The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-09-06

This classification was in force until the
first Of the present year, when the
Southern classification committee issued
new schedule advancing the olassiflca-
tfon on about half the articles on tho
classified list. When there was protest
against their classification a new sched-
ute was issued advancing the classical
ton of most of the remaining articles
on the classified list.
Railroad men claim that the State
boards OF railroad commissioners will not
be able to accomplish any practical re-
suits. They say that the adoption of a
uniform State classification by the diff
ferent States can have no effect upon
interstate business and that 1t will be
q convenience to the railroads TO have
the classifcations in all tAe States the
same.
AT the same time the railroads are be-
ginning to recognize the strength of the
opposition to the very high freight rates
in Southern territory, and they recognize
that when the matter reaches the courts,
as it is bound TO do. the fact that tho
State commissioners have seen tit TO
adopt a classification made by the rail-
roads themselves will be point against
them.
The question OF the reasonableness or
brought into question. and all that is
asked by the railroad commissioners OF
the South or the shippers of the Nortn
is a restoration OF the rates OF year
ago. The railroads fixed these rates
themselves, and, therefore, could hardly
claim that they we're unreasonahly low,
and Southern business instead OF deereas-
ing has improved during the last year
The Merchants a Isolation OF New
~ 49,, ,ue re
to make a case based upon the unreason-
ableness of the present rates, and the
action Of the Lookout mountain meeting
will not in any way interfere with TINS
action.
]. D. Hashagen, Eastern agent of the
Plant system. in discussing the mater
said THE fight over Southern freight
rates is an old one. II has been KEPT
I'D in one way or another TOT twenty
years. Anyone who knows anything ABOUT
railroad matters knows that there is a
great deal of buncombe in agitations OF
this kind. Railroad commissioners are
politicians. and employees OF certain mef
camille organizations have to appear 10
be earning their salaries. :.
This matter appears TO me now to pe
a legal one. The law, OF course, pro-
vides that rates shall be reasonable, and
we hold that rates are reasonable u
should be rememnered tnat clhte noes
of railroad commissioners has no lnrls-
/ diction over rates outside OF its OWE
State,
/ III the rates in all the States in the
South were the same that would nave
no effect on the rate upon shipment o.
goods from one State to another No
combination OF State railroad commits
sioners can have any voice In fixing th'
rates on interstate business.
"a great many States have their owl
classihc ton now, and II all the State:
would agree upon the same classification
providing that 1t was not too unIesson
able. il would be a good thing for I'M
railroads. II would save them money
in the matter of printing and IN otnel
ways. 1t would enable them to have Jus
two schedules printed for all their agents
one to be used for business within the
state and the other for interstate bus
/ mess"