The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-10-06
NATIONAL LEAGUE s
MAKEIT A CRIME
To Issue Free Passes, Says President
Knapp.

Washington, Oct 6.-The Industrial
commission resumed its sittings yeSter-
day, hearing the members of the inter-
state commerce commission on QueS-
lions affecting railway transportation,
Chairman Knapp being the first to be
heard.
Replying to questions Judge Knapp
dwelt at some length upon the subject
Of determinations. He said there was
no doubt that at the present time there
was more or less discrimination on the
part of the railways in favor of indi-
viduaIs and communities. There are
now, he said, comparatively few cases
of direct rebate paying, but there were
many other means of reaching the
same result as, for instance, by false
weighing, false billing, miSdescription,
or the purchase of supplies. A favorite
means was to grant concessions on
purely state traffic, While observing the
requirements of the law on Interstate
business. He said there We're still in
stances of violation Of the long and
short haul clause, Notwithstanding the
supreme court decisions.
Mr.. Knapp denounced the practice on
the part of the railways of giving fr
passes a s a. great evil, and without eX-
cuSe. He was satisfied that if the pass
system were abolished the general pas
senger rate could be very materially re-
duced. He thought that the interstate
law could be amended so as to prevent
the practice. He would make it a GRIM
inal offenSe. He also recommended the
repeal of the antitrust law and anti
pooling laws, coupled with more string
ent regulations concerning contracts.
He would have the corporatiOns them
selves indictable. He commended that
there could be no competition between
individuals in the matter of railway
traffic, which was his reason Tor adVO-
eating the abolition of the anti-poOling
clause Only capitalists had secured the
benefits of the antitrust and anti-pool-
ing laws
Mr. Knapp said he received only re-
Gently a letter from the receivers of
the Baltimore & Ohio railway, confess
ing determinations in the past and ex-
pressing an intention to abandon the
practice. He did not believe that gov
eminent ownership would put stop to
discrimination on the part of railways,
because of the favoritism, which is
likely to go with political control.
Commissioner JudsOn Q. Clements
advocated a national 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 low, and said
in such cases the nigh rates We're prac-
ticalIy in violation of the long and short
haul clause of the interstate commerce
law Under this condition there was
much discrimination in the interest of
the trade centers and against the small
towns.
Commissioner Prouty explained the
operations of export rates, showing
that in many cases the rates for articles
to be shipped abroad had amounted to
only about half as much as in cases
where the articles were intended for
local consumption. Investigation had
shown that the benefit of this discrim-
ination was reaped entirely by the for
eigners. He did not believe it possible
to build up or maintain a combination
dealing with staple commodities with
out discriminating freight rates. Mr.
Prouty expressed the opinion that rates
We're even now being cut by the roads.
He advocated giving to the interstate
commerce commission the power to fix
rates.