The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-02-22
WHARF COMPANY RATES.
Rsilroad Commission Will Arrange
the Schedule.
EVERY ROAD IN TEXAS INTERESTED
Large Number Of Railroad and TRAIT
NO Men win Appear Before the
Commission 0n the Question.

cided that 1t has Jurisdiction over the Gal
weston Wharf Company railway the rail
road commission viii, on Tuesday. Fchru
ary 30, take up and consider for the pur-
pose OF establishing the same schedul,
Of rates and charges TO apply on all kinds
Of freight to DO transported over the tracks
owned by said railway. Every railroad IL
Texas OF any consequence being more cl
less interested In this proposition. it goes
without saying that quite an array Of traf-
fic men az well as representatives OF the
different railway legal departments will
represent on the date specified. And as all
shippers, large and small. as we'll as i'm
porters In the State. Will he Affected b. any
thing that may be done in the promises. IL
10 not at all improbable tina; many per-
sons not concerned directly ia the trans
portation business will also be on hand.
The proposed meeting for the purpose
Indicated above Is the outcome OF dis
agreement between w. l.. Moody 4; Co. and
the lines terminating at Galveston, on the
subject of traolage charges over the Wharf
company'g tracks, Moody d Co. alleging
that they are required to pay for haul
OF few hundred feet an excessive. exhor-
bitnt and unjust amount.
In pleading to the Jurisdiction of the
railroad commission the Wharf company
stood upon the proposition that IL owns
and operates a belt line such as Is ex-
empted ny statute from commission regu
Iation. great deal of testimony, expert
and otherwise. WAS introduced both IN sup
port aud In conformation OF the Wharf
company's contention. the only effect OF
which was to demonstrate that the term
belt line" Is very iudclniie and that many
diiferent and conflicting constructions are
placed upon 1t in railroad circles. Two OF
the commissioners. Messrs. Storey and
Mayfeld. agreed that the Wharf company |
railway was such an Institution as tho reg |
ulatiOn OF by the commission WAS c0ntem- |
plated by the act creating that tody. while |
the third commissioner Judge Reagan. |
thought otherwise. his OPINION helug based
mainly upon the proportion that the grant
of authority 20 operate railway ~ he
Wharf company act is technically nncoG
stitutional Messrs. Mgyhtil AaA storey
reached their conclusions by different
routfs. and It may be- said Ia truth that
the testimony taken az the hearing on the
ques ion OF jurisdiction had oIt al indirect
effect upon either % the commissioners ia
the rendering Of their opinions,
STRIPPED Of side issues Aal reduced TO
frs, principles. tho question at issue Is
simple cuaugh Tho Wharf c1mrang owns
a line .! EuiiHdN NnlhA " NDkltAA~ iA}if A4Ha
less than a transfer track 10 enable the
lines terminating AZ Calvesiou TO reach
the waters edge BE- owns TO rolling stock
aud does not operate It's railway. bur sells
the privilege Of running over it for charge
Of 81 for every loaded car Transferred there
along. collecting said Charge directly from
the railroads.
Said railway interests no other line
neither is il used for the purpose Of az
fording railways means Of exchanging
cars with one another Incidentally Il
enables said railways 10 reach such ~
lusiries as may BE- located along its
line.
The point for the commission to deter
mine Is whether any attempt to collect
rom shipper or consignoo the amount paid
cr the privilege Of running over the wharf
'ompany's tracks is not equivalent 10 OK
'eeiing It's tariffs AMI therefore an over
'harge The question oi discrimination
nay also develop during the coming hear
ny, as Il Is understood that Moody d Co
vlil contend and undertake 10 prove that
While tracknge Is sought To BE- collected
rom them It Ia RENTED for oihegs
The claim Is that thu railroads. without
good reason. make 4 distinction hetNecn ,
export" and local" shipments taking
raokago upon the latter and letting tho ,
orner 20 free. Cotton consigned 20 ware
Iousos owned or leased by shin brokers Ia ,
Vhsiutfeu export cotton. although on ! =
many oocaaious receiptet for 10 the namci
4 hctiious shin and held a. long as
hroe months at the option II the sonsigrorl ,
" tho consgneo. as the case may b. WHY I.
oiton so held should be given the adj :
antage over cation shipped In on iocai
ILLS " lading for delivery 70 thelr nress
n The wharf is wha, Moody f. co. want 10
now In other words they can no, Under
tana why cotton delivered 10 n ship broker 9
e'E1iDr nf theirs q n mrs fi.H a Z d,
~ ~ lading l0o feet beyond their rress
Mould 70 scott freq Of trachags while cot !
on consigned TO them must pay zAld track !
70. :