The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-06
STILL DISCRIMINATING
JUDGE KNAPP TESTIFIES AS TO IN
TERSTATE RAILWAY RATES.
Violations OF Long-and-ShOrt-Haul
Clause Industrial Commission
Takes Expert Testimony.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5.-The Industrial
Commission resumed it's sittings to-day.
hearing the members of the Interstate
Commission on questions affect
ing railroad transportation, Chairman
Knapp being the first to be heard. Mr..
Knapp first took up the question of the
operation of the law approved in 1898 for
the chairman Of the Interstate-commerce
portation companies and their employees by
the chairman of the InterState-commerce
Commission and the commissioner Of labor.
He said there had been only one appeal for
adjustment under the law. This was made
by the employees of a railroad company and
the company refused to accept the arbitra-
ton on the ground that In so vital matter
as that of wages they could not delegate
control to persons other than those con-
nected with the management Of the road.
Mr.. Knapp said that he had not felt that
the one instance I'm which the law had been
invoked was sufficient to warrant any
general deduction.
Replying to questions. Judge Knapp dwelt
at some length upon the subject of discrim-
nations. He said there was no doubt that
at the present time there was more or less
discrimination on the part of the railroads
In favor of individuals and communities.
Still, owing to the fact that the railroads
now were generally getting all the business
they can do, and also, as he believed. be-
| cause the railroad men were growing more
conscientious in the observance OF the law,
there was a smaller degree OF discbedience
of the law than formerly There are now ne
bate paying. but there were many otner
means of reaching the same result, as, Tor
instance. by false weighing, false billing.
m characterization or the purChaGn OF SulnDllea.
A favorite means was TO grant concessions
on purely state traffic, while observing the
requirements of the law on interstate buSl-
ness. He said there were still instances OF
violation of the lonS-and-short-haul clause,
Notwithstanding the Supreme Court de-
on the part of the railroads of giving passes
as a great evil and without excuse. He was
satisfied that If the pass system was abol-
very materially reduced. He thought the
interstate law could be amended SO as to
prevent the practice. He would make 1t a
mended the repeal of the antitrust law and
anti-pooling laws, COUPLED with more strin-
gent regulations concerning contracts. He
WOULD nave the corporations themselves in
dictable. He commended that there could be
no competition between individuals In the
| reason for advocating the abolition OF the
anti-pooling clause. Only capitalists had Sc
cured the benefit of the antitrust and anti
| pooling laws. He did not believe that gov
| eminent ownership would put a stop TO dis
elimination on the part of the railroads, be-
cause of the favoritism which Is likely TO go
with political control.
Commissioner Judson c.. Clements advo-
Gated a national inspection law. He also
spoke of excessive rates, saying that. con,
trary to the general opinion. there were still
unreasonable rates. These were generally
found In rates to intermediate points where
the through rates were excessively low, and,
he said, in such cases, the high rates We're
practically In violation Of the long-and short
haul clause of the interstate
law. Under this condition there was much
discrimination in the interest CT the trade
! centers and against the small towns
Commissioner Prouty explained the opera
tions 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 I'm cases where the articles were
| intended for local consumption. Investiga-
ton had shown that the benefit of this dis
elimination was reaped entirely by the for
eigners. He did not believe 1t possible to
build up or maintain a combination dealing
with staple commodities without discrimin-
ating freight rates. Mr.. Prouty expressed
| the opinion that rates were even now being
cut by the roads. He advocated giving to
the Interstate-commerce Commission the
power to fix through rates