New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-09-14
LIVELY Rate HEARING.
InsinuGtiOn That Commission Might
Wink at Secret Schedules.

Washington. Sept. i3.-UnusuaI interest attached
20 the hearing by the Interstate Commerce Com
mission to-day on the question of the requirement
OF the new Railroad Rate law OF thirty days notice
OF intended changes in freight rates. Aside from
the fact that the testimony and discussions brought
out charges and countercharges Of endeavoring to
restrict competition the part OF lines east or the
Mississippi and those west OF the river. something
OF sensation was injected into the proceedings
when Chairman Knapp read letter from man
who. he said. president of a well known West
ern railroad, insnuating. IN connection with the
question OF waiver OF the thirty days notice. that
the commission might wink at certain practices of
the cotton exporters while certain railroads
"scooped" their competitors by inaugurating in
Simultaneous midnight tariffs. Judge Baxter or
Nashville. Tenn. counsel for number or railroads.
bitterly assaulted the writer OF the letter and de-
cared that il was an insult to the commission and
those who We're seeking the waiver of the thirty
day provision OF the law. Chairman Knapp prefaced
the reading Of letter with the statement that 1t
for the information Of those present and that
his action should not be construed as lending ap-
proval 10 the sentiments therein expressed. The
letter follows:
can conceive Of no reason which would apply
20 cotton which would not with e9uaI force apply
pro- II you will examine i; a me tb se9sGues s Oh
called export schedules which bear on their race
evidence that they in reference 10 special con-
company issuing and some particular shipper. who
is thereby under color OF iS% gwen PaeJeTsSh S
the law intended to prevent The thirty DAYS
ipuste the export rate for the benefit Of the larger
SINNERS IL was by means OF such schedules that
Kansas CITY was, manipulated. The court held the
schedule and ths practice qnlaWf a d n Ine
permit Imprisonment. The present law permits I'M
If sou wink at the practice Of exporting cotton ton
goods under such schedules as requested you VIII
ee In r SGfe pToduets and shall then be com
ed 70 out OF
against such practices by adopting the same
All officials of railway companies sat I'm the shad-
Of The pensntisTy frS Ine passage 81 io
OF the EIkins law, which abolished Imprisonment
and for this reason have the right protest, and
do protest, against the Interstate commerce Son
efTorts OF a company obey the law useless, and
which will result in hood OF Illegal RTaeTce S ibs
shadow OF the penitentary for the remainder OF
The commission should understand that the eyes
Of every freight agent and OF every supper waH
the eyes Of all the people OF the nted oeate
in earnest In the enforcement OF the law IN Is IN
tegrity going 10 pursue practice OF eihascu
The real condition which the commission is facing
in the present inquiry is: shall reIo9a Ge1P@nfI
cotton growers and dealers 10 trade on while rev
dealers shall have a secret understanding with the
carrier that they may trade lower basis OF
rates. and when they have scooped their compeu-
night tariff may be put IN 10 cover the particular
shipment. 10 expire when the shipment Is Httue'
Judge Baxter declared that defendant of right
ought to meet his accuser face 70 face In this
case he said the opportunity was not given OF even
knowing the name OF the writer OF the letter He
was not writing. he said. for the people he repre-
sented 10 be put i'm the attitude OF juggling with
the commission. This, he said, was a pubic near
ing and II was extremely unfair that an anony-
letter writer should put us In the ATTITUDE or
endeavoring 20 obtain some advantage over TINS
commission. I wish 10 acquit the gentlemen l rep
resent OF any sinister OF underhand or nefar1ous
purpose toward obtaining anything from this COM
mission"
Judge Baxter declared that, so far as his roads
were concerned, they never had been accused De
fore "of making anything analogous 20 a mldnlBht
secret tariff The letter he said further is an
insult the commission as much as II IS 20 US u
IS an insult to 20 suppose we would ask tils
commission to wink at anything, ana II is an IN
suit 20 this commission 10 suppose that II would
wink at It II believed it, The letter. he said
was a virtual confession of the writer that the re-
bates and Ubiquitous work that he has been carry.
ing on is about as bad as you have ever read or
The commission passed the matter over without
announcing the letter writer's name. ana ordered
the heRrsg to proceed.
The hearing developed into a general discussion
OF the whole subject Of cotton trafhc the outcome
being that the representatives Of the lines east OF
the Mississippi, who are favorable 10 the waving
of the thirty day notice, and those west OF the
Mississippi who favor the enforcement OF that pro-
deaVOring 70 restrict competition
IH ~ ma IN lF 0T