The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-02-16

s'Sh uNision sheets as demanded yestpr-
9 m end he objected TO such proceeding.
Santa fc be compelled TO sno,y m 40 VOL,
as the southern Pacific.
o"use stedman said the International
anu Great Northern had not been excused
una Judge Reagan remarked that so far
as tne commission was concerned II had
sAesptea no line from the order to produce
DOCKS and data Selatvc to tho movement
OF cotton from Texas.
| an understanding having been reached
vi ,nis point and II having been matte
pain that all the cotton carriers were en-
| pectcd TO produce their books this trip
| dcorso Anderson. secretary and chief in
spector OF the Galveston Maritime associa-
| .,ou, WIS placed on the stand and testified
wa. y was the opinion of ship owners
tnat Gaiyeston furnishes the best prot,c.
| ton Tor cargo Afforded anywhere in the
world. He explained the methods pur-
sueu IN the inspection OF cotton at Gal
WESTON, and testified that the Maritime
associations books were at all times open
10 the public, and that he had reauc stcd
the interior congresses to send rcpre sent
auves to Galveston to keep check on his
work and offered to furnish such repre-
septatiyes Office accommodations, The
association keeps disinterested inspectors
at Houston. he said. thus placing that city
on equal footing with Galveston in the
OF the rule by the commission fixing n
standard of density had been a benefit TO
commerce.
Judge Reagan having called Mr.. Ander-
sons attention TO certain complaints thnt
his certificates do not show the date OF
inspection, he promised that they would
| do so hereafter. AS secretary OF the CAL
| weston Maritime association he knew that
the concern had nothing whatever to do
with the making of rates He remembered
| that ut a meeting of ship brokers and rail-
| way representatives held In the associl-
| TONS rooms last fall some kind OF an
| agreement providing for the maintenance
| OF rates until January /, 1898. was pro-
posed, and that none of those present OBJ
| Jected thereto.
| Judge Perkins took hold OF the witness
| and by Il series of questions learned from
| him that the port charges which cotton
| pays at Galveston amount to 55ls cents
| per bale.
To Mr.. Lovett the witness adj
mitted that a certain percentage Of tile
cotton condemned by the Maritime asso-
Aiation is not recompressed although
charge for recompressage is collected. in
explanation, however, he stated that when
ships are in a hurry they have the option
OF accepting money consideration ever
amounting to less than 40 cents per bale
as compensation for the loss of room ocua-
which fails to come up to the established
standard OF density. AS rule, If there
| is not loss Of per cent no report Is
made on the cotton at Galveston, MIR. AN
derson declared. He actually weighed cot
ton, bale for bale. and figured the density
from the result Marks on bales do not
go with him, he said and ne took no notice
OF them in his calculations.
AT the afternoon session. Mr.. Anderson
was recalled to the stand aud qualified Il
statement he had made In the morning With
regard TO recompreSsage of rejected cotton
by saying ship agent can not, at his
option, accept a money consideration 10
compensate him for the loss of ship room
occasioned by cotton that does not Come
UP TO the density standard, but must first
obtain the consent of the shipper OF tire
delivering line before he can receive such
compensation in lieu of recompressage
The complainants next introduced Il. NJ.
underhill, special commission agent and
former auditor of the Southern Pacific, rs
witness, but the first question of moment
asked him by Mr.. Moller was objected TO
by Messrs. Perkins and l4ovett. Mr.. Moilcr
wanted him to tell what the divisions Of
the rate between the Southern Pacific lines
in and out of the State were on through
cotton during the last five years of his
connection with the road.
Messrs. Perkins and Lovett cpntendce
that as his knowledge OF the subject did
not extend TO the present season his testi-
mony would be irrelevant as the question
was one of emergency rates raised by pres
ent conditions.
The commission consulted over the mat
ter and decided that Mr. underhill would
not he called upon for the present to an
swer Mr.. Moler's question. but that If u
transpired that the divisions in question
could not be shown directly from accessible
division sheets he would be recalled aud
his testimony taken. He then explained
the Southern nacifc's method of handling
cotton at New Orleans, after winch ire
complainants called Traffic Manager Bein
of the Galveston, Harrisburg aud San ar
tonic to the stand.
He expainod why the Southern Pacific
had withdrawn from the agreement en-
tered into at Galveston last fall for the
maintenance OF export rates. First. the
all-raii lines had put in rate in which
the cut rate from Galveston TO New YORK
by water was part OF the combination, the
aggregate of which was less than the off,
cial rate via New Orleans or Galveston.
Second. He had become convinced that the
Galveston ship brokers had quoted rates
10 Galveston shippers which enabled them
to local cotton in and ship 1t out at less
than the official rate Under these condI-
tons his lines we're unable to pooK SIN
gle bale of cotton for Galveston and ne
was compelled to abandon the official rate
and make a rate that enabled him to meet
competition from the all rail lines and the
Galveston lines.
Replying to Mr.. Ripley no denied em-
phatieally that the Southwestern freight
bureau controls rates both to aud from
Texas. Further attempts on the part OF
Mr.. Ripley TO make Mr. Bein tell what the
Southwestern freight bureaus Jurisdiction
Is. within his knowledge, were objected to
and Mr.. Rirleys questions were ruled out
MS foreign to the subject matter before the
hearing and. for the further reason that
the Southwestern freight bureau has be
brought before the courts, which VIII soon
determine whether or not 1t is a legal in
stitution. Replying to Judge Reagan Nv.
Bein said that out OF the prevailing TIA
cent rate on cotton from Texas common
roints TO New York via New orleans and
the Morgan line the Houston and Texas
central gets a cents. on foreign shioments
via New Orleans the Texas rate is shrnnk
with regard to the proportion of the rate
given the lines from Houston TO New Or
leans, he said 1t had never boen less than
| 4. la as