The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-01-22
Mr.. Shearn Stated Why Milling in Transit
Rule Should Be Abolished.
1T CREATES A MONOPOLY WHICH IS Hr1pTE,u
TOOK the Question Under Also the
OF ta' cars instead Of Box Cars Testimony Given
in Each Case.

~ but With liberal and Just recon
signing privilege the spectators would
De on the ground The very minute the
crop was harvested 10 buy all the grain
the farmer could produce and frequently
pay MIN more than they could ever ger
CUT OF AZ, and he comes at q time, too,
When the farmer needs money most 10
help gather his cotton crop. One year
OF me reconsigning privilege has shown
the local dealers IN die gn,in producing
districts that he Us no longer king; it
gives the farmer the reins and to their
surprise he knows how to pull them,
hut Ndth this minimum balance tno local
dealer expects TO again WELD the ,scepter
Ok mononoly and bring the poor farmer
cringlng to his feet.
Gentlemen, throw open the doors of
competition and give every section a
talr show to make an honest living. We
are supposed TO live IN a free country
and We Of South TeXls would like TO
know what our North Texas brother has
done to make him more worthy or why
he should be specially favored IN our
struggle for bread.
As to the railroads / can not see
wherein 1t should work hardship 10
them to retain reconslgnment arrange
ments from Houston on an equal basis
with other points in the State. As only
surplus is recbnslgned the local con-
sumption OF grain at Houston would be
just as great with a recons.gnment ar
rangement as there would be without it,
and the surplus would have TO fad
marke, whether he'd in Houston on in
the grain producing section and to reach
the market the railroad companies would
get just as much for tho haul as they
would il shipped direct--in fact they get
more out Of IT, as this honorable conf
mission has allowed them 81 per car on
each car recons gned, which certainly is
enough for the little trouble it may give
them for shipping same. Besides the
railroad company collects the money for
and has the use OF the maximum rate of
freight until a reoonsignment is made,
which is sometimes delayed for six
months, 1t is very Significant that only
the interstate liaes oppose a gn-
ment of Texas grain aud have asked for
this minimum balance in the hope that
1t would entirely kill the reconsignments
in tn 5 State. II is their desire TO get
the grain raised In this State out of IL as
quickly as possible after 1t is raised, so
they can fill UP the dep eted stocks with
Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri grain
thus giving them a haul both out and
into the Safe Our strictly State lines
favor reCons gument from Houston and
other concentrating points on an equal
basis and they are fully aware that the
interstate lines are doing all in their
have ony to ance at one OF their late
supplements making rates on mixed car
loads from interstate points. and l am
glad to note that this commission has
made it one Of the subjects Of this re-
hearing With that tariff the entire local
business of our State lines VIII be de-
stroyed unless this commission will
grant similar rulings to apply on ship
ments originating in this State.
| institutions have bepu built in
Houston Of considerable Importance
based upon former privileges granted by
this commission, which privileges our
strictly State roads were satisfied With
they being equal with other points in the
State. No objection could be had to
them except that IL made more competi-
ton for the North Texas dealer and the
farmer given a chance at the markets
of the entire State at the time the bulk
OF gram 10 thrown on the market, and
destroys the monopoly OF the local dealer
Houston's trade and interests demand
! recons gnlng privileges, and unless your
honorable body will grant them on an
: equal basis With other State points she
viii and can make them with inters tate
lines. What viii be the result? All the
; territory reached by reconsighment
from Houston will be entirely debarred
from buying a single pound Of grain
raised IN this State. Her citizens VIII
be driven to other States to buy their
supplies, and the farmer OF this State
will see the grain of other States pass
his door and he plenty to sell. God for
bid that such should ever be the case.
May equal rights, equal rates and equal
rulings be always maintained by this
commission State reconsignment ar
engagements on an equal basis with other
points VIII compel the Houston dealer
10 buy all OF his grain In this state for
the reason that by doing so he can get Il
out again. With such conditions com
petition is made which gives the Texas
GARNER often a premium over the market
price for his grain
Now. gentlemen. / would like 10 know
why the Houston merchant should be cut
out OF competition with the balance OF
! the State by compelling them to pay !
cents per 100 pounds more freight L
reach a common rate point, and tha
point his legitimate trade territory?
Mr.. Harry Landa o. the New Braunfels
! mill said he wanted the rule abolished.
Mr. Kell Of the Wichita Falls mills
a wanted the rule maintained, saying tina
he could see no reasons for changing It
4 and THAI ne had heard from mhny 40 Il
: Texas grain dealers and they were of tn,
: same opinion. He also said thai ne wal
able TO compete with other mills unde
o the present rules. Our tsrmers In Norti
3 Texas are all rich, as there are no poe
I people UP there, as are claimed 10 be II
r South Texas. The abrogation OF the pres
y emit rule would put the business Ia III,
= hands OF a faw, as in Kansas, and shu
y out $50 grain men now doing business Il
che State. Let us continue under tn
| present rule until The end q the seas n
r and If South Texas needs grain, We vii
4 receive them with open arms ana Civ,
, them all the grain they want"
. lis not he grain season over?" aske,
! Commissioner Mayaeid
"Ycs, sir; but We are still conc sntrat
ing grain"
Mr. Shearn said that the grain dealer
| OF Houston hal invested in their bu 4
! ness, relying on the stability OF IN 90 "a
' missions rdles He m de tie Ia men
! after Commissioner Mayfield slii tina
he could see no reason for changing tn,
rule.
President Harrison OF the Texas Grail
Dealers association did not waat tn
/. rule changed, and Submitted TWEEN y-si,
! letters from grain men Who wanted III
4 rule maintained.
Mr.. Sterley, assistant general frsigh
n