The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-06-20
THE RAILROAD COMMISSION
A Meeting OF the Retail Merchants
Called to Protest.
RECEIVER HARRY HAYNES PLIGHT.
4. B.sSpcncer Takes the Railroad
Commission 10 Task for Alleged
DETERMINATIONS.


side OF the retail merchants OF Texas:
tn tbe Hon foh, ~ po,,s, r,hairuan
| pa,,.., ,,...,,
o'u Noi"iisSi'n vi ie~"s' auStin,
| le@as'
Marlin. Texas, June II, 1s9s.--Dear
| Saskatchewan, IN vo,,r ono, i,,or a.,
,.,, 90,
H'o''i Va '"c 4"tn' 'ecoshi@e Vhe TACT
that IL is the Intention of yourself and
other members OF the commission 10 pro-
| tect the interests OF Texas. In this in
| stance, and one or two others that now
recall. the mistake has been made Of con
| sidering the interests Of a few large deal
ers as Inc interests OF Texas. You should
remember the jobhers Of Texas are men
with capital. have an organization and tN
| perlenced trdiilc officials to do their work,
| win ample time 10 prepare their plt as ana
present them to you in the most plausible
| manner. They, as large shippers, have
more or less influence with the railroad
| officials themselves, which Is best shown
| by compromise agreement between them
ana the railroads interested prom lg1ted ~
| your honorable commission In circular NO.
| bl9. of May 6, 1898. whose results myself
| and others have alredy complained OF in
| petition which suppose your open
letter Is intended to BE- an answer
| II such is the case, with al due respect
| to yourself and other members OF the
answer IS not satisfactory and hope you
! VIII comply with our request TO rescind
| fhe oirer ana place the relali dealers ana
| consumers OF Texas on the basis In effect
prior to June /. 1898.
The retail dealers OF Texas have no Or
ganization, have no traffic man to compile
information ana present their peas 70 the
commission. have not sufficient time Or
capital 10 spare to be present at the yari-
Gus hearings called at the instance OF the
j0bbers and large dealers OF the STATE
While the tonnage Of the retail dealers IL
far greater in the aggregate ana OF lar
more value to inc rallroadS tnah thdt OF
the lobbers lhey nave not me opportunity
of concentrating their freight ana ma-
jorlty of them being at non .c'mpe'lliye
stations, they nave not ,hc lni,uoh-c WIN
the railroads lhat the Joooera nave eil vi
whom are at comp" ulNe S,''iohS'
No one appreciates the lonDel6 OF eNas
more than myself. but IKE other ret ii
OF the state ! object 10 p9lhS Jake vi
increased tf'leht rates 10 iucIe'se 'no w"
| It's of tho Texas lonbers
You are 20 much more familiar WIN thc
Western clnssihcation' the rat' OF lre'Sn,
the differences between car loadS ahh lc
han car loads. the rules MS to mixed car
loads as in effect 10 ether states ETC. TIA,
your attention to the fact that the Texas
Nh'l'S"'Ni "i'o'' h"0 80 t''''''N
lection than In other states ana yet ne
asks ana YOU grant him stlll moe.
| maintain that a RUE so prevalent on
mixed car loads ms that heretofore IN CT
feet on wire, nails staples. etc. to Texas
one so universally prevalent as That tule
is known to be--is not contrary to any
legitimate rule of business.
maintain further mat tte difference
between 5Sc as charged on these articles
/ in car loads and zoe as charged IN lie
than car loads, Is an unreasonable piher-
ence and affords the Texas jobher prot c
tion at the expense OF the Texas retailer
and consumer ! maintain that the with
/ drawal of tho mixed carload rule In effect
| 10 other States s stiN greater protection
To the Texas iobbcr, who In most cases ia
also a retailer
1t must be wen known TO you that wire.
nails, staples and hay bale ties arc man
ufactured by the same concerns shipped
from tha Same house aud are uatur I
mixed carload commodities. | do not OBJ
iect 10 buyinr roods NJ Texas whol,salnr.
On the contrary. they are OF great value /,
myself and other retail dealers of Texes
but their advantage Of time, au,ckness
with which they can III, our ordors. etc,