The Green Forest tribune., 1909-09-24
PEOPLE OR THE RAILROADS
Hearing on Proposed Reduction of Freight Rates Cost People of
 Texas Over Million Dollars.

By a vote of two to enc the Texas railroad commission postponed until February, 1910, the hearing on the proposed reduction in freight rates on cotton. The action of Chairman May field and Commissioner Colquitt, in thus deferring the hearing, in effect, cost the people of Texas over $1,000.- 900 on the shipment of this years cot ton crop, says Field and Ranch.
 A hearing would have shown them entitled to a reduction of this amount The same action gave the railroad companies the money which was lost to the people, Be it said to his credit, Commissioner Williams, the new member, dissented from the opinion of his colleagues.
 In offering excuses for delaying the really important matter which came up before the commission, Chairman Mayfeld was reported by the daily papers to have said:
 Tn the matter of the proposed re- duction in rates on cotton, the rail- road commissioners have recently had conference among themselves and among other things, they have reached the conclusion and this is a unanimous conclusion, that there ought to be a reduction in the rates on cotton as soon as the revenues of the railroads will warrant it. We thought when this case was set down that this condition existed Some of us nave recently been over consider able portions of the state Individu- ally, I have travelled over the central and northwestern portions in the last ten days, and I don't think I ever saw such sorry prospect for crops in Texas in my life and I have lived here all my life. The railroad com mission has recently, from time to time, during the present year, calen- dar year, ordered several of the rail roads directly interested in the trans. portation of cotton to make certain extensive improvements in the way tion and their equipment. If we cut down their revenues at this time, with the sorry prospect ahead of them, they must forego these i'm provements, if not still further cur tail their expenditures, which seems to be needed We expect to reduce the rates on cotton; at least that is our present intention, but at this junc- ture we believe it best to postpone this matter until the regular term in February next, and the case will be postponed accordingly"
 The ruling was greeted by the rail. road representatives with cheers. In another part of the paper, MT Summers describes this scene graphi- cally. Read 1t.
 The excuse of the commission is flimsy and easily punctured.
 First, crops are short Who can best bear financial calamity or de. pletion of income, the unjustly over- burdened producers of Texas whose chief source of revenue comes from the short cotton crop, or the wealthy companies whose railroad lines ex. tend throughout the whole nation and who at all times have sections where short crops are not felt?
 Should the farmer who has but lit. tie to ship this year, pay more for its shipment than such service is worth in order that the railroads rev enues may not be depleted in these times of general distress?
 Second, the companies had been or. dered to make extensive improve ments. What has that to do with a cotton rate hearing when a delay is to nurse an injustice, already many years old?
 Third, the commission admits that the rates ought to be reduced Why 1 then, should the people have to bear the extra tax, by the continuance of | this excessive rate?