Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-12-30
AND EASTERN LINES
AGREE NOT TO DIscRlM-
MATE
HOW LONG WILL ITLAST?

Chairman Knapp of Interstate Com.
merce Commission Urges the Rail-.
road Officials to Discontinue the
Custom Of Giving Passes, Following
Example Of Pennsylvania System.
Washington, D. c., Dec. 29.-Ail the
great railroad lines OF the country
nave assured the interstate commerce
commission that they will no longer
grant rebates or be guilty OF discrinl-
inatory practices.
The eastern lines gave these assur.
ances some time ago. A joint commit |
tee representing the great railroad
lines OF the west appeared yesterday
before the commission and gave SINH.
lar assurances.
No effort was made to obtain from
the commission pledge of. immunity
from punishment. BY inference the rail-
road men confessed that they had been
guilty of unlawful practices in the past
but they furnished no specific instance
of crime and their confession conse-
quently cannot aid the government In
Its effort to bring every violator OF
the anti-rebate law to justice.
The lines which were represented
by the joint committee which appeared
yesterday include practically all those
west of Chicago from the Canadian
border to the gulf. The committee
presented resolution adopted by
these lines at a recent meeting in Chi
cago and gave assurances of q united
and determined disposition to conform
to the law in good faith and in every
respect, and to aid the commission In
it's enforcement.
Pledges to this effect were given by.
all present and further promise was
made to report every Illegal transac-
tion which might come to their knowl-
edge or of which they should have
we'll grounded suspicion.
Sees Hope for Future.
Commissioner Knapp chairman Of
the commission, stated after the meet
ing that the commission had no reason
to doubt the sincerity Of the movement
or it's practical value.
"That 1t will result in the complete
discontinuance Of wrongful practices,"
he pertinently added, lis perhaps, too
much to expect, for time alone will test
the degree of it's usefulness, but a
marked Improvement in the observ-
ance of tariff rates may be fairly an
ticipated. If the promised cooperation
Is actually and continuously afforded,
the paym ent Of rebates and the grant
ing of secret advantages will, 1T is
hoped, be reduced to minimum"
Commissioner Knapp took advantage
of the presence of the railroad men to
urge chem to follow the example Of the
Pennsylvania railroad and it's associ-
ated lines in stopping the practice Of
giving passes. How far this practice
is advantageous to the shipper, to what
extent has rebate effect, the COM
mission does not know, because 1t
never has made an investigation But
1t believes 1t has proved the means OF
getting traffic for road sometimes to
the disadvantages of competing line.
| People Ashamed Of Passes.
Mr.. Knapp pointed out to the COM
mittee that the attitude of the public
toward passes had undergone great
change in recent years. He recalled
a story told by railroad president of
a shipper who had written for the an
nual pass, and had sent with his re-
quest check for the sum he annu-
ally spent for transportation. It was
such a curious case that the railroad
president looked the man up and In
duced him to explain why he wanted
a pass when he was willing to pay his
fare. He finally drew out of the man
that he believed the possession Of an
annual pass would give him a better
standing in his community.
Some months ago Mr.. Knapp was
travelling with a member Of congress.
| The latter hastily jumped from his
seat when he saw the conductor enter
the car, went forward, and gave him
his transportation in the vestibule.
where nobody could see him.
ut evidenced an awakening public
conscience" said Mr.. Knapp. Passes
no longer are looked upon as an indi.
cation that their possessors are men
Of influence and standing, but thing
to be ashamed Of"
/ Western shippers, carrying out the
/ general idea of abandoning any prac.
4 tice savoring Of discrimination, ex.
pressed willingness to adopt rule
not to give passes to shippers or to
any one who could obtain or furnish
freight, but they did not want to ex.
tend this prohibition to members OF
conger1s~ .,sarrc ssentatives Of the press,
AZ all of OF fails.
Monday ev-
short visit tlons
2 nea' W. Itu-Sv-vuid In re
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