The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-14


OF tho State TO such an alarming ex-
tent has II dominated commerce and II
imperiled the rights Of the people that \
the whole state 10 profoundly aroused
against It's corrupt and dangerous rule. II
One OF the leadlns California papers re-
ferred to the relation OF the people and
this company in 1895 as follows:
They say they are In the power OF
gigantic monopoly which owns the lines
OF roads connecting them with the
East or traversinE the state. and most
OF the steamships plying to foreign
countries. II is complained that every
business man in the State Is In the
hands Of this monopoly. and that busi-
ness 10 limited or actuslly destroyed
by the enormous freight charges inn
posed on local traffic. for the purpose
OF making good the losses Incurred
on the through traffic. This monopoly
enters into municipal as well as State
aifairs and corrupts the politics OF
both. Tho terrible tyrrany and the
extortion OF which California COM
plains Is an Instructive study OF what
can happen TO the body polite through
the greed of corporation, whose
only concern is 10 pile up fortunes for
its owners as RAPIDLY ss possible.
This corporation has entered the State
OF Texas, Has Il come TO pursue and re-
peat Its course In California In my
opinion this bill proposes to invest Hum
tington and the southern Pacific Hallway
company With opportunities TO plumber the
people OF Texas in manner so much more
runtous than those ot California that COM
parison Is n fueome flattery OF this meas
ure.
Huntington through the Southern pa
cine company now owns. and through the
election OF the directors OF the companies,
now operates the following roads In Texas
The Houston and Texas Central, the Iial-
weston. Harrisburg and San Antonio, inc
Texas and New Orleans, the Austin aud
| northwestern, the Sabine ana East TEXAS.
the Arkansas Pass. the New York, Texas and
Mexican, the Louisiana Western extension
and others. II Huntington owned no inter-
est In those roads, do you suppose that
they would be allowed to consolidate al one
terminal and thus destroy their compe-
t,iong No, they would not, ard u Il was
! attempted, the protests OF the people of
Texas and tho veto OF the governor would
stand as barrier against It. Hut now,
under the epeoious guise OF perpetual
whari property and privilege upon our
| coast, you are about TO sanction this out.
rage against the trade and traffic OF our
state ana place upon her people new
shackles OF corporate oppression.
These roads spread out In every direc.
ton over Texas; 10 tho cattle range OF the
vest TO the great producing sections OF
/ central Texas, and TO the mining and tim
Der sections OF the East, traversing tho
richest and most fertile sections OF the
\ state To give TO the dictator OF this
company and the ruler OF these roads this
sole perpetual and unparalleled wharf priv
ile6e III our greatest port means that you
consolidate not only the entire Huntington
stock OF these roads, but the remaining
! stock which Is controlled by him, and thus
the entire system forms one enormous con :
solidation By which they are forced to
deliver their freight, from every part OF
the State. on Huntingtons wharf forever,
and TO ship 1t abroad over his ocean stealu-
ship line. What greater monopoly could he
ask? All that he could Wish is embodied
in the terms OF this bill. Pass II and
Huntington, through the Southern Pacific
system, VIII become the absolute monarch
of transportation In Texas. Ms ho is In Cal
ifornin, and the produce of an Empire State
will be hurried into the nav OF an octo.
, pus that will consume every pront of pro-
ducuon In its Interstate and foreign
rates. The principal roads OF Texas will
stand consolidated with the greatest steam.
4 ship line In existence. And shippers oil
, freight along the lines mentioned In Texas
must send their produce abroad over one
line alone. No other roads can onmpeL,
. for this shipment. 1t win be In the hands
, OF the Southern Pacific company M
4 other ships can come to Huntingdon
: wharf; his pleasure is the supreme law
A Competing lines Of steamships will sal
}, away from Galveston without Texas
E freight, for that must go over the Hunt
o ington line alone. No single line OF rail
O way could brook the crushing competition
n OF such consolidation, and ere long. with
inevitable supremacy, this company woulc
- rule the transportation OF Texas, as Il
: does In California, and visit upon GU
a people the same extortionate rates thai
have blighted and blasted the industrial
interest OF that State,
h. IttAN aDIn IA
company, through Huntington, has beef
80 powerful In commerce and politics tina
= they have been unable TO prevent legisla
ton looking TO the construction OF tn
Nicaragua canal. IN former sessions o
congress And as long as republican su
premacy exists that company VIII raasol
that IL would shorten the distance OF hi
ocean shipments and reduce his freigh
revenues more than one-half.
II you give Huntington the privilege
he asks upon our coasts at Galveston b
I can and VIII prevent the opening OF an
other port upon tho Texas coast not alon
by his monopoly OF traffic, but by his re
publican influence in congress. and III
favoritism they show TO powerful cor
: porations. with these forces and hi
: ability to prevent other appropriations h
could with imperial dlctum forever forb
and prevent the opening OF other Texa
!, ports.
!, Ever since that affable ge1tieman Com
9 modorc Latte, enjoyed the exclusive
!, wharf privileges OF Galveston island ther
u nave been others who desired smlla
y privilege, and tho lordly successors OF hi
20 enterprsng crew are not less yersatl
y than their antecedents. With that "sua
It yiter IN modo" that charaeterizes yer
u satIle lineage, they adapt themselves !
= the situation with remarkable aptness
= The citizens OF this beautiful isle occup
tho anomalous position OF sending goo
y democrats TO represent them In Austin
&c and good republicans TO represent them
10 Washington Thus With perpetual repnf
z llcan representation In congress and wit
perpetual wharf privileges to great &
r publican corporation. they could still M
- the shade Of LATTE stalk about the ISL
with a new pride. ~
II has been asked why Huntington =
sired TO come to Galveston, and the fr
OF the bill have answered the AUG
by saying, ITO build up Galveston
the people Of Texas in transporting,
enormous products" But in my OF
he saw the future greatness OF that
and it's splendid Improvement by Y
States aid, aud II Is his sole desire
to fasten upon the commerce OF