The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1912-03-26
THE TEXAS COMMISSION
Has No Power or Authority For In
reference or For Discrimination
on Shipments from Louisiana.

| by the United States Interstate Com
lmedce Commission, the Texas Rail
way Commission is divested of its
power and assumed authority to fix
arbitrary rates for the purpose of
eliminating commercial traffic into
the State of Texas from Louisiana.
The contention against the despOt
! ic ruling on the part Of the Texas
Railway Commission has been long
and tedious. 1t was inauguerated
several years ago by the Shreveport
| Traffic Association of which Capt.
NJ. L. Scovell was secretary and
On him devolved the details as we'll
as all the important connections in
cidentaI to the active preliminary
essential to legal proceeding
from which to obtain justice.
After the Shreveport Traffic A~sH-
citation had been absorbed by the
Chamber of Commerce, the work
started by Capt. Scovell was taken
up by Geo. T. Atkins, traffic mana
ger of the Chamber of Commerce, a
gentleman thoroughly posted with
years of practical experience in Tex
as.
1t was a task that required patti
ence, persistence and neVer-let-up
energy, which has finally culminat-
ed in the most satisfactory of result.
In this contention against the over
ruling of the Texas Commission, the
State of Louisiana contributed its
part, secured through the efforts of
State Senator T. C. Barret and Hon.
Leon R. Smith, representing Caddo
Parish in the General Assembly, by
providing an appropriation of 5000
with which to prosecute the plead
ings.
It may be related that Shreveport
had appealed to the Louisiana Rail
lrOad Commission TO secure relief
from the Texas Commission, but all
efforts to obtain justice were futile.
To the proceedings already insti-
tuted, Col. Pleasant, of Shreveport,
assistant attorney general. who is
the Democratic nominee for attor~
ney general of the State was assign
ed and he Immediately enlarged the
scope of the proceedings against the
Iselfish and arbitrary attitude of the
Texas despotism.
IT may be stated that more than a
year was spent in the necessary pre-
paration during which time Traffic
Manager Atkins of the Chamber OF
Commerce was arranging the infor-
nation he had gathered. There was
"a hearing of the complaint in
shreveport, but the arguments We're
heard in Washington, D. c., where
the Chamber of Commerce was re-
presented by Luther M. Walter, of
Chicago, formerly one of the special
examiners of the Interstate Com
merce Commission.
The decision of the national COM
lmission is in substance that a rail
road shall not even under the at
tempted compulsion of State com
mission, discriminate against inter
state traffic and that justice must be
done regardless of state lines.
This is common sense, and com
mon sense, the rarest of all senses
: is law.
If Texas, through it's commission
can erect commercial barriers which
shall exclude Louisiana from it
boundaries, by the same arbitrar.
proceedings Louisiana could exclud
Mississippi and Arkansas and Miss
louri and other states from its limits
but fortunately such discrimination
and such arbitrary interference i
not to be tolerated in this progress
i've era of intelligent and substantia
development.
It is not possible now to determin
what may be the action of the Texa
= Commission which may be appeale
to the United States Supreme Cour
= where some delay, perhaps year G
: more may be obtained, but, possibl
q land as indicated by telegram fror
"A Austin, Texas, the decree of the n;
- tional commission may be accepte
IL by the Texas Commission withoU
Is further contention However, ,Shrev
port and the State of Louisiana ha,
every reason for qualification owe
IT this signal legal achievement whic
90 unquestionablywould be sustained
Supreme Court of the Unite
= States if it should be appealed
Is THAT tribunal.
o1 This ruling of the national cor
90 mission justifies principle of eqr
ty in which every state of the Uni
lis vitality concerned and gives to tt
- Icitizens of the State of Louisial
the privilege and the right to enga
r. FHSAxy