The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-10-01

The railroad commission this morning
took up the matter OF making an emer-
gency cut OF 2 cents per 100 pounds in
the cotton rate for the ostensble purpose
of placing Galveston on an equality with
New Orleans, 1t having been complA ned
by Moaer g. Co., Galveston ship brokers.
that owing TO the existence OF an insurance
dlfferential in favor of the latter. which
the railroads, contrary to promise, failed 10
absorb, cotton is being diverted from Gal
weston to New Orleans.
The proceedings began with the reading
OF letters from the traffic managers of the
Katy, Rock lslara and Arkansas Pass. who
were absent, protesting against the pro-
posed cut and pointing out that it would
accomplish no purpose save to force cor
responding cut in rates out via all the
ports which would not help the matter
any.
The reading having concluded, Mr.. Moi
Ter, the complainant, arose and STATED that
If the roads would apply dfferental OF
"a ceuss per 100 pounds In favor OF Gal
weston, he would be satisfied TO drop the
matter.
Commissioner Mayfield seeming com
promise, remarked that he was not ready
TO have the investigation broken off in It's
incipiency. Said he: Il want to find out
what makes the rate go UP out OF Calves
ton all the time
"All right" retorted Moller, "I'll tell all
about it," He then proceeded TO make
statement with regard to the shipping
situation at Galveston ana. competitive
points. according TO his understanding OF
the matter He neglected to state how
ever, that the differential for which he was
contending was in favor OF tramp service
at Galveston as against liner service at
New Orleans.
In explanation OF the abnormal rate out
Of Galveston, he said that 1t was occasion
ed by an Unexpectedly rapid movement of
cotton, while tonnage was scarce. owing 10
the large movement of grain through the
Atlantic ports there was very little ship
ping idle and with but little tonnage char
tered In advance the Galveston ship brok-
ers could not control rates which were
necessarily Influenced by conditions else
where An important element to be con-
sidered in the matter, he said, was the
rapidly developing trade with the Orient.
which IN four years had grown so that 200
ships were now engaged therein, material
~ reducing the supply OF available tom
mage.
In explanation OF the az cents differ
entail he was contending for. he said 2
cents of II was 10 equalize the tramp rate
at Galveston with the liner rate al New
Orleans, and the u cent was TO equali2e
tbs insurance. Owing TO the greater num-
her OF liners sailing from New Orleans
than from Galveston the opportunity fer
shippers to take advantage OF liner rates
were plentiful enough to seriously divert
cotton from Galveston, as the railroads
refused to take care Of the difference IN
rates out OF those points.
With regard to the conference held win
the railroad traffic men the past TWO Gays
in Galveston, Moller said that since the
issuance OF the commissions emergency
circular the freight men hsi Offered TO add
cents per 100 pounds 10 the through rale
where the cotton went 10 tramp steamers
and 10 give tbs cotton TO the broker quot
ing the lowest rate This proposition wouid
have been accepted, he said, had i no.
beep for the objection of Dan Ripley ana
Fowler G. Mcvitle, ship brokers'. who ac-
cordng to his statement, haa heretoiote
had pulls with the railroads.
Continuing, Moller asserted that iof nye
wears some OF the railroads had been BOY
cotting him and refusing 10 deliver cotton
IN him on through bills OF aiding frSsssu
nv Commissioner Mayfeld TO name tne
ro,ds. he said the Santa Fe and soutnelh
Pacifc-addinE, however, that ihey were
dong better this year.
with regard to the ailege' ie.ss
tions made by the Galveston oroksis, -,
sta hat thew had not affected the rev.
enues of the railroads, but had aneeted
the movement OF cotton TO Gaivestoh'
which he considered perfectly lesitimate.
In conclusion. after a slight debate wi.h
Freight Agent Farrel. OF the Cotton SET ser,
NJ Mo,ler srreed to knock of half cent
from The 21s cent equalization ne was con,
tensfng fer ard 10 absorb the insu,n a,,Id
l.~l 10 raAlr01lH MpliA
a,ne 70 add cents TO the loves, Calves
- t,amp rate in making liner rates Hs l,,
, ,e. OF the Santa Re, Cotton ne'
"a Taxss ana Pacific agreed to mis-.