The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-02-16
EXPORT COTTON RATE
Proceedings Of the Second Da- s
Session at Austin.
BROKERS DIsREGARDtD THE TARIFFS.
Southern Pacific Practically Acquit-
ted Of Discrimination.
QUESTION EASY or SOLUTION.
Demand for Hooks withdrawn nv
Both sides--iR responsibility for the
S1.Oa Cotton Rate Admitted.
QUESTION EASY or SOLUTION.


thine association, which was made the basis
OF the application for an emergency rate
OF "a cents on cotton from common points
to Galveston which the commission has
peen considering for two days. AT the
conclusion of this evenings sitting the
Galveston ship brokers announced that as
the Southern Pacific representatives had
admitted on the stand that they accepted
divisions of the through rate on foreign
shipments of cotton via New Orlean !,
which amounted to less than the local rate
to Houston, they were satisfied, and would
books IL its representatives would withdraw
their demand for the production OF the
brokers' books.
This the latter agreed to do II the all
rail lines would admit that they were re-
sponsible for the 81 .04-rate to Liverpool.
which had caused the row. The admission
was made which, taken in connection with
the proving OF the fact that the ship brok-
ers had made contracts at lower rates than
they published, acquitted the Southern Pa
citic of the charge OF discriminating against
Galveston and stripped the question at is
sue of the sensational trimmings with
which 1t was burdened at the outset.
There is nothing left of it now but the
undenied proposition that the lines in
volved do not get full local rates on foreign
shipments upon the established principle
that through rates are made less than the
- .
export freight.
Thus simplifed, the question is easy of
solution and it is not difficult to guess
what disposition will be made OF it.
Austin, Texas, February 15.-Hearing OF
the application of the Galveston Maritime
association for an emergency rate of 81
cents on cotton from common point terri
tory to Galveston having been resumed be-
fore the railroad commission this morning,
Mr.. Jens Moller raised question as to the
commissions authority to inquire into the
water rates After short consultation the
commissioners decided to overrule Mr.. Mol
lcr's objection, and that gentleman took
the stand for the purpose of correcting a
few arrors he had made in dates in testl-
flying yesterday to certain agreements en-
tered into last fail between the railroads
and the Galveston ship brokers' 10 mantain
rates. During the short period of this
agreement he testified. all the rail lines
except the Southern Pacific booked cotton
via Galveston at the agreed rates, He also
filed with the commission certain data
with regard 10 the cotton business of the
Tort Of Galveston during the months OF NO
vembcr and December 1891 This data,
he said had been gathered from his books.
end was partly based upon information re-
ceiyed from the interior. Mr.. Lovett OBJ
lected to the filing, on the ground that Mr.,
Moller's books are the best evidence of the
matters he wished TO furnish evidence
about.
Replying to Commissioner Mayfield, MIR.
Moler said that he did not see how the
lis jurisdiction does not extend over water
rates.
Replying to Mr.. Perkins he insisted that
the ship brokers' always quoted bona ilde
rates 10 the Santa Fe the international ana
Great Northern and the Katy. Had refused
This year to quote rates TO the Southern Pa
cific That line did not want 10 send OUT
cotton via Galveston.
( When questioned by Mr.. Loyett he denied
that it was to his interest to queue hlsh
rates 10 tho Southern Pacific in order 10
make the combination out VIA other ports
high and elevate the combination via Cal
weston. He Had generally avoided adoting
a ltr,ag IN stated
daVs. hut had abstained from quoting at all
to certain lines. He did not know that
quoting a rate to a Houston man with
twenty DAYS to fill. affected rates from
common points. yet he thought Il possipie
that in that length OF time cotton might Dc
brought in from the interior and worked
off on Houston spot cotton.
Ar this stage of The examination Mt.
Loyett filed as evidence n letter from MT.
Moller and a telegram from Mr.. Wilsen
aaent OF one of the Galveston steamship
lines. tending TO show that at the Tint the
Southern Pacific was alleged to have vio-
lated the agreement With me 'aiVestoii
shin brokers last fall those brokers We're
signing contracts at tho same rates as those
offered by the railroad,
4s At the request OF Mr.. Lovett subpoena
was issued for Mr., Moller requiring him 20
produce his books showing his BOOKINGS
and contracts with shippers.
When questioned Nbv MI Denison NJ.
Moller testified that he never attempted 10
interfere with the routing OF cotton for the
movement of which to the continent he took
contracts.
Replying to Commissioner Maytlcld he
said he could not give the percentage. nf the
cotton concentrated in Houston which went
to New orleans and Galveston respectively.
The Houston buyers do not discriminate
against Galveston In the matter o. ship
ments. Everything being even, Galveston
gets their cotton.
When questioned again BY Mr. Lovett.
Mr.. Mnller admitted thar in some instances
the Houston and Texas Central had taken
up his contracts where his quotations 70
shippers were less than to the railroad, and
,ild not deny that spot cotton from late-
making standpoint was becoming With time
more and more OF dream at Houston
Whom questioned by MIR. Bein. Mr. MOL.
Ter agreed that that gentleman had refused
to be party 10 any contract for the pans
narration OF cotton in which the true rate
was not expressed at the time the gree
mcnt MS TO the rates was made last fall BY
the railroads and brokers and that he'gaye
~ III reason for withdrawals from the