The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-01-05
And Reduction Of Rates on Salt We're
Taken Up by the Commission.
BOTH WERE TAKEN UNDER AMUSEMENT
commissioners Reagan md Mayneld
Stated Underbilling was Conn
mon on Cotton shipments.

15 cents In common point territory.
(Taken under advisement.)
proposition TO place the Weighing Of
cotton for shipment by rail under the SUI
pervision Of the Texas Sar Service asso-
citation, and to obtain the weights OF com
pressed cotton through the compress COM
panles.
(Tshon under advisement)
A proposition to place Sabine Pass and
Port Arthur on the same basis as Calves
ton in the matter of rates.
fNot yet taken up.)
A proposition to establish maximum
OF Ii 1-2 cents in common point territory
for the transportation Of lumber.
(Taken under advisement.)
A proposition to apply the millet seed
rate to less than carload shipments OF
COW peas.
(Not yet taken up.)
proposition TO. abolish the returned
shipment. privilege on agricultural inn
plements authorized on certain lines OF
railroad.
(Not yet taken up.)
The question OF adjusting the switching
charge to be paid by railroads at Fort
Worth.
POSTPONED for fifteen days,)
Austin. Texas. January 4.--Hearing oil
the different matters pending before the
railroad commission having been resumed
this morning. the lumber rate question
was taken under Amusement and the
question of salt rates was taken up. Cor
respondence on the subject was read for
and AGAINST reduction and proposition
! looking TO the abolition OF ell special
salt tariffs and to the PRONUNCIATION oil
a mileage tariff with a lucent maximum
was submitted for discussion.
! Manager Earnest OF the Grand Saline
Salt works advocated reduction Of rates
| and submitted figures showing that the
/ Texas salt RITE is higher than the same
rate in other States. Texas salt manufac-
| turers, he said. are unable to obtain rate,
| that will enable them to meet Michigan
and Kansas competition in Arkansas and
the Indian Territory. although nearer to
many points therein than such compe-
tition which, however got rates that en-
! able H. to do business in Texas. The salt
| business. Mr.. Earnest declared, is in the
hands of trust outside of Texas, agains
which the Texas manufacturer can mo-
compete without protection in the matter
of freight rates. Did not believe interstate
salt rates to Texas are being maintained
The rate at which Kansas salt is beins
sold at Fort Worth, Texarkana and othei
points forced him to this conclusion.
Mr.. Bein of the Houston and Texa.
Central explained that the reduction II
salt rates made in the-early part OF thu
year from st. Louis to points on that line
had been forced by interstate competitor
and was necessary to preserve it an,
salt business. The reduced rate was still
cents per 100 pounds higher than tht
maximum Texas rate, however. The
question was one entirely of competition
! between salt manufacturers, he thought
and it did not look right to him to use
the railroads for purposes of equalization
of advantages in the premises. Traffi,
was moving freely under existing rate
and he therefore saw no necessity for low
ering them. The Texas salt manufactur
ers are doing more business on the Hous
ton and Texas Central now than befor
the interstate rate from Kansas was re
duced. That the profit on this bushes
was not as great as the salt manufsctur
er would like to have it is not the rail
roads fault. Active outside competition
was responsible for the small profits am
he objected to compelling the railroad
to make up loss OF revenue to the manu-
facturers.
Mr.. Moelier OF Galveston, as consume
= of salt, ventured the opinion that witt
: the railroad on the one side and tn
manufacturer on the other the con
sumner is between the devil and the dee
blue sea. The way TO benefit the con
sumner In the premises was in his opinion
to reduce the rate on salt from Texa
ports to distances OF 200 miles TO cent
per 100 pounds. This would stimulate
the importation of Liverpool salt, Civ
the port lines return loads and force tn
Michigan. Kansas and Texas manufactur
ers to lower their prices,
Mt. Turner of the International an
Great Northern asserted that the Lon
Star Salt works are able under existin
rates 10 successfully meet all competitio
on that line.
j. W. Allen, general freight agent o
the Katy, said that the 26-eent rate O.
sslt from ST. Louis is proportional rate
There is no salt produced in st. Louis
All salt shipped from there has pal
freight In and the Lone Star Salt work
! are at no disadvantage owing TO the e
cent rate from ST. Louis. Twice as muc
Texas salt was used in the State last yea
as there was Michigan, Kansas, Louisi
ana and imported salt Texas manufac
turers have an advantage of SO cents pc
h barrel over Michigan salt and 81 LIZ cent
per barrel over Kansas salt.
/ Mr.. Goodwin of the Santa Fe said thu
, the rates obtaining in Kansas had T
bearing On the Texas situation. The ne
. cessities Of the traffic dictated the rate
4 and local and not foreign condition
should ba considered In the making
tariffs. Denied that the Santa Fe ha
) refused TO give the Lone Star Salt worl
rates to Indian Territory points. Had r,
fused 10 make them as low as Mr.. Earne:
wanted. but was willing TO give him II
! same rate to such points as the Santa +
t. could earn on Kansas salt TO the san
Q points. The movement OF Kansas sal
d was steadily decreasing. Mr.. Goodwy
D said yet the commission was asked
/ make a 20 per cent reduction IN Texs
a rates on account of Kansas competition.
: Mr.. Bein stated that sc per cent Of II
salt handled by the Houston and Text
Central last year was Texas salt I
against per cent OF Kansas salt
Recess till p. m,
At the afternoon session Mr. Shirley
: the Fort Worth and Denver objected to
s reduction In salt rates and denied that I
: Texas roads are inimical to local indu
r tries. but simply try to give local poir
: the benefit of interstate competition
J. For the Texas and Pacific Judge Ere
9 man submitted that the proposed 50
! tariff meant reduction OF % per cent
. single line haul and p per cent on joi
s hauis. The Grand Saline and the Col