Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-10-06

fecting railroad transportation Chairman Knapp be
! ing the first be heard.
Ar. Knapp nrst took up the question Of the opera
ton Of the Ia approved in 1855 for the arbitration
differences between transportation companies a1i
| their employees ly the chairman Of the interstat,
commerce commission and the commissioner Of labor
Hs said there had been only appeal for adjust
ment under the law. This made by the EN-
ployes OF a railroad company and the company re-
fused accept the arbitration the ground that N
b vital a matter that Of wages they could nG
delegate control 10 persons otaer than those cGn
Rected wish the management Of the road. Ar KNAPP
said that he had NOT felt that the instance u
which the Law had been invoked SUFFICIENT I.
warrant any general deduction. Replying 10 Jues.
tiuns Judge Knapp dwelt at length upon The
subject Of Determinations. lie said there was nc
doubt the present time there or less
discrimination the part % the railroads in favo,
Of individuals and communities stu owing TO The
fact that the railroads were generally getting
all the business they can do and also, he be-
lieyed. because the railroad men growing more
conscientious In the observance OF the Law there
was smaller degree OF d!sobedenCe OF the law than
formerly. There now. he said comparatively few
cases Of direct rebate paying but there many
other means Of reaching the same result. for
stance by false Weighing. false billing. misdescrip-
ton or the purchase Of supplies. fsTorite means
grant concessions purely state traffic, while
observing the requirements Of the Law interEtate
business He said there were still instances Of VIC
iation Of the long and short haul clause. notwith-
standing the supreme court decisions
Nr. Knapp denounced the practice the part Gt
the railroads OF giving free passes great evil
and without excuse. He satisfied that IL tn.
pass system abolished the general passenger
rate rould be very materially reduced. He thought
vent the practice. He would make II a criminal
rnlsdemeanor. He also recommended the repeal of
the antitrust Law and anti-p0oling law, coupled
with stringent regulations concerning contracts
He would have the corporations themselves indIct-
able He ooutended that there could be no compt-
tftICn between individuals in the OF railroad
traffic which his reason for advocating the alb
clifton Of the anti.poong clause. Only capitalists
had secured the benefit OF the antitrust and anti
pooling laws.
Mr. Knapp said he had received oaIy recently 4
lst,er from the receivers Of the Baltimore {, thio
railroad confessa6 Determinations In the pssi and
expressing intention to abandon the practice lie
did not believe that government ownership would
put a stop 20 discrimination the part of the
railroads because Of the favoTitism which is likely
to 20 with political control
Comm issoner Juds0n e. Clements advocated ma
tonal Inspection Law. He also spoke Of excessive
rates. saying that contrary TO the general opinion
there were still unreasonable rates. Those were
generally found In rates TO intermediate points
where the through rates were excessively lOT and
said In sucll the high rates practically
IN violation Of the long and short haul clause Of the
interstate commerce Law. Under this condition
there much discrimination in the interest Of the
trade and against the small towns.
Commissioner PrOuty explained the Operations NJ
export rates. showing that in the rates
for articles to be shipped abroad had amounted to
only about half much In where the
articles intended for local consumption In
vesigstion had shown that the benefit OF this dis
criminatiGn Tesped entirely b. the Foreigners
tain a combination dealing with staple commodities
without discriminating freight rates.
Ar PrOuty expressed the opinion that rates were
even now being cut By the resds. He advocated
giving TO the interstate commerce commission the
power TO nK Tttes