Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-26
Interstate Commerce Commits.
sion Replies to Criticism.
LETTER is MADE PUBLIC
Chairman Knapp Answers Charges
by Former Representative Levy.
MEMBERS ATTEND TO DUTIES
Declares Country's Business Has Not
Suffered by Vacation Delay on
Railroad Rate Question.

Charges that the interstate commerce
commission has made blunders by which
the entire prosperity of the country has
suffered greatly have been made by eX-
Representative Jefferson NJ. Levy of New
York. and in a letter to President TAT,
serious criticism is made by Mr.. Levy
who says that the business of the coun-
try is placed I'm very serious position.
Chairman Knapp of the commission has
reported to the President in reply TO the
criticism. Both papers have been made
public.
Mr.. Levy stated that the President had
requested the commission to stay in the
United States during the summer and at
tend to the matter of rates. The com
mission. Mr.. Levy said. left the matter
to inspectors. who have been hearing the
railroads. the commission thereafter COINS
over the whole question again. The fac
that they have thus delayed the rates
decision till January 1, Mr.. Levy said
has restrained the country from ad
vance in prosperity which the great crops
have caused.
Mr.. Levy said that the commission
should have stayed at home. That now
under the conditions, they should per
emptOrily advance the rates at least one
half of the rates that the railroads pro
posed. until further investigation Of tbs
question whether they should advance
| them to the full rate as asked
Says Railroads Were Fair.
1.-The railroads acted in good faith.
Mr.. Levy said, with the expectation thai
the interstate commerce commission and
the government would act in the same
manner" Mr.. Levy criticised Commits
sioner Lane because of the alleged fac
that Mr. Lane made remarks whether
rates should be advanced before he has
investigated fully the question of the ad
vance of rates"
Chairman Knapp's reply to Mr.. Levy is
In part, as follows:
1.-THE President has referred to this
commission your letter to him of the 4tf
instant In which you are understood &c
charge the commission with needless de-
lay in acting upon the advanced rate
question, and particularly crtticise g
member OF the commission. You have Sc
completely misrepresented the facts that
1 take occasion to point out some OF the
respects in which you are in error.
Denies Delay to Business.
cit is true that two members of the
commission attended the international
Railway Congress in Switzerland in July
having been appointed to do SO as dele
gates Of this government, and that Other
members have obtained a little relief from
work during the vacation season. But II
is not true that this has delayed a sin
gle day the investigation OF a question
of great national Importance. The com.
mission was prepared to take up this
matter almost Immediately, and the rec
ord shows that delays and poStpOnements
have been in all cases at the request OF
the carriers. 1t was made known to the
commission that the preliminary proof
would consist generally Of tabulated state
ments and statistics relating to the earn
ested railroads, and 1t was conceded or
all hands that this proof could as we'll be
presented to examiners as to the commits
sion itself. The commission was ready to
take the matter up at once, but the rail-
roads required more time for preparing
their figures. and the date when the hear
ing commenced was the one the pro-
posed. They voluntarily postponed the
date Of their advanced rate tariffs until
the LIST Of November, and it has now be.
come apparent to them that further time
rs necessary for the presentation OF their
case and its proper conSidera ton by the
commission. At hearings in Chicago and
in Washington, after the statistical mat.
ter had been submitted, members Of the
commission presided. and all of them took
part in the Washington hearing. The stu
alton as developed up to this time indi-
ton Of important bearing should be fur.
nished. and it will require active dill gence
to supply that information within the
time allowed for that purpOSe'