The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-07-20
JOINS With CANADA.
UNITED STATES TO COOPERATE
IN REGULATING RAILROADS.
Commerce Commission Suspends In
creased Freight Rates Untn 1t
Can Investigate Reasonableness.


supervisory authority over certain
railroads OF the United States and Ca
NADIA. probably will be the result of
action taken today by this govern
ment In the appointment of Chairman
Martin A. Knapp. of the Interstate
Commerce Comission. as the repre-
sentative OF the United States TO con-
fer with Hon. j. p. Mabee, chief OF
the Railway Commission Of Canada.
Announcement of Judge Knapps ap.
pointment was made by the depart
ment today as follows:
"The Secretary of State has desig-
mated Hon. Martin A. Knapp, chair
man OF the Interstate Commerce
Commission. as the representative of
this government TO confer with the
recently appointed Canadian repre-
sentative. Hon. J. p. Mabee, chair
man of the Railway Commission Of
Canada on the subject of the joint
control OF international traffic rates
IL Is understood that meetings be.
tween Mr.. Knapp and Mr.. Mabee will
be arranged at once to take place at
points IA the United States or Cana
da. or both. during the remainder of
the summer. Upon the completion
OF the conferences a report with rec.
concentrations will be made by the
Commissioners. either Jointly to both
governments or separately to their
respective governments"
The appointment OF Judge Knapp
and M.. Mabee Is the result of a con-
siderable period of correspondence
and diplomatic interchange between
the United States and Canada. More
than year ego the subject was
broached first N a letter from Mr..
Mabee to Judge Knapp. Acquisition
OF Canadian terminals by American
roads and terminals by Canadian rail.
roads presented ever-increasing diff
ficulties. In the present circum-
stances. IL is not possible to compel
railroads or express companies to es-
tablish joint through rates to and
from points in the two countries. The
Interstate Commerce Commission
may require roads under its jurisdc-
tion TO establish through routes and
joint rates. and the Canadian com
mission may require the lines under
its jurisdiction to do the same; but
neither body can compel two or more
carriers TO do this with international
traffic and furnish TO the shipper a
through bill OF lading from any point
I'm one country to any point in the
other.
The difficulties at present practical
~ preclude any inquiry by existing
tribunals into the reasonableness Of
combination through rates as applied
60 international traffic. No power at
present exists that can require car
riers engaged in this international
transportation to establish reasonab Bile
through joint rates.
Out OF this situation grew the sug-
gestion that joint international
commission should be created which
should have supervisory authority
over all Interstate and international
transportation lines. whether by rail
or water. between the two countries
It has not been determined yet
whether such a commission might
better be created by concurrent legis-
iation or established through treaty.
The negotiations have been con-
Quoted by the State Department and
by the Canadian Department OF For
eign Affairs. Chairman Knapp and
Mr.. Mabee will meet in Ottawa some
time In August. and subsequent
conference may be held in Washing
ton. The conferees may be able to
submit "A report and recommends
tions before congress meets in De-
cember.
The commission announced today
its intention to- suspend all tariffs
naming general and important rate
advances pending an investigation as
To the reasona blcncss of the proposed
increases.
mo more definite statement i'm this
regard can now bt made" says the
commission. but the specific orders
wiz be announced from time 10 time
as they are entered and served. 1t is
expected that the suspension i'm each
case VIII hc for 12O days from the
effecti"c date named in the tariff. but
tho commission intends by subsc-
qUent orders To provide for making
effective on the same day each ad-
vance as may he allowed"
Ia a. Tho nIrnnan of tho nnrn IN M OF m "a