The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-02-15
Ship Broker Moller Followed the
Commissioner with Statistics.
.BBlS's Personal PRIVILEGE.
The Southern Pacific liz the Butt OF
the Island City's Complaint.
Hearing Continued Today.

| and incidentally Of putting in an emer-
gency rate of 81 cents per 100 pounds on
cotton to Galveston to offset an alleged
discrimination in favor of New Orleans by
| the Southern Pacific.
] Mr.. Denison, commissioner of the CAL
weston freight bureau, opened the discus
sion by reading the open correspondence
| exchanged between the commission and
the Southern Pacific last summer
while rates were on the postage
stamp" basis owing to the war between
the New York Galveston steamship lines,
and contended that now. as then, the
Southern Pacific is using much lower
rate than the one actually in effect between
| Galveston and New York as basis for
| through rates. In so far as he could aSccr-
tain there had since January 10 been 70
rate lower than ISL cents from Galveston
| TO New York on cotton, although the
Southern Pacific insisted that the rate was
11lS cents. In proof of his assertion he
submitted that some of tho lines running
| into Galveston had been forced 10 shrink
| their divisions to meet the Southern Pa
| cific rates.
| Ship Broker Moller OF Galveston submit
| New Orleans gets more than its percentage
| OF Texas cotton as against Galveston under
| the influence of alleged discriminatory
rates, the existence of which he had fig
| ured out to his own satisfaction. The
| Southern Pacific to his notion. bases its
| through rates on fictitious. rates to New
| York to the deuiment of Galveston, AMI
has been hauling cotton from Houston to
| New Orleans at cents per 100 pounds,
and disregards the law by refusing to quote
! rates except on application, in order that
| the Galveston ship brokers may be kept in
| the dark as TO what the road actually
Charges for hauling cotton for export. AS
] TO hauling cotton to Galveston, the foad
| only does so, according TO his statement.
ON local bills of lading and on the specific
| order Of the shipper He admitted that the
| Galveston ship brokers quoted lower rates
| TO shippers than to railroads, but excused
the practice on the ground that 1t was for
protection against the non observance of
| insurance differentials by the southern Pa
| cfic. In his opinion, so long ge there eX-
| lists diffcrential between Houston and
| Galveston so long win the Southern IA
! cific be able to apply that Gifferential to
divert business 10 New Orleans. The 2ro-
mitigation 10 Galveston of the 54-cent rate
in existence to Sabine Pass would. In his
opinion, relieve the former of the disad-
We ntages II lahors under as to New Or
|
vored such an adjus tment of rates as would
prevent the railroads from hauling any ex-
| mort cotton out o. tho State except when
| Galveston had mere cotton than It could
! take care of. As TO the refusal OF the Gal
weston ship brokers 20 quote rates to the
| Southern Pacific, he said IT had been
| brought about by the violation OF agree
mants by Traffic Manager Bein of the
| Southern Pacific.
| Mr.. Bein, rising to a question of personal
privilege denied that there was the least
| element of truth in Mr.. Moller's statement
! He hal not acted in bad faith, but for good
and sufficient reasons had notified the
brokers of his withdrawal from such agree
ments as he had with them.
when did you give this notice." queried
| Mr. Molier.
ION November II last" retorted MI
| Bein.
"You agreed to keep It until January l,
1885, said Mr. Moller.
81 did nothing OF the kind promptly
replied Mr.. Bein.
Then followed more talk from Mr.. Mol
| Ter In which he protested great respect for
! Mr.. Bein, but objected to what he called
| that genteman's Dr. Jekyl and MI Hyde
! methods, and undertook to show that there
| was no mpre honorable class of people NV
] ing than the Galveston ship brokers'
/ This aroused Judge Perkins OF the Cotton
Belt and moved him 10 remark that the
| Galveston ship broker is truly remark
! able individual. The first Galveston
| ship broker we have record OF, SAID ne,
! twas named Lafitte. He secured freight
| at the point OF his sword and pistol. his
/ successors have found new way Oh chok-
I ing the cat but they get the freight all
| the same yet" Continuing. he reviewed
the export rate situation and called atlen-
tion TO the decentralization brought about
| by the rate war prevailing beween the
/ Galveston New York steamship lines
Dan Ripley agent OF the Lone Star line
objected 10 any reference to this matter.
/ saving that he did not understand that II
affected the case under consideration.
Judge Perkins replied that the rate wal
he smoke of had everything to do with the
case. Mr. Ripley had admitted that MS
1 line was not making money out OF the
rates prevailing AT present, consequently
/ N was not doing a legitimate business. He
aid not understand that buccaneer could
| come in and slash rates to the deprivation
| of Legitimate revenue TO the other trans
] portation lines and claim the protection or
he commission. True. the local commits
sion rates had not been affected. but ire
through rate was gene 10 pieces. Whlcn
meant a material shrinkage OF earnings lo'
! ihe railroads. The ship brokers are pc
vond the control OF any human. celestial.
and perhaps imperial power, nc
asserted yet they ask that. the
/ bandcuffs fa~tened upon the wrists
/ of tho railroads be tighiened. IN
his opinion the way to meet present coa-
| ditions Is 10 raise Instead OF lowering the
| ratex 10 Galveston. The Galveston New
| York steamship lines. which have caused
1.-The present row. said he now want the
| conn,ission to bankrupt the rail lines 10
| helm them let go OF a bfd snap they nave
gotten themselves into. and recess was
| taken until p. m
| Al afternoon session Mr., Ripley stared
no was here simply TO discuss the Sabine
Pass sItvstion. and was much surprisen 70
/ hear Judge Perkins refer to the war pc
tween the Mallory and Lone Star lines,
/ Th.t mater had been RELOCATED 70 the
courts which would determine whether
nr NOT the Lone Star lire y buccapser.
| 80 Tar as he Il concerned ne wonlo ra'ns'
| 10 b,,cranesr fis'r conspirafor