The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-29
INTERSTATE COMMISSION.
Chairman Knapp Talks of Reintion.
with Railroads.

Chairman Knapp Talks of Relations
with Railroads.
Chairman Knapp of the Interstate COM
merce commission has told a reporter
about the recent action OF the commission
in putting itself ON better terms with the
railroads. Mr.. Knapp says that the COM
mission ia going to investigate the mid
night tariffs" by which the recent violent
fluctuations In export grain rates have
been affected and that the inquiry into the
export rate Irregularities will probably
take ali summer. The facts are pretty
well known.
The gist of the question seems to be,
shall the railroads be allowed to vary their
rates TO accommodate themselves TO the
constantly changing demands of shippers :?
III fluctuations are TO be allowed al all. il
seems to be inevitable that they shall be
sudden and extreme. That is the way ocean
rates huotuate; and the railroads are, at
least IN great many cases in about the
same situation as the vessel men This
week traffic may be heavy and next week
thousands Of cars and scores of men aud
many locomotives may be idle. The lowest
rate that railroad can afford to accept
when Its men and facilities are idle is very
much below what IL can afford to establish
as an unvarying rate, even or the coarsest
freight, to be maintained for months al a
time. II violent fluctuations are to be fol :
hidden by law, there would seem 10 be no
practicable course, but to prohibit mid
night tariffs" entirely, which means The
prohibition of changes of tariffs except on
longer notice and on publication in local
newspapers. publication" is q farce IT,
as at present, new tariffs must be watched
fol as sheriff watches for a lawbreakei
whom he wishes to serve with a warrant
When we come 10 consider q rigid mantle
nance of tariffs without variation for pro.
tracted periods, il may readily be agree
that 10 devise plan which will cause M
injurious disturbance TO shippers or car
riers. Judge Knapp will need all summer
and perhaps many summers,
Commissioner Knapp says. that although
the commission will continue to investi
gate complaints, it does not propose 10 in
| augurate spy system. This suggests tn
/ query whether the dual character Of thu
| commission had not better he changed. |
does indeed, seem homogeneous for hlgl
| court to employ detectives. but Il Is to b.
| remembered that while some of the func
lions of the commission have led man,
! people to look upon 1t as a sort of suprem
I court, other functions seem TO class
! in a lower grade; the grade Of petty GRIM
] maj GCuItS IDdI idhc a HHNnlNdi hpi' vi
| lawbreakers at short range. The tern
spy" seems to be regarded as particular,
opprobrious, but what is the differenc'
between n spy and detective? Unles
some Improvement is made In the law,
will be necessary to employ spies or som
other breed of sharp witted men, II Viola
tions arc to be discovered
The principal fault to be found with IN
agents, or so-called spies heretofore EN-
ployed by the commission has been tina
they did not succeed In catching man
lawbrcakcrs It does not appear that the
have ever harmed law abiding railroa
mon, or even offended them. 1t Is oatur'
for MIR Knapp to shrink from setting
man to watch a respectable railroad man
aeer to detect him in disobedience TO
criminal law; but 1t seems to be generail
admitted chat the hundreds Of infraction
of the sixth section of the interstate com
MERGE law that have been so notorlou
lately have been committed by Just sue
managers. How is Illegal rate cutting.
be discovered? Possibly Judge Knapp ne
in mind the Texac plan. Tho commission
ers of that State diH not employ a spy-o
If they did he did not report anything
hut spy who went into business ON D
own hook gave the commission some ev
donce. and ON this a rdmbcr Of rahroa'
uore nulcted out of SIS, COO.