The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-03-09
4 REPLY TO Mr.. GOODWIN
why the COMMISSIONS Emergency
nate Was Put Into Effect.
REDUCTION ON BAGGlSG AND TIES.
"e''eved by Commissioner sinyaeId
10 Have Bcen Made by the Burcan
In Good Faith.

| 1Nuotin, sIex1ss March ST. The followini
sell explanatory letter was written in repl,
tc telegram from Generil Freight Aronf
eoodwyn OF the Santa Fe, complaining thn,
the COMMISSIONS recent reduction IN ratk.
ior the transportation Of baEgIug and ties
"as without warrant, Us it was based upon
reduction In tie rate from ST. Ions and
other gateways. which, according TO his
statement. is fictitious:
MI. T. II. Goodwin General Freight Agent
Guif. Colorado and SANTA re Railway
company. Galveston, Texas
austin, Texas, March dear Sir: Ex-
plaining, fer your information. the action
OF the commission as indicated by the
terms OF it's circular, No. 800, we beg TO
state that an Associated Press dispatch.
aateo March 2, announced the es-
tablishment by the Southwestern freight
bureau OF the rate of So ceuts per 100
pouncs- to apply from st. Louis TO Texas
common points, on shipments of barging
TOT naiing cotton oud cotton bale ties and
buckles, In straight or mixed carloads, ef :.
feotive March s.
we had ample reason. with which YOU
are probably quite familiar. 10 believe that
ms was positive move on the part OF
the association and that the favoyite figure
beated annoyance for several years past,
had finally become a fixture. The circum-
stances required prompt action on the part
OF the commission, and the order of tho
oath instant was issued accordingly.
III is now stated that the announcement
from St Louis was an error, and tie rate
given out should have been 40 instead OF
10 cents. II such Is the case why should
the rate of 45 cents he announced at cll
us ha ttt,,n - tl,.z.
ment. and has been for some TING past,
the published rate from St Louis Ia Texas
points? The Incident seems to suggest as
a fact that some of the lines leading from
81. Louis to Texas have actually been car-
iying the freight at the rate OF 81 cents,
and thai the consideration of their obi ga
tions to the association was used to .ndurc
them to restore the operation Of tire pub
lished rate. In such ease the action OF the
commission, though late, was again fully
iustifiable.
There was nothing retaliatory in this
proceeding OF the commission The differ
ence of IA cents per 100 pounds ON hagEing
and ties, as between st. Louis and Calves
ton, wt9s long ago established by lite rail-
road companies themselves, and the COM
mission has to The present time been corr
tent 10 recognize it as being reasonable
differential
1t is true The commission WAS guided in
this case by the reported action of the
Southwestern freight bureau. The COM
mission has. as matter of fact. no posi-
tive means OF gaining a prompt knowledge
OF the acts Of the bureau. It. knows In a
general way that the bureau is an organi
zatlon made up of the Texas lines and
that. rs an agency, this bureau dominates
the Texas lines in all matters of policy in
tie business of transportation with the
supreme purpose of sitting the Slightest
inclination ON the part of the members to
engage in the competition THAT should nat
urally exist. Further, the commission has
reason to regard the DEGREES or orders Of
the bure au as positive, and when sIoh or
ders appear in the plausible shape If the
urgent case in question, The commission
can not be expected to delay days and
weeks for the sake Of securing official
confirmation before Inldng the action war
ranted by the circumstances
Whenever the Texas lines free them
selves from the influence OF the bureau,
and adopt the plan of conducting their |
upon basis Of independence and !
Individual responsibility, the necessity for |
such action as tine commission took in the |!
matter CT the rate on bagging ana Ties !
will be entirely removed and a more |
healthy state Of affairs will exist. Yours |
rily, Allison Maylield
Commissioner, |