The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-02-24
AGREEMENT IN SIGHT.
PROPOSED BAsis or SETTLEMENT
FOR COTTON RATE MATTER.
Commission Has Made Definite
Statement of What II Desires the
Southern Pacific 10 DO.

Austin, Texas, February 2S,--Traffic
Manager Bcin Of the Southern Pacihc re-
turned 10 Houston this afternoon after
being for several DAYS endsavoring To
convince the railroad commission that his
lines have not been discriminating against
Galveston, as well as that they are not
responsible for the conditions which
brought about the application OF the Gall
weston Maritime association for tho SITS
pension Of the Houston diiferontial and
resulted in an emergency reduction OF 6
cents per 100 pounds In the cotton rate.
which reduction went into effect today.
AS to the result OF Mr.. Beln's visit. al
though nothing was given out about 1t
at the commissions office. IL is pretty
well understood that he and the COM
missioners came TO an understanding, the
terms OF which VIII be officially passed
upon tomorrow and that in case said terms
so the emergency rate will be taken out
on March >, the date on which the South
ern Paciiic's advance in the Houston New
York rate to 2lia cents goes into effect.
The terms on which the emergency rate
will be Withdrawn are of the commissions
making. and were accepted by Mr. Dein,
according to the best information at nAi'd,
and although both he and the commits
sioners declined to make them public to-
day. 1t is very likely that when they are
published 1t will be found that tho fol-
lowing is substantially what they include:
First-The Southern Pacific agrees
TO observe a rate from Houston Via
New Orleans TO New York, Boston
and New England milling points
cents higher than the rate from CAL
weston to said points.
Second.-The Southern Pacific agrees
to observe IA foreign rate from iious-
ton via New orleans cents higher
than the foreign rate from Calves
ton.
Third--The Southern Pacific agrees
that when insurance is lower oLJ az
New Orleans than out of Galveston 1t
will observe rate that will overcome
any advantage to the New Orleans
outlet by reason of such condition OF
affairs.
In other words, the railroad commission
proposes to require a strict observance OF
the Houston differential. as we'll as TO
oQualize the ports of New orleans and CAL
weston in the matter of insurance. This Is
a falr proposition from any sidHupoiut YET
1t win not satisfy the ship broker. as The
Post correspondent is in receipt of private
information from Galveston TO the effect
that they have either protested, or are pre-
pairing TO protest, against tho commission'S
coming TO any kind Of an understanding
with the Southern Pacific and want to he
heard again on the only proposition that
Will quiet them. namely, the abrogation of
the Houston differential.
Should the terms of settlement, as out
lined above. be officially agreed to, the
Galveston New York steamship lines Will
have TO publish rate and stick TO 1T to
bring about any change In the present
condition of affairs, for without a eesea-
ton of the bushwhaching now in vogue
the Southern Pacific will have TO ascertain
what the true rate from Galveston TO New
York is as best II can, and as it VIII neccs-
sarily use the lowest rate il can learn OF In
building its own rate TO New York such
Galveston shippers as are not in a position
to force an advantage from The steamship
lines win continue TO get the worst OF 49,,
and Galveston Will be unable 10 recover its
identity as basing point.