The Jimplecute. (Jefferson, Tex.) 18??-1907, 1904-08-27
The Mileage Tariff Rate.

ho ibONOhOhb iCOOheiJ iuutku-
rated to change the cotton rate to
the seaboard to mileage, instead of
the present manner of proratipg is
the proper thing and the state rail-
way commission should take the
matter up at once SO that this fall
crop can get the benefit of it, 1t
would be wrong to put it off until
the bulk of the crop is marketed
and then make it effective, this
deprivipg the planter of any BEN
eft which may arise from the
change. The duty of the commits.
sion is to see that injustice is done
no one. In making effective the
mileage rate it would seem that no
injustice would be done any one
provided the rate per mile was not
made excessive. All interested
parties sh ould take the proposi-
ton up Immediately and press it
before the railway commission.
Every planter interested should
write the commission on the sub.
ject so that they may know how
those who raise the cotton feel on
the subject. Such letters will not
pass unheeded nor be without
effect. The following from the
Galveston News is suffici emily
plain:
1.-The present rate on cotton from
the interior to Galveston is made
by adding 6 cents per 100 pounds
to the rate to Houston. The so.
called maximum rate of Sd cents to
Houston is reached at a point on
the various railroads 1875 miles
from Houston.-say, for sake of H.
Illustration, on the Houston and
Texas Central railway at Thornton
(169 miles), and this rate is main
tanned to Iowa Park on the Fort
Worth and Denver City 40 miles
from Houston, hence a great in.
justice is done to railways in max.
ing them haul the cotton from
Iowa Park to Thornton, 242 miles,
for absolutely no compensation,
and a corresponding injustice is
done to the farmer or merchant
living in the district between Hous.
ton and Thornton by making him
pay so high rate for the short
distance that will enable the rail
ways to perform the said 242 miles
for nothing. This seems SO clear
that he who runs may read
"Again, by the operation of this
tariff shipper at Denison car
send cotton to Houston, a distance
of 1897 miles, for Sd cents per 10(
, pounds, but shipper at Mexia or
the same line of railway, must pay
, go cents for haul of $50 miles tc
Galveston and, this abnormaI
state of affairs exists from al
points in the state on cotton sem
to Galveston, and when it is con.
sidered that seven eights of the
| entire crop of Texas cotton pass
J through Galveston, the loss in the
, freight rate to the farmer by this
strange tariff serious and shoulc
be remedied at once. If the rat,
of 50 cents for a given distance is
fair to the carrier when the cottor
is shipped to Houston, why is thu
!. same rate for the same distances
, under similar circumstances no
: fair when the destination is Gal
, weston? 1t is to be expected tina
q the Railway Commission will an
9 swer this question.
C "The proposed mileage tarii
: now before the Railway Commits
= sion proposes that all rates shall
be based upon the distance tn
goods are hauled and grades tn
rate 1 cent per 100 pounds TO
fifty miles after distance of 2O'
: miles is reached, instead of charg
ing the same rate for 1865 miles a
y for a 400-mile haul. The pre-
r posed tariff does not raise the pres
. ent freight rate until after dis
lance of $50 miles. and nearly al
shipping points with their contrib
!. utary territories situated on tn
=. railways between 1855 aud 3S
miles from Galveston will get
reduction of from 5 cents to 3
> cents per bale, according to dir
!, lance. Besides, by reconstruct
ing the present iniqutous cotto
tariff, justice would be done to a
portions of the state, making ther
pay all alike, according to the dis
lance of tho haul.
Z "The News suggests that pet