The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-05-25

OF IeXas SO lar as freight rates are con-
cerned is proving the most difficult
problem railroad officials have had to
tackle in some time, The committee APP
pointed for the purpose submitted solu-
tion yesterday, which caused the liveliest
discussion and upon which the lines in
terested failed to agree during the two
sessions held.
The committee recommended the aboll-
tion of the blanket rate, which practically
applies to all Texas points, and the d.
vision of the State into groups, placing
each distributing center in the group, to
which it naturally belongs territorially.
While no recommendation was made re-
gardlng the number of groups the COM
mittee Is understood to favor two d.
visions, one for Northern points and one
for Southern. II this is done the tariff
to Northern Texas points will be lowered
somewhat and those in effect to Southern
points raised considerably. In this way
shippers would be made to pay according
to the length OF the haul the revenues of
the various lines would be maintained
and, it is thought, the demands of the
commission would thus be satisfactorily
met. About the latter supposition there
is some doubt, but the traffic men take it
for granted that If tariff of this sort is
put into effect in way to eliminate all
possible discrimination, neither the Texas
nor the Arkansas commissions could in
reason complain.
Before the matter is settled, it may lead
to a readjustment of rates to Southern
and Western points not in the Southwest
ern association territory. The change
necessitated is so great that 10 can not
but have its effect upon through rates
and therein lies one of the greatest diff
culties of the problem.
The report OF tae committee was pre-
sented at the morning session and was
discussed the remainder of the session.
Several Of the lines objected TO the report
and claimed that it would cuase them a
loss in business which would Tot be
caused to other lines. Some OF the roals
expressed themselves in favor of trying 10
reach an adjustment by raising the basis
to Texarkana and Shreveport so as to
bring it on parity with the basis in
effect to Dallas, Waco, Fort Worth ald
other distributing centers. Others thought
that this would be jumping out of the fry
ing pan into the fire on account OF the
attitude OF the Arkansas commits ion.
In fact, there was no escaping the con-
clusion that the Texas lines are between
the devil and the deep sea, the devil
being the Texas commission AID the deep
sea the Arkansas commission.
A proposition to lower the basis to the
distributing centers from which the COM
plants have come did not meet with any
serious consideration, for it means a loss
OF revenue Of from 10 to % per cent, and
this the roads do not like to contemplate.
They say that rates are as low now ds
they ought to be and that some way must
be found out of the difficulty which will
meet the demands and at the same time
conserve revenue.
The feellnS against tue icAao No4iAAAS
sion and against the shippers and joooers
who have caused the trouble is BITTER
It is stated that the complaints when
caused the commission to put the emer-
gency rate into effect have been carefully
examined and that there is nothing TO
them. In one case, for example, TWO
shipments made from st. Louis to Dallas
and complained Of were found to have
been made by a railroad official 70 MS
father and brother-in-law. The trouble
is caused it is said, by petty jealousy
among jobbers, who are afraid OF COM
petition which never materializes inc
committee plan OF settlement meets with
considerable favor on account OF the TACT
it will serve as punishment to the peo-
pie who have stirred up the comm lssion
against the roads. 1t will be case OF
the jobbers and shippers having killed the
goose which lays the golden eggs.