The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-04-18
STOPPING IN TRANSIT.
Matter Is Now on Hearing Before the Rail-.
road Commission.
EFFORT At COMPROMISE UNSUCCESSFUL
Freight Men Testified that the Baou
HAM Practice Was Bad one
and should BE stopped.

ieNoS, Aprll lt.--Pursuant to
notice issued March 27, the railroad com
mission this morning took UP the matter
Oh revising its regulations governing the
privilege Of stopping grain in transit.
Prior to the opening OF the hearing the
traffic men and representatives OF the
texas Grain Dealers association presen.
conferred together with view to coming
10 an understanding in the matter Of back
hauls that would result in the submission
oil mutually satisfactory adjustment 10
the commission for its approval, but moth
Ing came OF the conference, as 1t was found
Impossible for the parties thereto to meet
on common ground
The hearing having opened, Chairman
Reagan said he would like to hear dis
cussion on two points: First, Whether
back hauling should be permitted any,
where except where there is milling
plant nearer to point OF origin back from
SAID point than the closest plant in the
other direction. Second, whether the six
months stop over privilege could not be
taken advantage of by spectators to cor
ner the grain market
On the latter proposition Secretary Cren-
shaw said that although the six months
stopover privilege was voluntarily granted
by the railroads In a number of States, it
nad not been abused In the manner sug-
gested. Mr.. Crenshaw then read the re-
vision OF the rules proposed by the Grain
Dealers association. Among other things
the association asks that eight months
snall be the limit of time to be consumed
at stopping points. 1t also asks that there
shall be no extra charge for stopping grain
In transit except on ear corn stopped to be
shelled or on shipments of grain or hay
rejected by consignee, provided the original
shipping point and the point at which the
grain Is stopped are located upon the same
line OF road.
On the subject of back haul, the associa-
ton asks that the combined mileage 10
and from stopping point shall be employed
TO determine the rate applicable, charge
or cent per ton per mile to be made for
back hauls In excess of fifty miles IL the
rate on grain from original shipping point
to stopping point or from stopping point
to final destination is equal to the maxi
mum rate; the stopover privilege not be
available when the additional distance is
greater than $50 miles.
Mr.. Jones, general freight agent of the
Houston and Texas Central. opposed back
hauling and stopping in transit privileges
en- general principles. He did not think
the railroads should be required to per-
form free service of any kind.
@. F.. Gribbel Of Sherman insisted that
the oat crop can rot be handled without
concentration, II the producer is to get
anything like fair price for it.
Recess to Up. m.
At the afternoon session Frank Kell Of
Wichita Falls spoke in support Of the
proposition submitted by the Grain Deal
ers association and he and Mr.. Grlbble
OF Sherman said that they did not be-
Neve the practice of reshipping corn from
Galveston elevators back into the interior
under tho back haul clause was leSti-
mate or in accord with the spirit OF the
commissions rules on the subject
With regard to the fiftymile free back
haul demand, Mr.. Kell explained that it
was necessary to accede to it TO afford the
producer competition in the sale of his
grain as without 1t many buyers would
be shut out Of the territory in which they
are entitled to do business against buyers
in line of destination. Buyers in the
northern part of the State must be al
lowed back haul privileges to compete sue
cessfully with buyers more fortunately To-
Gated in The central portion Of the State.
believed that SIX months limit on the
time consumed at stopping point was suf-
fcient. He insisted that the milling in
transit of wheat stored in transit must
be permitted TO render storing in transit
Of much value as a privilege.
General Freight Agent Turner Of the
International and Great Northern opposed
back hauling, concentrating and recourse
giving privileges as a whole; did not sec
why If granted on one commodity they
should not be granted on all; admitted
that the railroads themselves were to
large extent responsible for the practice
and thought the time had arrived for
abandoning II. as II threatens to spread
until everything moved by railroads will
be affected thereby; thought grain should
pay 50 per car for the privilege of stop
ping in transit.
Mr.. Dorset OF Weatherford contended
that any advantage afforded grain dealers
for handling the grain crop reyerts to the
benefit of the producer as the latter profits
therefrom by getting better prices in pro-
portion as the cost OF marketing the crop
is reduced.
At the conclusion OF Mr.. Dorset's re-
marks the hearing adjourned and the
matter was taken under advisement.