The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-02-03


suits were filed. We knew what. perhaps.
you gentlemen have not fully Understood
and that is that upon the granting of the
Injunction against the commission the. old
rates would be restored pending the liti-
CATION. This was so because the statutes
OF the State have taken away absolutely
all the rate making power OF the railroads
and vested 1t In the commission We can
not make any rates, so when the commits
sion rates are suspended there arc no rates
but the old ones. The commission claims
that 1t could not make new rates without
jeopardizing the case and therefore would
not do so; hence, the railroads had no
option but to return to the old rates;
Judge Mccormick did not order us TO do
this, but refrained from requiring return
TO the old rates. He dealt only with the
system OF rates prescribed by the commits
sion. leaving IL free, or the railroads, II
authorized by the laws of the State, free
TO make other rates. The commission felt
that 1t could not make new rates with
out cndangering the case and the railroad
companies could not make them Legally,
so we were bound to return to the old
rates pending the litigation. We knew that
this sudden change at the hoghth of the
business season would cause dissatisfac-
ton.
Realizing all this, the railroads sub
United longer than they otherwise would
have done to what they believed to be un
reasonable reductions in their revenues.
year ago last summer IL was believed
that the reductions made by the commits
sion were so great that the courts should
be appealed to, but the Texas railroad
lawyers and others strongly advised
against 1t, because of the difficulties
have mentioned and because we believed
that rock bottom had been reached and
feared no further cuts. But the reductions
NJ ttr,.,. IL 4
'Texas roads believed II was choice be-
tween bankruptcy and contest with the
commission and--this appearing to us also
TO be the cage-thc contest followed.
Wo regretted II as much as any Of
you gentlemen could have regretted It,
| need not discuss the merits OF the con-
troversy or suggest the confidence we have
In our final success If the litigation con-
tinues. IL is sufficient to say that we de-
sire and have all along desired some ami
cable arrangement. We have offered to
and are perfectly willing to concede many
points of advantage that we believe Will
be granted IT the litigation were to con-
inue. SO far as we have progressed in
the negotiations we have surrendered at
least ten times as much as We believe we
could gain by continuance of the litiga-
tion and we do this In order TO maintain
the good will Of our patrons and of the
commission and secure an adjustment OF
all differences.
1--WE have not asked the commits
sion to surrender n single power
conferred upon il by the laws OF
the state, All we hnyc asked is u
rcprrHngcment of the tariffs that
viii secure us reasonable rates. In
deed. the rites we have offered to
accept are stiiI unreasonable md
much lower than we are cptitIeil
to, hut we will submit to them in
order TO bring about nniicaSic rcia-
tions.
I'VE arc ready and willing. as we have
always been, to waive many rights TO which
We are entitled and believe we can main
tain and to accept less than We are en-
titled to II by so doing we can remove all
friction and secure amicable relations. An
adjustment without mutual concessions IL
impossible. We waive and concede much
more than we ask the commission to waive
and concede. We earnestly desire n set
Element and we believe that the commits
sioners desire. We are negotiating with
them and are earnestly endearoring tc
work out this great problem, and we be-
lieve we will succeed We are glad &c
have your announcement and to know
that you appreciate the situation and favor
a fair adjustment.
I'VE have asked the commission
to rcndiust it's tariffs and to aiIo,,
us certain incrcnse OF revenue
they are not willing to go to tho
extent that we desire, hut have
mnde us counter proposition
which we have decided TO accept
though II Is much less than we ar.
| emitted to.
1T remains now for the traffic men ant
commission experts to work out the detail
so as to accomplish this result. IL is
very difficult tack and will require soy
eral dnys. If we can agree upon thes
details the problem will be solved, bu
It'll ~
arise respecting tho figures to be uset
and that after all settlement may be de
feated. We sincerely hope that this vii
not be the case, for our concessions hay
been LIBERAL but there Is point beyon
which We can not go, because 1t woul
mean ruin. / do not believe that you o
| that the people of Texas wish to ruin tn
railroads OF the State. You are entitled {
all the improvements and to as good ser
| vice as traffic and business will afford.
1--WE are sure that the commission doe
not wish to seriously injure the railrond
of the State. but means to be fair TIL
| difference therefore, IL one of opinion
and 1T is an honest difference. We ar
| glad TO know that you are ready to secon
| all efforts that may be made to reach
| fair adjustment: that you realize tina
there are two sides to the controversy an
| that you are prepared to sustain both tn
| commission and the railroads in their OF
your great influence to secure this ad
| justment and bring about the cordial GOO
will that should exist between the rail
roads and the other interests OF the states
which are so dependent upon each other.
At the conclusion OF Mr.. r.ovott's re
marks, which made splendid impression
Alex Sanger OF Dallas was added TO thu
committee. as the representative OF dr..
goods interests. and the meeting adjourned
to call upon the governor.
At the executive office the visitors wer
cordially received and an interchange o
views was had. The governor assured hi
callers that he was in sympathy with then
In their efforts to bring about an amicabl
settlement OF the trouble between the com
mission and the railroads. providing tina
no material surrender OF the commission
authority and no curtailments Of its pow
ers was contemplated. He was anxious 4
have peace, he said. if 1t could be Sc
cured upon honorable terms and withou
injury 10 the State and its people.
EVERYBODY PLEASED.