from Dallas
he had tho best OF 1t over st. Louis now
and did not think it would be right to de-
prive him of II. The territory was his by
virtue OF location the Same as contiguous
territory was the st. Louis 1obbers He
did not ask to be enabled to invade st.
Louis local territory.
jobbers. having been called away by tele
gram, was given permission to make a
statement before leaving. He asserted that
tho application under discussion was on
posed by 80 per cent OF the jobbers of
Texas. That to grant 1t would In effect
destroy the benefits accruing under the
interstate commerce law. That behind 1t
was scheme to destroy the 1obbers Of the
smaller towns and build up two or three
large jobbing centers. What the people he
represented wanted was to be let alone.
HAD objection to tho manufacturers
rates asked for but though: 1t unreason-
able to grant tho reductions in jobblng
rates suggested. The consumers of his
section are getting goods much cheaper
under present freight conditions than for
merly.
Mr. Duncan of Waco hardware jobber)
was called to the stand and asserted that
under present tariff the hardware men of
his city were limited to territory in
cluded within twenty five miles Of that
point, wanted to be placed on the same
basis as st. Louis on local business.
Adjourned till . p. m.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
At the afternoon session Ennis Munger
of Dallas. manufacturer OF cotton gins,
placed on the stand by compliments. said
he wanted maximum carload rate of "a
cents to apply to all common point terri
tory and maximum less than carload rate
of so cents. Rates on cotton gin machinery
were higher now than before the commits
sion was established because Texas man
ufacturers formerly got uniform rebate
of % per cent. His most formidable COM
petitors were Alabama and Georgia man
ufacturers. AS compared with Alabama |
distributing in Texas. he |
was at a disadvantage of 67 cents If the
tai tnt mi lie
sidered.
MIR. Davis. salesman for Heating lmpre-
ment company, for complainants, testified
that his firm was praying for a maximum
less than carload rate of 40 cents applying
to Texas common point territory. Relieved
that In 1898 while the commission was I'M
der Injunction the railroads gave a special
or reconsisnmeut rate on agricultural i'm
plements distributed from Dallas. said re-
rate amounting In effect be-
yond 1875 miles to the rate he was asking
for now. Outside agricultural implement
houses maintaining branches in Dallas
were parties to the application for reduced
rates under discussion.
Rate Clerk True of the commission,
placed on stand by compliments, said there
was no difference between New York car
Dad and less than carload rates on dry
Goods boots and shoes, etc, TO Texas,
renee no margin for Texas jobbers to
distribute on against New York
Mr. We'll OF Sanger Bros. Dallas, testi-
led that he couldn't do a jobblng business
against ST. Louis at all under present
atos. Thought maximum distributing
-ate of 30 cents would fix the Dallas dry
goods jobber all right to compete with the
outside.
]. NJ. steere, manager of the San Antonio
reight bureau. called TO witness stand by
explained the basis of Fort
Worth Dallas San Antonio application Tor
in rates as being the difference
between carload and average less than car
cad from st. Louis to Texas SAID, San
,ntonio merchants complained that, they
ould not now get out any distance without s
Meeting outside competition. AS general
Proposition. he admitted that Texas cities
oud do no business in the direction OF
It, Louis II the blanket rate system was
one away with. Insisted that railroads
you'd make more money by hauling freight
o San Antonio and then to Yoakum at the
proposed distributing rate than by hauling