The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-02-18
THE HEARING CONCLUDED.
Commission Has Taken Deuison's
Latest Under AdyiscmeOt.
COTTON WAS NOT RAISED IN TEXAS
Which IL Vow Being Exported by
Way of Port Arthur---sabine Pass
IL Willing for Dimerential.


pertaining whether there is any reason why
the prayer OF the Galveston Maritime asso-
citation for the suspension OF the Houston
differential should be granted, az well as
TO learn how much equalization Galveston
needs with Sabine Pass in the matter OF
rates, and the traffic men and ship brokers
who figured in said hearing have all left
i the city, each side expressing satisfaction
at the showing made.
/ In truth. however, Il can hardly be SAID
that the Galveston ship brokers did any
thing but tip their own hands and tncon-
! sciously betray the fact that they are
about as smooth as the traffic men in the
matter OF Juggling and cutting rates. They
were forced to admit that their bugbear.
the Southern Pacific. occupies an impreg-
nable position, and that the suspension OF
the Houston differential might not DO such
a good thing for Galveston after all. AS
an evidence OF their doubts as to the effl-
| they have taken to advocating general
mileage tariff fer cotton. the maximum TO
be reached at 500 niles. 1t is understood
that before departing the Southern Pacific
r-oplo left With the commission In writing
a proposition for an adjustment Of rates.
which. In their opinion, would give all
parties to The controversy an even break
Whether or not the proposition is accepta-
BILE TO the commission was not disclosed.
but It is reported that it replied to the
Southern Pacific people by mail tonight
requesting an answer by wire tomorrow.
With reference to the Sabine Pass sntIa-
ton. it Il, probable that the commission
will raise the cotton rate to that point TO
50 cents and to Fort Arthur to 81 cents. to
put those Ioints on a parity with Galveston.
Austin Texas, February 1.-THE rail-
road commission this morning took up the
application of the Galveston Freight Blu
reau for an equalization of rates to Texas
ports. This is twin application to that
of the Galveston Maritime association for
an emergency rate of "a cents from COM
mon points to Galveston. the object in both
instances being the elimination OF the
Houston differential.
Speaking to the equalization proposition,
Commissioner Denison of the Galveston
Freight Bureau said that while as yet no
steamship rates We're being made from
Sabine Pass, such might be quoted, in
which event the combination would be
lower through that port than through
others, as the rate thereto by rail was 8
cents less than to Galveston. 1t was true,
he admitted, that while as yet the Sabine
Pass route WAS not practicable one yet
he alleged the pass could and would be
| used as the basis of fictitious rates which
would have TO be met at other ports. A
54-cent rate 10 all Texas ports would pre-
vent the possibilits of illegitimate compe-
tition for the Galveston ships TO meet. III
there was any shrinkage of rates 10 be
stood, the railroads and not the ships
should bear il, he thought.
Messrs Jones OF the Central and Good
wyn of the Santa Fe denied the existence
of an emergency necessitating the redac-
ton of the rate to Galveston. II condi-
lions We're such as TO demand attention at
all a raising of the rate TO Sabine Pass
would meet them.
| Superintendent osgood of the Sabine Pass
| Improvement company stated that as yet
Sabine Pass was not competitor of Gal
veston but when it became so there would
be no objection TO an equalization of rates,
providing the same dinerential In enect
between Houston and Galveston be applied
| between Houston and Sabine Pass.
| General Freight Agent Shook Of the Kan
| sas City. Pittsburg and Gulf. said that
| there was no need OF an equalization be-
| tween Port Arthur and Galveston at pres
| ent because the cost of reaching shipside
| from Port Arthur more than made up the
difference In rail rates to those ports The
| cotton which is going out via Port Arthur
over his line at present would not be az
| fected by any action in the matter of rates
which the commission might take, however,
| because it did not originate in Texas.
Mr.. West OF the Missouri. Kansas and
Texas objected to any equalization based
upon a reduction to 81 cents of the rate
! to Galveston.
Al the conclusion OF Mr.. Vests rer1arks
| the commission announced that 1t would
take the equalization proposition under al
| yisement and next turned It's at'enfloh
| to an application OF the Galveston Rope
company for reduction in the rate ior
| the transportation of rope Mr.. benson,
representing the rope company. explained
why it was that the application had botn
made, 1t was TO enilbe Texas rope manu-
| facturers to compete with ST. Louis, as
| rope dealers in that city are accorae1 the
| privilege of filling out mixed car ioaus
Of wooden and fiber ware with rope, thus
| enabling the transportation OF rope at the
woodenware rate which is 81 cents less
| than the rope rate Texas rope manufac-
| turers. having no woodenware to mix rope
with are compelled TO ship at the straight
rope rate and labor under considerable OF
| disadvantage.
Mr.. Jones of the Central said his line
opposed the mixing OF rope and wooden-
ware and would not accept such shipments
| III The woodenware rate and wanted 10
| Know II, under the circumstances. his line
would be forced to accept reduced rae
| n nj, in. Judge Reagan replied that That
question would be considered.
Mr.. West. for the Missouri. Kansas anu
Texas, said he was opposed to the mixing
| az cnr loads Of stuff from st. Louis.
M parnhardt OF the Cotton Belt asked
! for twenty-four hours time 70 investigate
nnd find out how far the mixing psoeess
had been tolerated over his line Win =
| view TO putting a stop 10 u.
1 Ar. Goodwin. while concurring In the
i commissions views with regard 70 mixing
car loads, called attention to the reduction
4 in the cotton piece good rate which w@s
made without prcvocation from the intet-
state lines His lines would refuse 70 a.
cent mixed car loads OF freight II the otner
! ,,nsa would do likewise. II reduction IN