The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-10-06
DISCRIMINATION n RATES.
USDD01ATE ConaEaCE COMMA
SBoHGns - WITNESSES.
TestSSy Before IsAusessas Counss.
sssa-Ss1ge KsapD vsvsss Ahess-
ssss - ne Asss-Pss1SaG asa Alse
ths Assasssse Laws ~ Congress.

WARRINGTON, Oct G-The industrial
commission resumed In sostsnss today.
nearing the rnemasu Of the Interstate
commercs oo0mietes on questions affect.
.sx railroad transpDftataon. Chairman
Knapp Using tbs nrst 70 be heard.
Replying 10 que9sfona JUICE Knapp
dweit ~ some length upon the subject Of
DENOMINATIONS He said .hsse wAs M
oossot that ~ the present time there was
more ~ len discrimination ON the part
o! the railroads In favor Of individuals
ana committees. There are now. he said.
comparatively few cases Of direct rebate
paying. but there we're many other msans
o. reaching the same result. -. for In
stance BY false weixhfing. false filling.
misosecf1psicn. or the purchase Of sup
plies A fsvorits means vas TO grant
concesstons On purely state traffic. while
onserv1ng the requirements % the isw
Oh Interstate business He said there were
stu Instances 81 violation Of the hong and
snort haul ciauss. Notwithstanding the So
preme court decisions.
Mr. Knapp denounced the practice "a ~
part OF the railroads ~ sivinS free passes
- great evil and without excuse. He
was satisned that n the pass system we're
eDoaishse tho general passsnSsr rate could
~ very materially reduced. He thought
the interstate law could b. amended 80 -
10 pfvent The prAcficA He would make &
= criminal inisdemeanos. He also recon-
nended the repeal Of the ant trust iaw and
anu-pooiing Avs. coupled with more string
snt regulations concerning contracts lie
would nave tho corporations Themselves
lndicfAbss. He COMMANDED that there could
b no competition between individuals In
the matter f railroad tSs6sc. which was his
reason f1r advocating the abolition of the
anu-poottng clauses. Only capitalists hsA
SECURED the benefit Of the antitrust and
anti-pooiing lava
Mr.. Knapp said he had received only re-
Gently lister from the receivers of ne
Baltimore = Ohio railroad confessins dis
examinations In the past and expressing IN
Intention TO abandon the practice. He did
not believe tina. govsrnn,ent ownsrship
would put sop 20 discrimination on the
itism which ID likely to 80 with political
Commissioner Judsoo G. c,emsnss advo-
Gated IN inspection law. He ALSO sooke
Of excessive rates. saying that, contrary
TO the general opinion, there we're stiil
found In rates 20 intermediate points where
the through rates were excessively low,
and aaid in such casa sthe high rates were
practically In violation Of the long and mort
haul cIauss Of the Interstate commerce Law.
Under THE condition there was much dis
elimination In the interest," Of the trade CEN
tsrs and againAt the small towns.
atoms Of export rates. showirs that in
maoy csHs NE rates for Articles 20 be
shipDed sbfoar had amounted TO only about
half ~ much AZ In cases where the articles
were intended for local consumption. In
vesflgation had shown that the benefit 81
ths discriminating vas sesped entirely by
the foreigners He Aid not believe n pOssi-
bic 20 buiI6 W or maintain . commission
dealing with staple commodities without
dscrfp' Mating freight rates
Mr.. Prouty sHpre~e9 the opinion that
rates were evon now being cut BY the
roads. He advocated giving 10 the inter.
state commerce commission the power 10
NJ rates.