Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-05-11
RECENT COMBINATIONS.
Chairman OF Interstate Commerce
Commission Talks on situation,

New York, May IAN interesting
interview on the results Of the recent
large railway combinations has lately
been granted by the Hon, Martin A.
Knapp. chairman of the interstate COM
merce commission to the Washington
correspondent Of the Journal of Com
merce.
There is no evidence he said in re-
ply TO question that the railway
combinations recently affected, or
those said 70 be In contemplation, are
In conflict with the act 70 regulate
commerce. So long as the roads remain
different that Is, Independent and
competing they are forbidden to pool
their traffic or revenues; but there is
nothing In this law to prevent their
corporate unifcaton Of a community
Of ownership In their securities,
The necessity for these combinations,
or the lnducement TO form them, has
undoubtedly been occasioned to a con-
siderable extent at least by the decis-
ion Of the supreme court that the anti
trust law applies TO railroads. That
law, In my opinion, Is fundamentally at
variance with the principles which
should govern the conduct OF public
transportation. Indeed, 1t Is not too
much to say that II the theory Of this
antitrust law is declared by the SUI
preme court should be actually applied
TO every feature Of railroad service, the
result would be a condition Of trans
portation chaos II Is not improbable
that abuses will result from these con-
solidatlons because Of the degree OF
monopoly which they secure in carry
ing trade and the excessive charges
which they may be In position to ex-
act Personally, ] think the probable
or possible evils under combinations, no
matter how general or extensive that
combination may be, will be much less
serious TO business interests and par
tlcularly 10 the great mass Of produc-
ers and dealers than the actual evils
which have been obtained everywhere
under methods Of railway competition.
Undoubtedly the abuses which find ORR
gin and support In railway unihcation
require the enactment and administra-
ton OF such laws as Will prevent or
correct these abuses, and protect the
public from unreasonable and unjust
charges. The mischiefs and lnjus-
tees under these new conditions viii
be Of a different character but | can
conceive Of no outcome which will not
disclose TIA peed for public control
which shall be real and effective and
suited 10 actual requirements"
Speaking of the effect Of railroad con-
Solldatlons upon rates and rate-Condi
tons, Mr. Knapp said;
In this respect it Is conceivable that
railway interests, however. closely
UNIFIED, may be inimical to public in
ierests either because charges are ex-
cesslye or because of the relative rates
which different localities receive and
under which the endless articles Of
traific are moved. II the general range
OF rates continues its downward ten
dency II the savings effected through
me economic OF association were bal.
anced by improved service and more
favorable charges, II the adjustment
OF rates under perfected schemes Of
combination satisfied the rightful de.
mands OF different communities and
those Interested In different commodI-
ues there VIII be a general approval
on the new policy and little DISPOSE.
uon 10 prevent It's continuance and eX-
tension. on the other hand. II comb.
nations have the power 20 advance rail.
way charges and that power Is eXer-
cised, and II The general rate adjust.
ment Is regarded in one section or an.
other as unfair and preiudicod there
VIII certainly be- resort to drastic rem
'1Ies ana q growing sentiment in favor
81 government ownership.
on the broad ground Of national
"a