The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-12-18

The Revised Statutes articits fooo' -.
and 45s7 should be amended so as 70 rvm
| portation from steamships and other wafer
craft freiphts uron the same terms anu
| conditions as they receive them from otner
shdrr,ars, There has been more OF less
| friction between railway companies ,, eu'
steamship lines delivering freignts q, ieA !.
as ports destined TO interior points. ~ 70
not unfrequently the case mat ra.Muy
| comparies refuse to receive aid trahspor,
| such ailments from one line or Vesssl
| unles. their freight rate Is prepaid, VILE
| the general rule is applied TO other sup
| lines or vessels of receiving and transpol.,
| ing the freight SO offered 10 unehi "i'n'1'
such payment. A
In q case ait Corpus Christi, the san An
tonic and Aralsas Pass Railway company
required the prepayment on sniPlile 81
coming to II from the steamsr wnen ~ aia
not require prepayment on similar snip
| ments delivered to 1t by other Shippers ..
Corpus Christi We took the position tha'
this order OF the San Antonio ana Arah-
sas Pass Railway company was discriih
tnaion against one class OF Shippers ai.
in favor OF another class, the obJect vi
which seemed to be TO drive out compet-
ton. The commission insisted upon re-
vocation OF the order AID 1t was done,
This same question has arisen at eai-
weston, where the object seems TO be 10
from the gulf 1t is contended that tne
Revised Statutes, articles 1885 1886 4o8f
and 1889 can not apply to steamship INES
or other vessels. We therefore RECOMMENDS
that the legislature make the necessary
amendment to these articles OF the statutes
so az TO apply to steam hips and all water
craft. 1t may also be contended that no law
CT the State could affect the question or
prevent the railroads from enforcing sucn
a discriminating orders If they applled "
only to interstate shipments. we 90 not
concur in this view, but whether that De
true or not the amendments shouid De
made so that the commission could az
least prevent such Determinations on tue
Rivers and other inla1d waterways ID
this State, where the shipment is entirely
within the State
proper and thorough investigation OF
any questions that arise in the dfscharge
of the duties of this commission often
requires us to send out expert accountants,
engineers. clerks and commissioners 10
distant parts of the State, at considerable
expense. The Revised Statutes, article i5bl,
provides that the commission may hold
sessions at amy place in this State when
deemed necessary to facilitate the dis
charge OF their duties" The same article
provides that they shall receive necessary
travelling expenses, which shall includs
thu cost only of transportation These en-
tn the field away from their homes for
weeks at a time ard by means of such
investigators We have bsen enabled TO
gather the evidence Upon which s'iits were
brought by the attorney general by which
S67,500 has already been put in the State
treasury. The law ought to be so amended
as to allow the legislature TO make all
appropriations necessary TO defray such
expresses.
Frequent complaints have beea made by
persons who ship fruit and other products
to market by express. that the agents o.
express and railroad companies enter into
competition with them, and by reason OF
informatcn obtained as such agents, of
this business relation existing between
shipper and customer and the place of
business of the customer being supplied, Is
enabled to and often does deprive the
shipper Of his customer. 1t is charged that
this is done in three ways by such agents:
l. BY undertaking his own shipment so
as TO reach the market at less cost.
2. BY underselhng in the same market.
8. BY delaying shipments rendered until
tn: agent could first reach the market
with his own shipment.
These complaints are usually MADE in
case OF interstate shipments, and while
there Is no doubt of the competition
charged we have no sufficient proof OF
the undertaking arii delaying of shipments
by such agents for the purpose charged
but no doubt there arc grounds for the
complaint. Nor have We yet ascertained
to what extent, il any, the corporations
are participating In the5e wrongs. We I'M
deratand that corporation can legally
engage in no business except that for
which 1t is chartered, and we suggest that
necessary laws be enacted 10 prevelt such
agents from engaging in such competition
OH express and railroad lines upon which
they are employee.