Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-09-14
Chairman Knapp, Of Commerce
Commission, Says They Will
Not Escape
REPORT is FouNDArIoNLEss
Commission Will Meet in October to
Take UP Question-knapp to Begin
Important Hearing Monday Pertain
ing to Western Rates-secretary Of
War Sued.

s.
Knapp of the interstate commerce
commission, yesterday said there was
no authority for the statement printed
yesterday morning that the commits
sion had decided to abandon the IN
uuirv into the operation of the Hill
lines.
Il can't understand why such
statement was printed" said Judge
Knapp. There has been no change in
the situation since early in the week,
when stated that the matter would
be taken up by the full commission
when it meets in October The inves-
tigation was started under resolution
Of the commission providing for In
quiry into the operation of all lines.
The commission didn't have much IN
formation about the reported combina-
ton of northwestern lines and COM
missioned Judge Lovely of Albert Lea,
Mimi, to make preliminary investl-
CATION and report on combinations. Fur
Their proceedings, including public
hearings and gathering of other evil
dence were to depend upon that re-
port Judge Lovely became Ill and
the commission was crowded with oth-
er work incident to the operation OF the
new law and so the matter drifted
along without further action by the
commission. The situation among
northwestern lines is not acute and
that is the reason for the delay in pur-
suing the inquiry. The commission
will reassemble in October and this
question will be taken up with others
that have been pending for some time.
When the interstate commerce COM
mission reassembles in Washington
early in October the commissioners will
decide whether an inquiry shall be
made into the methods of J. j. Fill IN.
the operation of his railroads.
At the time of the Hartman Union
Pacific investigation the commission
Informally decided to extend tine in
quiry and look into the management
and methods of other systems.
Reports from Washington today say
that when the commission again takes
up the question it probably will de-
eide to call off further Investigations
at this time.
According to several interstate COM
merce commissioners the view is en-
tertaining that the Hartman investi-
cation had the effect OF general
use-cleaning all along the various
lines and that no good purpose could
be served by taking up other systems.
1T is stated that many reforms have
been instituted and that many, if not
ALL of the abuses have been discon-
tinued.
The Hartman exposure has been a
lesson to other big roads.
Chairman Knapp of the interstate
commerce commission will be in Chi
cago Monday to conduct the hearing
in several interesting cases which are
to commence that day.
One of the most important COM
plants raises the question of the rea-
sonableness of state rates as applied
to interstate commerce.
Among the other cases. are COM
plants from the Cardiff Coal Company
of Cardiff. ILL.,, against the Chicago &
Northwestern and the Chicago, Mil
Waullee & ST. Paul, charging these
roads with refusal to grant thru routes
and joint rates on interstate ship
and the case from the Nilwau-
lsee & Waukesha Brewing Company
against the Chicago, Milwaukee & st. |
Paul, complaining of the rate upon
mixed carload lots of beer and water.
The highwater line on an island in
the Ohio river at Allegheny, Pa, is in
volved in a suit against Secretary Taft,
lied yesterday in the supreme court
IF the District of Columbia.
The action was instituted by Phil
ldelphia company which claims owner
ship OF the island.
: The company asks that the secretary
De enjoined from prohibiting the COM
oany from building coal wharf on
he island below the high-water line
liked by Secretary Lomont in 1895 and
again by Secretary Taft in 1907.