The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-12-30

q rates II would merely sacrifice. TO Z
greater or less degree. the interest of the
all rail lines via Dallas and Fort Worth.
without being Of any benefit to thosa
places; they arc not IN actual competition
with Galveston and Houston, and II Dali
las Fort Worth rates arr reduced there
Will be corresponding reductions to all
common point territory. 1t Is also shown
that the policy OF the railroad commission
OF Tcsas Is to reduce rates within the
state Whenever they are reduced from out
| side points.
Should tho railroads, instead OF reducing
the rates TO Dallns and Fort North, ad-
| vance tho rates to Galveston and Houston.
II would drive such all rail lines wholly
out Of the Galveston- Honst3a business.
aapd while not heneiitinx Dallas and Fort
| Worth would accidentally iniure Galveston
and Houston by depriying them OF the
| choice OF routes. and Indirectly. by Grip
ping tho Missouri, Kansas and Texas,
| the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fc aud the
Houston and Texas Central. which lines
, are peculiarly Interested In building up
| Galveston and Houston,
In the discussion OF the case thus far
the argument continues, "wo have prefer
mittcd the existence or the Atlantic ocean
as factor In tho Chicago and st. Louis
! rates, While II would be hard 10 make a
Dallas man believe II, II Is yet a fact that
cago 20 Galveston without touching land
| at any intermediate point. IL is we'll known
TO the commission that the ratea between
Chicago and New York are controlled by
water transportation. Transportation on
tho great lakes Is ~ cheap that It is al
most marvellous TO read the figures,
Then follow examples Of rates that NAV
be made from Chicago to Galveston via
New York. based upon the testimony Of
Mr.. Dennison, commissioner OF the Calves
ton freight bureau. lut MIR itenke OF
Houston, the combination IN each Instance
being lower than the rate for direct ship
meLt by all rail iiues The testimony was
based upon tho standard ratca of the NAL
Tory line between New York and Calves
ton In effect at the time OF the hearing.
but in this connection tho argument re-
fcrs TO the new Richmond IN the heldtho
Lone Star line OF steamcrs---and says:
Since then. IL Is a matter of history, of
which thas commission should take judicial
notice. that large part Of tho business
east OF tho Mississippi river and north OF
the Ohio river, including Chicago. 10 Texas
points moved via New York aad tho At
lantie and that as n rule the all rail- lines
west OF the Mississippi river have not nn
dertaken to meet this competition the
ratcs being so low that they could not
afford IN participate in the business.
While this situation has lasted several
months, II may bo snid that IT - tcmpor-
airy, yet. II history repeats Itself. the
water rates. New York 10 Galveston, VIII
never he restored after The rate war 10
what they we're before. In amy event tho
present facts exhibit the existence Of tho
Atlantic ocean, connected with the Gull
OF Mexico, ss a condition existing Mt CAL
weston which does not exist ut Dallas
II 10 also shown that Dallas enjoys tho
benefit Of The water competition Mt New
Orleans and Galveston. and the brief cor
cludcs with tho remark that 4, comparison
OF the facts In this case with that OF the
Troy Montgomery case. recently decided
by the supreme court OF the United States.
should convince any Impartial mind that
this Is a much stronger case for departure
from the long aad short haul clause than
that case, and probably than any that has
been presented TO the Interstate commerce
commission.