The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-17
BOMB OF SIICKNEY
BRINGS A HEARING
Exposure Of Chaotic Condition Of
Rates Backed Up by
r. Knapp.
New Rules Adopted at Secret
Hearing Are Given
Out.
Journal Special Service.

Journal Special Service
Chicago, Sept. 17.--President A. B.
Stickney IS slashing attack upon the
present chaotic system Of railroad rate |
publication under the new law has been
commission with dignifed acquiesence.
Z Martin A. Knapp, chairman of that
body, which today began an important
session in Chicago, gave out last night,
q statement admitting as true the gen
eral counts in Mr.. Stickney's indict-
ment and announcing that the commits
sion would send out today circular
letter embodying its own tentative pro-
posals for reform. The, members seem
to feel that the president of the Chica-
go Great Western is stealing their thun-
Mr.. Knapp expressed himself as some
what doubtful Of the wisdom Of COM
polling the roads to reprint their entire
rate schedules every time they change
single item He thought, however,
some limit, say five, might be placed
upon the number Of amendments
which the roads could make before be-
ing obliged to issue new list and re-
call the old Six indictments, he
thought, would reduce. to a fair mini
mum the possibility Of the roads play
ing hide-andseek behind different rates
on the same commodity. go '
Hearing in October.
"We have had this in mind for a
long time,' said Mr.. Knapp. .fOn the
whole we are agreed, think. as to the
truth of Mr.. Stickney s complaints, and
long ago took up the problem with our
experts. We shall send out letter
Indicating what regulations we propose
to make in the future, so as to system
atize the publication Of rates and pre-
vent frauds: On Oct. 8, in Washing
ton, we shall have a public hearing on
the question and listen to the arqu-
ments pro and con. Then we will make
.o Q 1a a2T9lin n!ey m -,
would take a. Philadelphia lawyer a
month to chase down the latest rate on
q given article in. our files There are
about 100000 such schedules fled
with us, covering the last twenty years.
All this, as Mr.. Stickney we'll says
make for immense confusion. -
F"'.We may decide to ask each road
to print one book containing its rates
for classified traffic and another con:
!: tanning it's RAJ Cor commodities. That
would simplify fEhgs. Then we NAV
decide that when "a joint tariff is pu1
into effect it shall be published BY The
initial carrier: This would materially
reduce confusion.3 IL.
New Rules Outlined. :
I Mr. Knapp gave out, ahead Of thei1
publication in Washington, this after
| noon, the new rules determined upo1
by the commission in secret session OF
Saturday. These rules, which will hav.
a great effect upon the administratio
/ OF the new law, may be summed W
Nothing but money can be received
in payments for transportation. Thi
IS aimed at newspaper and periodical
advertising, the bulk Of which is PAL,
for in transportation. -.
Where two or more connecting road
unite in establishing a thru rate, suc]
: action will be regarded as a change il
t rate and will require: thirty days no
tice to the commission. ~
Where a new road is opened and ga
!, cures a thru rate with another line
such a rate will be deemed a new on
r and will require no notice.
:, General communication, mileage an
!, excursion rates cannot be changed with
out thirty days notice., except that e1
cursion rates good for three days vii
require only one days notice, and rate
thirty days will require thirty days
: notice. -. @.,..
e "We probably shall seize this oppo,
: tunity to go into the general subjec
a Of elevator charges" said Chairma
n Knapp. 1--WE have been authorize
have issued + circular letter. to til
roads asking for information
James j. Hill, president Of the Grea
) Northern and Northern Pacific, sper
j. his birthday in Chicago yesterday. H
|. was 68 years old. He departed in tn
afternoon for New. York. Presider
Harris of the Burlington system me
Mr.. Hill at the depot The two droy
to the Chicago club, where they he]
u Burlington affairs.
Chicago, Sept. 17.-Members of tt
Interstate commerce commission toda
t opened the old Peavey elevator cas-
$ after listening to long dispute b
d tween the various lawyers representa-
e. the parties to the suit, relative to
d supposed agreement for continuanc
L. The dispute ended abruptly aft
t, President A. B. Stickney Of the Chicaf
l. Great Western declared that he mo
l. ther delay in the hearing. Preside,
q Stickney is one Of the petitioners f
d the reopening Of the. case which i
wolves the Union Pacific Railroad COZ
pany, the Peavey Elevator compa1
and the Trans-Mississippi Elevat
company. -
One Of the chief allegations in tt
e case is that the railroad compa1
Z granted rebates to the Peavey Elevat
company and gave it monopoly
the grain business along the railroa
r. Besides the Chicago Great Weste
r. railroad, the petitioners are the Chica
Of Burlington & Quincy and the Atchiso
" Topeka & Santa Fe railroads. The ]
r batting is said to have been done
III Omaha and Kansas City.
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