The Washington herald., 1907-01-18
4 Report of Dangerous Fristion.

The welI-informed Washington CORE
spOndent of the New York Herald has dis
covered that there is friction in the Inter
state Commerce Commission which is i'm
peding the work Of that highly important
board. The fact if it is a fact is ex-
tremeIy regrettabIe. Great things are ex-
peCted Of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. The eyes of the whole nation are
upon IT, Not since the creation of the
commission have the people looked so
hopefully 10 it for relief from intolerable
abuses that have grown up in railroad
administration. Great power has been
intrusted 20 it, On the recommendation
Of President Roosevelt, Congress has in
creased not only tine powers and fUnc-
tions Of the commission, but also its mem
bcrship. AS at present constituted. five
members OF the commission are selections
Of Mr Roosevelt They are Messrs.
Cockrell. Lane Clark, Harlan, and
Clements. The other two commissioner
Messrs. Knapp and Prouty-were not ap-
pointed by President Roosevelt. though
that he is satisfied with the service they
have rendered there is no cause 10 doubt.
50 far as we are informed There has
been no complaint Of their record in office.
We are to infer. then. that the person
mel of the commission is entirely 10 the
Presidents liking. If there are discordaut
elements in the board President R0ose-
welt would soon discern that fact, and it
goes without saving that he would exer-
else his great influence 10 establish har-
moHy- But the New York HeraIds Wash
ington correspondent backs up his asser-
ton Of friction with considerable detail
For our part, we hope he is mistaken. 1t
is possible that he has been imposed upon
by designing persons with sinister mo-
tives. Ar immense mass Of evidence re-
Gently has been collected by a part of the
commission bearing on the methods en-
ployed by +. II. Hartman TO combine
under one ownership and management the
great transcontinentaI railroads and their
feeders. tt is well understood that this ar
duous work was inspired by the President
himself But it is not understood that
the President indicated a desire as TO who
Of the commissioners should do the work.
The personal equation is so important an
element in all affairs that its influence,
even in matters involving the operations
of the Interstate Commerce Commission,
cannot be bIinked out of existence.
Probably. therefore, if friction is now
threatening TO impede the work Of the
in the Hartman investigation,
il is due 10 the personal element. to the
selections made by Chairman Knapp Of
the members TO conduct this inquisition.
1t is this not improbable phase Of the case
which should and doubtless viii arouse
the interest of the Executive. The Presi-
dent undoubtedly viii want to he kept
closely informed as to the progress of the
investigation. BY this means. and this
alone, can he be enabled to Judge of the
efficiency Of the commission in which he
has reposed special confidence and trust.
Meantime, we assume that the commits
sion is preparing TO exercise its increased
powers in the matter of making rates.
Nearly five months have elapsed since the
new rate-making law went into effect but
We have not heard Of a decree issued bv
the commission affecting rates. The in
vestigation being conducted by a part Of
the commission into the Hartman methods