The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-06-27
The TEXAS RETAILERS.
An Open Letter to the Railroad
COMMISSIONS Chairman.
CIRCULAR Oily IS COMPLAINED OF.
II Ia Held That IL increase. rr,s
Mates ana Gives the Whole
saiers Undue Advantage.

ierreii' Texas, June 25.-The following
open letter fully explains Its purpose:
10 the Hon. John II. Reagan. Chairman
haiircad Commission of Texas, Austin.
Texas
Terrell, Texas, June 25.-Dear Sir: Re-
lerrlas TO your letter of June 10. sen, in
answer TO petition from ourselves and
others asking relief against recent
changes In the freight classification as pro-
muitated by the Southwestern freight Lu
reau' effective June l. 1888. We notice that
ietter was publiohed In Galyeston- Dallas
news ana probably in other Texas papars
we, therefore, take the liberty OF answer
Ing IN the same manner.
we do not understand that tba comm,s.
sion declines to act upon our petition be-
, cause other retail dealers In the State have
iikeWise forwarded petitions on the same
supJect, which may have the appearance of
common origin.
we DO not understand that the commits
sion intends TO deny the retailers of re cas-
tne right TO appeal for relief when injured
VI me right to act Jointly in the same man.
her as the Wholesalers have done, to Sc
oure some OF the concessions granted them
Irlor to hearing of May 5, 1898. we TO-
setner with many other retailers in The
state protested against action being taken
upon items covered by the commission cir
GUAR NO b9S. Regardless of our protests
ieaIihg was had and agreement between
iairoads interested and the wholesalers In
,erested was concurred in by your honora
Die board, as shown by your commission
circular NO. 6l9 of May 6, 1895 That cir
GUAR mas been the means of increasing the
iIelsnt rates charged by railroads, increas-
ing the profits OF the Texas wholes,le
dealers, all n fhs
dealers of Texas. We do not understand /,
10 be within the province of the railroad
commission OF Texas to protect one closs
OF merchants of the State at the eynense or
dhotner class of merchants in the same
state particularly when the volume of h,s-
mess and the aggregate capital invested to
greater with the class injured than with
the class benefited. We believe you viii
agree with us that the number of retailers
an leAas' the capital invested and the vol
ufne or business done by them Is far greater
IN the aggregate than in the wholesale
trade Wv ""o'e''ie
An investigation on your part will show
mat the Wholesale dealers Of Texas have
lar greater protection in the matter Of
freight rates than have similar dealers in
other States.
we are not opposed TO the wholesale deal
ers OF Texas. On the contrary. we want TO
ocV 'HeiH VoHtIhue 10 prosper, but don 1
want the freight rates made exclusively in
lheir interests. which has been the rule Of
the railroads in the past and the trend of
number OF decisions of the Texas railroad
| commission
we trust that circular No. 619 will be re-
scinded and no future order wherein cur
selves ard ether retail dealers of the State
are interested will he issued until we have
been given ample time to present the retail
dealers side of the case. Yours very truly
McClung & Co.