The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-07-19

30 this commission FOR relief Rsiief
means Encouragement of tariffs so as to
equalize rates TO and from raXas com
mon points with rates to and fr5n Tea
arkana, Marshall and Shreveport
On March 27, 1900 after due notice, a
public hearing was had osfors h. COR
mission, the shippers complaining on ac-
count of their just grie 'ancss and the
transportation lines protesting against
any change involving reduction in
freight charges. Action Of tie commits
sion has been postponed from time to
time in order that the rail lines interested
might have opportunity o solve he ST.
flculty. it is obvious to MY mind trat
conditions will remain unchanged until
positive action Is taken Dy the r1lrosd
! commission of Texas. This commission is
without the power and can not adv nee
che rates to Texarkana, Marshall and
Shreveport. The rail lines interested rep
resent that they can not ana viii not
make the advances necessary to oGutl lzc
the different places concerned Derides,
these rates being voluntarily establi, he'd
and of long standing, musS be accepted
as reaonable and just, and under such
circumstances any tribunal clothed with
authority to act should, only as last
resort, compel an advance in rates to
these points, This commission has tire
legal authority to advance Il e rates from
Texarkana and Marshall to points within
the State. but to do so woIld deny to Inc
citizens of those places the benefits ac-
cruing from rates admitted to be Just
and reasonable and the exercise of such
power would appear arbitrary and indie
fensibe. Moreover. as the rates to and
from Shreveport can not be alt.rsd ty
this commission. the advance I'M rates
from Texarkana and Marshall would lave
the effect of damaging those towns with
NIat In of fAf nor
it is needed. In my judgment here is
one simple, just and adequate solution of
the problem. reduction in the
rates from st. Louis and all defined ter
ritory TO Texas common points rpcn a
basis fairly proportioned 10 chose now in
force to Texarkana, Marshall ard Shreye-
port, together with some advances IN the
rates from Shreveport to Texas common
points. will remove, To large extent, II
not altogether. the inequalities. Injustice
and unfairness now so manifest The
power to do this rests With the railroads
within this State land / employ these
words advisedly). and their power N this
respect is wholly unrestraued. They
have had abundant opportunity end ha' Q
refused to act. decline to consider
the sham lately presented by them as an
adjustment. a measure cf relief cen be
afforded by a reduction of the rates APP
plying entirely within the Stats. Such
action on the part of this commission will
do no injustice to the railroads involved.
To that end, predicated upon the no.
tce heretofore given. 1 reco 1mend that
| such commodities as are shipped u Tex
arkana at less than Texas common POINT
rates, when shipped within the State shall
be subject to rs per cent of the rate new
applicable, and that an order be promul-
gated specifying In detail the several
commodities involved, and the precise
rate TO apply. That If rates - Texas
common points be readjusted iIToh {. fair
ard equitable basis with those now az
plying to Texarkana. Marshall and Shreve-
port, then this order shall be calcei.ei
Allison Mayfield, Commissioner