The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-15
joint TRIBUNAL
|SBE|NG.P TANNED
u nit ed States and
Canada to Supervise
Railroad Rates.
MANY PROBLEMS
A RE PRESENTED
Under Present Conditions Inter
national Traffic Cannot Be
Regulated - conferees Ap-
pointed and May Be Ready
to Report When Con-
gress Convenes.

Washington, July 14.-An interna-
tional railway commission. with su.
pervisory authority over the railroads
Of the United States and Canada
probably will be the result OF action
taken to-day by this government in
the appointment of Chairman Martin
a. Knapp. OF the Interstate Commerce
Commission, as the representative OF
the United States to confer with Hon
j. P. Mabee. chief of the Railway
Commission of Canada, who has been
designated by the latter country as It's
representative. Announcement oi
Judge knapp's appointment was made
by the State Department to-day as
folIows:
THE Secretary Of state has desig-
mated Hon Martin A. Knapp. chairman
of the Interstate Commerce Commits
government to confer with the recent
.ly appointed Canadian representative
Mon. j. P. Mabee. chairman of the
Railway Commission of Canada, on
the subject OF the joint control Of in
ternational traffic rates. 1t is under
stood that meetings between Mr..
Knapp and Mr.. Mabee will be arranged
at once to take place at points in the
United states or Canada. or both. dur
ing the remainder Of the summer.
Upon the completion of the confer
ences. report with recommendations
Will be made by the commissioners.
either Jointly TO both governments or
separately to their respective govern
ments'
Result of Long Effort.
The appointment of Judge Knapp
and Mr.. Mabee is the result of con-
siderable period OF correspondence
and diplomatic interchange between
the United States and Canada More
than a year ago the subject was
broached. first in letter from Mr..
Mabee to Judge Knapp
1t was pointed out that the fncreas-
ing traffic between the United States
and Canada would render full control
over rates In the future more difficult
unless some joint action were taken. 1t
was realized that the acquisition of
Canadian terminals by American roads
and of American roads and terminals
by Canadian roads presented ever in
creasing difficulties. In the present cir
cunstances 1t Is not possible to
compel railway or express companies
to establish joint through rates to
and from points in the two countries.
The Interstate Commerce Commission
may require roads under it's juris-
diction to establish through rates
and joint rates. and the lines
under Its jurisdiction to do the
same. but neither body can compel
two or more carrieds to do this
with International traffic and fur
nish to the shipper a through bill OF
lading from any point in one country
20 any point in the other. The reason.
ableness of rates between points in
this country and points in Canada also
is question OF serious Importance to
shippers.
Present Powers Limited.
The difficulties practically preclude
any inquiry by existing tribunals into
the reasonableness of combination
through rates as applied to interna-
tional traffic.
No power at present exists that can
require carriers engaged in this In
ternational transportation to establish
what may be officially regarded as
reasonable through joint rates and
apportlon those rates among the par
ticipating carriers In the event OF
disagreement The result is that the
ttonal traffic moves upon a COM
bination of rates local to the United
states ana 70 Canadd, ana II this COM
of the local rates Is attacked
1t must be through proceedings before
both the United States and Canadian
commissions. Out of this situation
grew the suggestion that an interna-
tional commission should be created
which should have supervisory author
ity over all interstate and interna tional
transportation lines, whether by rail-
or water. between the two countries.
While no definite arrangements yet
have been perfected for the confer
ences. it is likely that Chairman Knapp
and Mr.. Mabee will meet in Ottawa
some time in August. 1t will be the
effort OF the representatives of the two
governments to adjust the matter SO IS
to make 1t possible to submit report
and recommendations before the pe-
ginning of the sessions OF the Amer
lean Congress In December,
Aviator Falls
Bournemouth, July ia. RaWlin-
son, the English aviator, fell with his
bipiane this evening while making g
flight at the aviation meet; one leg
was broken and he received other In
iuries. The machine was smashed to
h{tc 4