The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-10-21
RAILROAD NEWS.
What!-H Have Rate Questions
Gone Into Politics!
This Is Latest Feature Sent
Out From Washington.
PARTY LINES DRAWN.
Controversy will Figure High
in Winter Campaign.
Other Items OF General Inter
est in Traffic World.
PARTY LINES DRAWN.

Washington, Oct. 21.-Party lines
have been sharply drawn in the rate
hearing which has just closed here, and
it is now expected by many that in
spite of the efforts that have been made
to close this question up on judicial
basis, the subject will figure actively
in political discussion in the coming
winter and thereafter, unless some pos
tive assurance is given to both sides
that general outside considerations of
political character will not be allowed
to enter into the decision which is to
be rendered by the commission and the
administration.
There has been a strenuous effort
here among members of the admins
tration to make it appear that none but
strictly nonpartisan methods would De
applied in reaching a condition ana
that the situation would be kept abso-
lutely out of politics. Instead or sue
ceeding in getting this view accepted,
the administration has seen the oppo-
site opinion gaining ground.
In part the present trouble is due TO
the action of railroad officials in 1nduc-
ing the railroad employees associations
to act in favor of higher rates ana TO
send eplissaries to Washington to
threaten the use of the political inf1u-
ence of the brotherhoods against the
administration in case the demand for
higher rates is not granted.
In part the almost desperate pass
which has been reached is due to the
| statements that have been allowed to
emanate from apparently trustworthy
! sources to the effect that a compromise
which will give the roads about one
| half of the desired increases has been
officially assured to them by politicians
Lineup Has Been Made.
Behind these difficulties, and in part
/ =, f.a NJ M
| evidently recognized by every one at
| all conversant with the situation, that
| there has been a distinct lineup in
| the commission itself and that that
| body is now divided into three groups.
One of these groups is understood to
contain Judge Knapp, the chairman,
| and Commissioners Harlan and Clark. A
second is thought to contain Commits
sioners Lane, Prouty and Clements
| The third group contains Commission
er Cockrell. By some the name OF MI
| Prouty is placed in the third group
| The members of the first group are re-
garded as unequivocally in favor of
substantial rate increase, if not OF the
whole of the advances asked for by the
roads. The second group is considered
equally definite in it's opposition to such
increases The third group, consisting
either of Mr.. CockreIl, or of the latter
and of Mr.. Prouty, is regarded as being
'on the fence and waiting to see how
the SlIudIlO1 Will QSNeIOp- 6ul II Il
considered clear that the pro-rallroad
group is the most solid and determined
in its advocacy of its position.
Blame Would Fall on Shippers.
If a decision favoring the higher rates
should be handed down by a close ma
jority or if shippers should become con-
WINGED that such Will be the case the
result will be likely to cause strife and
a resort to renewed use of political
methods on the ground that the ship
pers have been driven to such actor
| by the steps of the organizations OF
railroad employees and the tactics o.
the railroad managers who cooperate
with them in brip ging the labor pres
| sure to bear
On the other hand, railroad men evi
IDENTIFY regard the Administration an(
| ultimately the Commission as practi
calIy morally committed to the idea o
giving them a rate increase of sub
'stantial amount, and if they do no