The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-31
new COMMISSION
NOW IS ASSURED.
Plan Agreed On, and Only De-
tails to BE Worked
Out.
U. S. SENATE MUST APPROVE
Little Time Left to Put Through
Reciprocity Treaty With
Canada.

Washington December 3O---An inter-
national railway commission, with
supervisory authority over the rail-
roads operating between the United
States and Canada practically is as
sured.
After many months of negotiations
between the governments OF the United
states and the Dominion of Canada,
conclusion was reached to-day which
means that, in the course probably of
n few months. regulatory authority VIII
he extended over railway operations
between tho two countries.
For several days Chairman Martin
A.. Knapp, of the Interstate Commerce
Commission, and the Hon. j. p Mabe
chief commissioner OF the Hallway
Commission of Canada, lave been i'll
conference as the representatives OF
their respective governments on the
subject OF the creation of the proposed
commission. The commissioners reached
an agreement last Wednesday. Since
that tine they have been working out
the details of the report
To-day Chairman Knapp and Judge
Mabie presented their joint report TO
the State Department AZ II is a diplo-
matte matter, the commissioners were
directed By the State Department not
to make the report public at present.
1t is known, however, that the COM
missioners have agreed as 10 the ad-
Visibility of the creation Of an inter
national railway commission, which
shall have supervisory authority over
Tie railway lines doing an interna-
tional business between the two coun-
tries.
This authority is to extend to the
regulation of international rates both
freight and passenger, and BY the
exercise OF the powers conferred upon
It, the International commission may
prescribe through routes and JOINT
rates and through bills of lading be-
tween points in one country TO points
III the other. The commission VIII
have authority over all internatiohai
transportation and may be appealed TO
by shippers or carriers in either coun-
try for relief from what they may deed
oppressive methods or regulations or
excessive or unreasonable rates.
The commissioners decided to recon-
mend that the arrangement between
the two countries should be concluded
by treaty, rather than by joint legisla-
ton 1t will be necessary to have
whatever treaty may be negotiated
submitted to the Senate of the United
states No serious difficulty In That
regard is anticipated.
Must Break Records.
II Canadian reciprocity treaty is
TO he concluded during the present
session OF Congress. all records in the
matter of speed of negotiations must
he broken. The incentive TO haste lies
in the realization by the administra-
tion OF the difficulty OF framing any
sort OF reciprocity treaty that can
safely be steered through the next
Congress with its Democratic House,
for although nominally the assent OF
the Senate alone is required 10 the
conclusion of . treaty yet in the case
OF reciprocity trade treaty the House
OF Representatives must be afforded
an opportunity TO deal with the sub
ject.
The Canadian reciprocity commits
sioners arc expected in washington in
time to attend the diplomatic reception
at the White House, January 10. 1t is
presumed that Immediately after that
event the negotiations Will be re-
sumed at the point where they We're
interrupted by the adjournment in OF
lava last November. AS matter OF
fact. not much progress was made
during the first meeting of the COM
missioners. That meeting was con-
fined principally to exchanges of views
calculated to develop the positions OF
the two parties. 1t will now be neces-
sary for the negotiations to enter the
realm of definite proposals for the