The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-16
COMMISSIONERS REPORT
ZONE STATEMENTS OUTLINED !,
THE ANNUAL DOCUMENT.
A Discussion of Results of Rnt,w,x
competition and Maintenance of
Reasonable Rates.

Among facts outlined In the svnonst.
OF the annual report of the interstate com.
MISSION mention is made that the car
dinal purpose of traffic associations is the
restraint of competition between rival ,ines
and their object has been in every in
stance to substitute the will of the asso-
citation for the will of the individual mem
Der. This is illustrated by the Joint Traf-
nc association. Its orders were seldom en-
forced. II was able to secure publication
OF Its tariffs, but unable to secure nainte-
nance of those tariffs. This should he
carefully noted In considering the legis-
lation, sought by the railroads They are
asking. not simply the right to form such
organizations as they formed in the past,
but to make contracts which are illegal
and unenforceable at common law indie
pendent OF statutory prohibitions The
want of legal sanction was always the
Inherent weakness of these associations.
The natural result of railway COMPETE
ton, it may be fairly said, is to create
preferences between localities. and an in
STANCE is given In the report where the
same is true OF preferences as between in
dividuals. What might to large extent
be expected to result from railway COM
petition. has actually occurred beyond all
legitimate excuse.
Carriers ask authority to conibine in
order to fix and maintain reasonable rates.
Hut who shall decide what rates are rea-
sonable? Shall II be left to the carriers
to fix their own rates, or should the people
who grant this extraordinary privilege re-
serve to themselves tie right TO determine
this question?
II combinations in restraint OF compe-
tition are to be permitted, the following
additional observations should be borne in
mind: First. to permit only a limited and
feeble restraint would be to door, the ex-
pertinent to failure before 1t was triCd;
but it might be we'll to provide that the
provision granting the privilege should ex-
pire after a certain number of years by
its own limitation. Second, the contract
itself and everything done under it should
be open to public inspection. Third, it,
would probably be to the advantage of
both the public and the railways ii the
public had some voice or representation
In any organization Of the kind under
II the public appointed one
Or more of the hoard Of managers, to whom
the shipper would feel Tree to submit his
and who would bring the ship
pcr's views before the association, it might
10 much to promote just conduct and har-
monious relations between the railways
and the public. and thus prove materially
in high degree.
In regard to free storage rates the conf
mission refers In its report in what Is
Known as the Free Storage Case In
which it appeared that providing storage
II freights free or at nominal rates at
points had developed into u
.ustom among many of the carrying lines
Practices incidental to free storage where
he distribution Of freights In part lots
md the reconsignment Of goods upon or
lers Issued by shippers. The storage priV,
lege was generally allowed in disregard
II rules and regulationsein published tar
ifs requiring the prompt removal OF goods
rom cars and freight sheds The commits
ion found that these privileges, Afforded
Without charge or for extremely low COM
,ensation, amounted approximately, II not
to providing favored snip
,ers with branch houses In large clties,
It is suggested in the seport that as
natter OF statistics reports should be hsd
rom express companies and from corpora
ions other than railroad companies. !.
railroads are also called on to make
nd use the newest and best improvements
d their equipments. such as brakes, coup
lngs, handholds and other deaths. ~ aIso
avs that since the enactment OF the law
n fsaa there has been decreasing num-
q, Of casualties. There were 1924 fewer
mpioyes killed and 1862 fewer injured
uring the year ending Jr'ne 80; 1897. than
uring the wear ending June &c. 1898 IN
he Spanish American war 2se men were eas
Tiled and 1sis were wounded. In 1897
here were 1928 men killed and 27,soI IN
,sed from ali ca,ises in railway service
!. \ counting and uncoupiing cars alone ~? I
~ men were killed ard 1894 less were
,s,,rad in 1897 than In 1898. The NUMBER
4 s,,ch employees killed has been reducsd ]
.aSaIs and Inc number = injured also
= c.;ca,,y reduced ts.,-hn1 The reduc,,
on in the number q accidents from az
suses largely exceeded IN s'ns'e s yeA