The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-12

commanded TO discuss II, I'D you have
got to stand It. The only consolation
have Is that l will get oven for what ]
have suffered on previous occasions, for l
have listened to as long and AZ dry
speeches as now expect TO inillct on you.
In order that you may be as comfortable
as possible, I will say that, Strange as II
may seem, drinking while lam talking
does not seriously disconcert me, but do
object to sleeping. and l therefore protest
against any one going TO sleep during my
remarks, although the siumber may be
due TO something else than the sopcrihc
that am about to administer.
No doubt have been called upon to re-
| spond to this toast because OF my connec-
tion with important railway interests and
press appreciation OF the sentiment OF the
toast and OF the good feeling upon your
part toward railroad interests which II ex-
| presses. Evidences OF the good feeling
| prevailing between the business men OF
Houston and railroads are, however,,
abundant and have always existed. need
not refer to the fact that Houston was the
pioneer In projecting railroad enterprises
| in this State, and that the fact that she
| is now the great railroad center OF tho
State Is due almost entirely to the fore
sight Of her early citizens, the investment
OF their means while others doubted, and
to the good will that has ever character
tied the relations between these people
and the railroads. These facts are known
to all and are a part OF the history OF
this city, and, In my judgment, account In
large measure for the prosperity that
| you enjoy. Almost every other city In tho
State in recent years has seen proper to
organize freight bureaus, with salaried
men at their head. But not so with Hous-
| ton. She has needed no ambassador to
| intervene between her and her railroads.
| Her business men have always. II seems,
nan ~
to man. They have reasoned together,
and I think 1 can safely say that thoy
have co -operated together for their mutual
advantage and for the tipbuilding of this
city. All that you have desired has NOT
always been accomplished and was not Al
| ways possible, but you have recognized
the difficulties under which the railroad
men have labored the difficulties OF the
great problem with which they have TO
deal, and according them the same integ-
| rity Of purpose, the same patriotism anu
the same desire to promote the interest OF
| the city and State that you claim you
have yielded whenever II appeared that
what you asked was unfair In any respect.
| Ii is not out of place, trust, to say
that several months ago / was asked By
distinguished member OF the railroad
commission why the commission received
no complaints from Houston. He said that
there was scarcely village in the State
| from which the commission did not re-
ceive more complaints than from this Inn
portant commercial center. H0 said that
the commission could account for this
condition only upon the theory that the
Houston people were either too mad or
too busy to complain. told him that the
people Of Houston did have complaints
most grievous complaints. but they We're
not against the railroads. might have
gone further and have said to him that
while you had finally understood that such
1,oA nh In
to appreciate the reason why the business
men Of Dallas, of Waco, Of Fort Worth,
OF Austin and of every cotton market In
this State, with perhaps one other excep-
ton, was allowed to have his cotton con-
centrated and compressed In his own town
and at his own compress. out OF the rate,
while that privilege was denied to Hous-
ton. II has been said that our towns should
be fostered In the adjustment of railroad
rates and should not suffer an order thar
commercial centers outside OF the state
might profit, and to this policy I fully
agree but we have been made to know
that in order to concentrate or COM
press out of tho rate a single bale OF cot
| ton in this city 1t Is necessary for you to
remove 1t from the authority OF State law,
| which was to foster and protect you, ana
| to consign their cotton In through snip
ments to foreign countries or cities IN
your States, thus bringing II within the
protection OF the Federal constitution, II
| it is the policy of the State, as think 1t
| should be. to fairly foster and develop
our own cities to the extent OF provlding
against discrimination In favor OF places
beyond the State, | have never peen apie
to understand why Houston should be
singled out as an exception to this beneh-
cent policy. She has more railroads and
more important railroads than any other
city in the State and water transportation
besides. She has more miles OF sidetrack
within her limits than has any city In the
! State She has more ard better COM
presses and greater facilities for conduct
| ing the cotton business than any other
place in the State. | was told some years
ago by Mr.. Dick, whom you all remember
| so pleasantly, and who was than partner
| OF Inman G. CO., that In his Judgment
| Houston was the best cotton distributing
point in the world. He referred to the
facilities which have Just mentioned for
| conducting the business and many other
reasons among which. without going into
the details. was the situation with respect
to all the gulf ports; that cotton mcr-
| chant here could then select the route,
either via Galveston or New Orleans. and
would then soon no doubt have the addi-
| tionaI outlets OF Sabine Pass and Calves
| ton He referred to this not merely on
account OF the influence OF this condition
| upon foreign rates, but also because OF the
! opportunity the situation afforded OF
avoiding delays and blockades temporarily
| existing at one of the ports by selecting
another. and gave many other res ohs that
| Impressed me at the time and that subse-
ouent events have confirmed. II Texas,
| the greatest cotton producing State In the
Union. can have within her borders the
greatest cotton distributing point ana u
! Houston by reason of her location is that
| point. is there any reason why the laws
OF Texas or the policy adopted under those
| laws should interfere to prevent this great
object This almost leads me 10 believe
| that the ways OF Providence are not the
only ways that are past inding out but
| Notwithstanding such handicap placed
upon her. Houston has not only maintained
her position. but has become the first cot
| ton market OF this country and mas sur
| PASSED all her rivals in the volume Of her
receipts. What a tribute this is to the
ability and Industry Of her business men,
10 the extraordinary facilities that she has
for handling the business. TO the adyan-
| tages OF her location. and to the extent
of her railroad interests! The cotton mas
not been forced here by the protecting
care Of any rate regulating power. but has
come in spite OF it--indeed, the cotton
has not come at all. il has been brought
brought by the enterprise Of Houston busi-
ness men reaching out for 1t and by the
great lines OF railroads entering mere,
brought. in fact because "ali roads lead
Ia. ID