The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-05-03
THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE ACT AND THE
BEEF TRUST.

In spite of the earnest advocacy of amendment to
the interstate commerce act by many Of the most i'm.
porant commercial bodies in the United States and the
argument of the president the line in his
sage, congress has failed to take up this most mpor
tant subject.
The amendment of the interstate commerce act is
crying necessity, not only because owing to the de-
csion of the supreme court that the commission has
not the legal power to enforce its findings, it has
been for years in anomalous position not only be-
the railways public and their rates
should be open to all shippers alike but because de.
fecve provisions of the act have operated as to
strengthen the hands OF trusts like the beef trust
which is holding the people OF this country by the
throat.
This is brought about in this way It will be remem-
bered that before the interstate commerce commission
sitting in Chicago in January several prominent rail-
road testified that their roads had been subjected
to rate hod.up by the great packers. So vast is the
volume OF business controlled by many the packers
that possible for them go the railroads and
demand reduction of very much below the regu
lar rates which the small shipper has pay and the
railroads forced down or lose the bust.
ness.
OF course such proceeding is in violation OF the In.
terstae commerce act but the is defective that
its mandates not be enforced and it is continually
violated with impunity
Many people have idea that the Interstate com
merce act enforced would work to the injury of the
railroads Here is an instance where it would work to
their benefit. The law prevents combinations on the
part of the railroads to keep up their rates but it
now stands, the law does not prevent holdups for rate
reduction like that practlced by the packers.
AS to the benefit that would result to the people
from interstate commerce act that could be en-
forced it would be enormous Besides putting an end
to the gross preferences given by the railroads some
times voluntarily. sometimes lnvoluntarily. it would
put the packers their fair share of freight ex
penses and keep them from growing so inordnately
strong and prosperous as to attempt extortionate
squeezes like that under which the people of this
country suffering. Congress should take up
the question Of amending the interstate commerce act
and give 1t its immediate and earnest attention
THOUSANDS of men in the building trades of Ptsburg
strike they doubtless their wages raised to
where they occasionally buy beef.
MAo1AY might better have pulled the hole in after him
and kept quiet
GOVERNOR DAVIS of Arkansas has returned home to
answer charges of bad department The idea OF drinking
being bad department in Arkansas
THE landhins seems determined to hang on to those
islands until the lashiug
AS SOON the pistol learns that can live and be
happy without acting as carriage he will be glad it
happened.
THERE is satisfaction knowing that Moody can not be
worse than the he succeeds.
The consumption of beef has fallen of 81 Ia per cent
WIN some individuals IT has fallen off altogether
MAetAYs first history stab al an honest old hero
and the revision is twisting the knife.
VIeTos EMMANUEL has pardoned the American tars
Strike up the band here comes Jolly sailor"
Now YOU have year longer in which to save enough
money to see the ST. Louis Worlds Fair