Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-07-15

4be Tinted states to confer with hon
!. p. Manee, chief Of the Hah"ay ~ .
mission OF Canada. Announcement. ~.
Judge Knapp's appointment was Ina"'
nv the department today as ion."
"The secretary OF state mas aeSie
ed Hon, Martin A. Knapp. cha'r'',dn =,
the Interstate Commerce Coihn'iss'o
az the representative OF TINS govern
mept to confer with the recehtiY ap
nointed Canadian representative hYh.
p Maybee. chairman OF the Raii"ay
commission of Canada, on the suDJec.
of the Joint control of interhat'oha.
traffic rates. 1t IL understood tla'
nonatinps between Mr.. Knapp ana M
Mabee will be arranged at once 10 tame
,,,oce at noints in the United states UT
Canada or both, during the remainder
of tho summer. Upon the complexion
nf the conferences, a report with rec
o,on,endations will be made by the
commissioners, either jointly to botn
e,,v.rnments. or separately to their re-
spective governments.
The appointment of Judge hhapl
and Mr.. Mabee is the result OF d CON,
siderable period of correspondence anu
diploratic interchange pet"eeh '"'
United States and Canada.
More than a year ago, the suDJect
was preached first in letter from MT
Mabee to Judge Knapp 1t was poiht-
cd out that the increasing tramc De
tween the United States and CANADA,
would render full control over the rates
IN rho future more difficult unless some
jolnt action were taken
aolizQ6 that the acuulSltlOH
of Canadian terminals by American
roads and of American roads and ter
mjnals by Canadian railways present.
ed ever-increasing difflcuitles. III the
present circumstances. 1t. is not possi-
bic 20 compel railway or express COM
panies to establish joint through rates
to and from points in the TWO couh-
tries The Interstate Commerce COM
mission may require roads under It's
jurisdiction to establish through routes
and Joint rates, and the Canadian
commission may require the lines I'M
der it's jurisdiction to do the same;
but neither body can compel two or
more carriers to do this with interna-
tional traffic and furnish to the ship
per 4 through bill of lading from any
point in one country to any point IN
the other. The reaSonablenesS of rates
between points in this county and
points in Canada also is question OF
serious importance to shippers. To
determine any given question as to
rates that may arise it is necessary
for the shipper to institute a proceed
ing before the Interstate Commerce
Commission and the Canadian Railway
VI ics tho result NOT
satisfactory.
The difficulties practically preclude
any inquiry by existing tribunals into
the reasopableness of combination
through rates as applied to interna-
tioEal traffic. No power at present ex-
lists requiring carriers engaged in this
international transportation to estab-
lish what may be officially regarded
as reasonable through joint rates and
apportion those rates among the par
tcipating carriers in the event Of a
disagreement.
The result is that the International
Traffic moves upon a combination OF
rates local to the United States and to
Canada, and if this sum of the local
rates is attacked it must be through
proceeding before both the United
States and Canadian commissions.
Out of this situation grow the sug-
gestion that joint international COM
mission be created, with supervisory
authority over all interstate and inter-
national transportation lines, whether
by rail or water. between the two
countries. 1t has not been determined
yet whether such a commission might
better be created by concurrent leg
slation or whether it might better be
established by treaty between the two
countries. At the conferences that
subject will be discussed and very
likely determined.
The negotiations have been conduct
ed by the state department and by the
Canadian department of foreign affairs.
1t 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 gov
ernments to adjust the matter so as
to make it possible to submit a report
and recommendations before the be-
ginning of sessions of the American
Congress in December.