The Washington herald., 1910-07-15
CANADA To JOIN
RATE AGREEMENT
Commissioners Are Named
by Two Countries.
OUT FOR JOINT CONTROL
Knapp and Mabee to Hold Sew
eral Conferences.
OUT FOR JOINT CONTROL

Steps which may foreshadow the for
nation Of an international railway com
mission for this country and Canada
have been taken by the two countries.
Martin A. Knapp. chairman OF the IN
terstate Commerce Commission. has
been named by the Secretary Of State,
with the approval Of President Taft, as
the representative Of this government
to confer with J. P. Mabee, chairman Of
the Railway Commission of Canada. on
the subject OF joint control OF interna-
tional traffic rates.
It is the intention Of these two COM
missioners TO hold meetings, which VIII
be arranged By the two governments at
once. at points in the United States or
Canada during the remainder OF the
summer. for the consideration of what
legislation or regulations will be neoes-
sary to be put into effect by the United
States and Canada 20 obtain uniformity
in lake and rail traffic rates
Necessity OF Uniformity.
Diplomatic correspondence has been
conducted between Mr.. Knox and Am
bassador Bryce for the last four or five
months on the necessity for obtaining
uniformity of these rates.
Mr.. Mabee was named 10 act for Can
ada BY Sir wnfrid Laurier. after a ses-
sion of the privy council OF the do
minion government. and his name sent
to the United States government three
weeks ago.
Since then the Department OF State has
been considering who best might serve
the interests Of the United States, and
the choice naturally fell upon Mr. Knapp.
because OF his position and experience in
railway rate matters.
It is said at the State Department that
there Gre cases coming up all the time
involving a wide variance in rates from
and to American and Canadian points.
The rate from st. Paul to Toronto, for
instance, lake and rail, has been sub
jected to variation at times Many rates
between American and Canadian points
are in a fiuctuating stage. the lake and
raiT rate being sometimes lower or high
er than all water or ell rail- rates.
II IS TO obtain uniformity TO some ex-
tent in these rates that the commission
VIII investigate Upon the conclusion Of
the conferences to be held between Mr..
Knapp and Mr.. Mabee a report with rec
ommendation win be made by the com
missioners, either Jointly to both gov
ernments or separately TO their respec-
tive governments.
The Formal Statement.
Here is the formal announcement made
by the State Department:
THE Secretary of State has designated
Hon. Martin A. Knapp, chairman of the
Interstate Commerce Commission. as rep-
resentative OF this government to confer
with the recently appointed Canadian
representative. Hon. J. P. Mabee, chair
man OF the railway commission Of Can
ada, on the subject OF joint control OF
international traffic rates
IT is understood that meetings be-
tween Mr.. Knapp and Mr.. Mabee viii be
arranged at once TO take place at points
in the United States and Canada. or
both. during the remainder of the sum-
meT. Upon the conclusion Of the con-
ferences q report OF recommendations
VIII be made by the commission either
jointly TO both governments or separately
10 their respective governments