Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-30
TO HELP COMMERCE
Plans for United StateS-Can-
ada Tribunal Made.
CONFERENCES ARE HELD
Arrangements Perfected by Chair
man Knapp and President Mabee.
LATTER EXPRESSES HIS VIEWS
Saws Both Railroads and Shippers
Will Be Benefited-Details
Not Announced Yet.

President J. P. Mabee of the Canadian
railroad board and Chairman Martih
Knapp Of the interstate commerce COM
mission, who were appointed by their re-
spectve governments to perfect a plan
for the establishment and operation of an
International commerce tribunal, with
jurisdiction over all lines crossing the
Canadian border, completed their work
today and Mr.. Mabee expressed the
opinion that the court would be in opera
tion In the near future.
The board Of which Mr.. Mabee is presi-
dent has the same authority in Canada
as the interstate commerce commission
has in this country, and the new tribunal
is to fill the void between the two. Their
authority ends ct the border line. and it
is In this zone that the new court will
have the final say in all matters relating
to rates. Its members will be appointed
jointly by the two governments.
Mr.. Knapp and myself have agreed
on every item in the plan. and it now ap-
pears to me that the Near future Will
see the long-wished-for tribunal in full
operation" said Mr.. Mabee. Our ideas
lieve that we have worked out a COM
prehensive scheme for the establishment
and operation Of the proposed tribunal
Fills Long-Felt Want.
There is no doubt in my mind that it
will fill lOng-needed want on both sides
of the border line. 1t will put an end to
the acrimonious discussions that are con-
tinually arising between carriers and
shippers; it will engender a better feet
ing between the two interested classes
and in every way will facilitate traffic
between the two countries.
Both the railroad interests and the
shippers in Canada will welcome il with
open arms, and l imagine that the same
is true Of those on tins side Of the line;
but Of them 1 am not in position to
speak However, 1 may say, from what
l have seen in Washington, l believe II
will receive the aid OF the present ad-
! ministration.
Il had long talk with President Taft
yesterday and he seemed to be thor
oughly in accord with our plan. The
Department. II the Washington gov
ernment pushes the matter through as
quickly as the Ottawa government will.
am satisfied it will be but a short while
before the tribunal is in full operation.
Treaty Must Be Made.
Even though our plan is perfectly
satisfactory to both governments, it will,
of course. be necessary to draw up a
treaty and to have the same ratified by
the legislative bodies. Canada is ready
and willing to act, SO that no loss of
time need be looked for from that side.
| trust that the same will be true of the
United States
Asked concerning the exact plan of
operation of the tribunal, the mode of Sc
lecting judges and their number. as pro-
posed by the plan, Mr.. Mabee said it
would be impossible to make any state
ment until a full report is made to the
government. He said, however, that the
tribunal would have practically the same
authority in its sphere as the interstate
commerce commission has in this coun-
try and that the officials would be Sc
lected Jointly by the two governments.