Martin Augustine Knapp

Background

Martin Augustine Knapp, the son of Justus Norton and Polly (McKay) Knapp, was born on February 10, 1923 on a farm at Spafford, New York, United States.

Education

Martin acquired an early education at the common schools; later he entered Wesleyan University, winning his bachelor's degree as an honor man in 1868. He then taught in a country school while studying law. In 1869 at the age of twenty-six he was admitted to the New York bar.

Career

Knapp was engaged actively in the practice of law at Syracuse, New York. In 1877 he was made corporation counsel of the city of Syracuse, which post he held until 1883. The efforts of the West Shore Railroad to establish a line through the center of the state engaged much of his time and upon his retirement he came into a line of practice which strengthened his interest in transportation problems generally. Developing a reputation as a specialist in that field, he was appointed by President Harrison in 1897 a member of the Interstate Commerce Commission. The following year he became its chairman and remained a member of the commission for nineteen years, gaining reappointment by successive presidents regardless of party differences.

Upon the creation of the Commerce Court on June 18, 1910, the object of which was to relieve the federal judiciary at large of railway cases, and to place them in the hands of a tribunal versed in interstate commerce law, Knapp was appointed by President Taft a circuit judge, assigned to the court as presiding judge. Three years later, when the Newlands Act, creating the Board of Mediation and Conciliation, superseded the Erdman Act, he was appointed by President Wilson a member of the board. Upon the dissolution of the Commerce Court on December 31, 1913, he was assigned to the court of appeals, fourth circuit, which position he retained until his death.

Achievements

• Martin Augustine Knapp was distinguished for his service in the judicial system of the United States. He was instrumental in settling numerous railroad labor disputes, some of which were of considerable importance.

Works

More photos

• book

  • National Regulation Of Railroads

    ( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)

  • Evidence Taken By The Interstate Commerce Commission In The Matter Of Proposed Advances In Freight Rates By Carriers: August To December, 1910 ......

    (This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. T...)

  • Report Of The Interstate Commerce Commission On Block-signal Systems And Appliances For The Automatic Control Of Railway Trains...

    (This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. T...)

  • Principles of railway legislation

Membership

Knapp was an active member of many associations and clubs including the American Academy of Political and Social Science and the American Economic Association.

Personality

Knapp was short in stature, being only five feet in height. He was quiet by nature but friendly and pleasant. He had a receptive mind on questions within his judicial activities and worked in harmony with other men. These traits together with his knowledge of railway problems made him an able mediator. There was no question concerning the fairness and wisdom of his settlement of a dispute. His correspondence with Joseph Nimmo, Jr. , relative to the provisions of the Cullom Bill, gives evidence of the competence of his opinions on legal and constitutional questions, and of his firmness in upholding his convictions.

Connections

On December 29, 1869 Knapp was married to Marian Hotchkiss, of Middletown, Connecticut. His first wife having died in 1904, he was married on August 10, 1907, to Nellie (Maynard) Gardner, of Syracuse.

Father:

Justus Norton Knapp

Mother:

Polly (McKay) Knapp

Spouse:

Nellie (Maynard) Gardner

Spouse:

Marian Hotchkiss