The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-17

yet been argued and it has not been adj
vanced on the calendar, so it will hardly
be argued before the next term of court
Then the final decision rests entirely in
the convenience or whim of the supreme
court; it might come in six months and
it might be delayed two years.
Members of the interstate commerce
commission do not conceal their pleasure
in the support which President Roosevelt
is giving them in their effort to enforce
the laws. They say they have no desire
to take snap Judgment on the railroads;
their only purpose is to do equal justice
between the shipper and the carrying
company. They say it should cause no
such great surprise that the president
wants to see the laws obeyed With
a hearty vigorous support from the exec
utive branch of the government the COM
mission will be able to demonstrate what
are its real powers under the laws as
they now stand, and in what respects
they should be amended. The commits
sion has been abused for its supineness.
1t has been accused by the railroad COM
panies of purposely neglecting to enforce
the laws, 50 that abuses might grow up
and become fragrant, and congress might
te persuaded to give them enlarged and
dangerous powers. BY others it was al
legged that the laws are quite adequate,
and the main trouble is an absence of
energetic support from the executive
branch Of the government Meantime
the commission has claimed and the ma
Jority OF shippers have been led to be-
lieve that the law had been emasculated
by decisions of the supreme court, and
that nothing substantial could be &C
compliShed until it was reVamped and
thoroughly amended by congress. In an
swer to all of which allegations and COM
plants, comes the order of the president
IN int I'm, in ,,Nt np
the machinery for the enforcement of the
laws and the punishment of offenders.
Enforcing the law is one of Roose-
velts hobbies. He made something of
a reputation at it when he was police
commissioner of New York city: and
again when he was at the head of the
national civil service commission.
Members of congress who are supposed
to reflect railroad sentiment, do not look
with approval on the presidents course.
A prominent Republican member of the
senate committee on interstate and for
eign commerce. said to your correspond
ent that he believed the president was
making mistake in taking the railroads
unaware. He said he could not imagine
whose advice Roosevelt was taking; it
certainly was not coming from himself
and his friends in the senate. The sena-
tor mentioned was a close friend Of Nc
AHlleyJ dIiu one OIL lflOSe frequently call
ed into counsel.
In neither branch of congress has any
move been made looking to serious con-
sideration of railroad legislation. Chair
man Hepburn of the house committee on
interstate commerce, has promised at
some time in the not distant future, to
set day for hearing on the Corliss bill:
and on the senate side Mr.. Elkins holds
cut similar hopes. But at the present
other Legislation has the right of way
The campaign, when it does come, will
be for a compromise measure embodying
the features of both the Corliss and Ell
kins bills, granting to the railroads the
right to make enforceable pooling agree
-nents, and giving the interstate COM
merce commission the enlarged powers
which it seeks, for making rates. The
main objection in the way OF legislation
a present is the lack of harmony among
the railroads. Until they can harmon-
ize OF some general line, it is regarded
is impossible to overcome the popular
prejudice against pooling.
The appeal of the Minnesota governor
and states attorney for some congress
sional action which will enable them 20
get at the Northern Securities company,
has fallen on deaf ears