The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-30
THE noycorT ENJoiNED.

The boycott against tho Kansas city,
rlttehwg and Gulf railroad will not 40
into effect as the roads contemplating
ths disciplinary measure against tho of
fcnding road havo been cnioned by
United states court from taking such ac-
tion until all tho quoaliona ut isuso have
boon thoroughly Investigated by the court.
In tho meantime. II VIII he interesting
to the gulf routes and the gult coast PEG
rlc to examine some OF the reasons urged
In justification OF tho boycott by Traffic
Manager Biddell of tho Atchson, Topeka
ana Santa ro.
a few daya ago Tho Post took occasion
TO comment aomewhht upon the spectacle
Of the railroad magnatee adopting that
weapon of the labor unions which they 50
yohpmently denounGe whom used against
their roads by their employees, The only
roaaon then referred TO Tor such mn cN-
tremc course wac tho agreement between
The Kansas City, pittRhurg aud Cult road
and certain steamship lines to bring or
take freight between Kansas City and
New York by the ocean route al smaller
rate than was maintained eastward from
Kansas city over the all rail route.
Traffic Manager Biddcll amplihes 20 an
| extent on this point, lie says,
When the committee OF presidents mc,
with the PlttHhnrk ana Gulf ufhcinla IN Now
| YORK. n proposition Max made to arhtratc the
| uucrlte0. Siue OF the limos we're opposed 60
! arbitration On tho Fronnd !hht there was moth
| itg to arhitratV, the pttahurG ana Gulf hAN
| "A
| inels for itEolt that the route via the gult
| porte MnH an unnatural Que mud should not he
| recognized, apd that, IN addition 10 this. the
concurrence Of the linra cast ot the Mlsfis-
! Hinp, river vita the Atlantic ports muNt be OBJ
| tanned TO any such arbitration, otherwise Il
| would be Impossible TO mako enectvo any de
! cipion according Go a dinerential To the pWts.
| tilrg and Gulf
! mo agreement having resulted from the
| New York conference and every other effort
| tn Hcoure solution of the question havlhH
] failed, We Individually notified the PttsburE
! gnh QUIZ OF the cancellation ot through rates
] and diyielonr."
There Is point of general interest IN
this that the roads violently resent the
right OF any one road TO assume to fix
difIercn,ial basis for ITSELF" or 20 lower
rates, but the suggestion OF special In
tcreat TO this section Is that the route via
the gulf ports was an unnatural one aud
should not be reoogniscdl
What this may mean In tho railroad
sense, or whether Il has any special ely
nihcsnce we can not say. but In the plslu
good English In which Il ia couohed ,t
states exactly the reverse OF the truth,
The natural route for the commerce Of the
region around Kansas city 20 the sea Is by
way OF the gulf ports and especially the
Texas ports, II Ia this argument that has
prevailed with tho shippers who have been
adding so greatly TO the export trade OF
this argument that prevailed with congress
when generous appropriations were made
for the Improvement OF Texas harbors.
The routes by way OF tho gulf ports
helng the natural, ones II is folly for tho
Eastern lines, or lines with principal
Eastern connections, 10 attempt 10 light
down the purely North and South iuos. II
may be ecme timo before the complete
revolution IN the direction Of the Western
shipments may be effected. but come Il
must In time and the Eastern lines are be-
ginning TO recognise that fact, Ny COM
pihe'iohs ana noyooVs atone can thcy
hope 70 crush such roads as the Kansae
city, rlttshurg ana dulr--lnacpendent
North and South iinos--or keep up the
rates to nulf ports, but It Is question
whether the courts will allow such meas-
urcs,
The gulf ports are destined to 40 vast
export and later grea, import business
and that al no distant day, and no arti.
ncal considerations or arrangements can
prevent such development along natural
| lines,