The Somerset reporter., 1904-12-08

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rlod an IN tho ,.ariong .,,t,. mt al
tndi.,,I dooisi.ns -, tl,a .,,,,ia.t -
into tho varions svsfams of cornarafa
tovotton In nsa call snaciol .,ttantf.tt
IN the renort ef the ehjef Of fine bnraa44
and earnestly ask that fine congress
carefully consider the rcDort and re-
concentrations of the commissioner on
this subject
The business Of Insurance vitality af=
fects the great mass of the people Of
the United States and IS national and
not local I'm lis applieation. If involves
multitude of transactions among the
people of the different states and be
tween American companies and for
eipn governments. | urpc that the con
greSs carefully consider whether the
power of the bureau of corporations
cannot coustitutionallv be extended u
cover interstate transactions In insur-
ance.
Rebates
Above all else We must strive to keep
! the highways of commerce open TO all
on equal terms. and to do this II is nee
essary to put complete stop to all re
bates. Whether the shipper or the rail
road Is to blame makes no difference
The rebate must be stopped, the abuses
Of the private ear and private terminal
track and side track systems must be
stopped. and the legislation of the Fir
ty-eighth congress which declares 1t u
be unlawful for any person or corpora
ton to offer. grant. give. solicit accept
or receive any rebate, concession or
discrimination In respect of the trans
portatiou OF any property in Interstate
or foreign commerce whereby such
: properly SHAH By any device whatever
be transported at less rate than that
named in the tariffs published by the
carrier must be enforced. While | am
of the opinion that at present 1t would
be undesirable If 1t were not impracti-
cable finally 10 clothe the interstate
/ commerce commission with general au-
thority to fix railroad rates | do be
lieye that as Il fair security to ship
pers the commission should be vested
with the power where given rate has
been challenged and after full hearing
found to be unreasonable TO decide. sub
ject to judicial review. what shall be n
reasonable rate 10 take its place. the
ruling of the commission to take effect
Immediately md 10 obtain unless AID
until it is reversed by the court of re
view
Steamship companfes engaged I'm in
terstatc commerce and protected in our
coastWise trade should be held to n
strict observance of the Interstate com
merce act.
[The president here discusses the
CITY of WASHINGTON. making humorous
recommendations looking TO ifs better
government He asks that lows he
/ passed preventing oyercrowdinp In the
tenement districts. for the abolition Of
blind alleys and the proper housing of
the poor He also recommends changes
/ In the criminal code and would have
wife heaters corporaIly punished.
Irrigation.
During the two and half years that
have elapsed since the passage OF the
reclamation act rapid progress has
been made In the surveys and exami-
nations of the opportunities for recla-
nation in the thirteen states and three
territories of the arid west. Constrllc-
ton has already been begun on the lar
gest and most important of the irriga-
ton works, and plans are being com
pleted for works which Will utilize the
funds now available.
The forest policy of the government
Is just now subject Of vivid public
/ interest throughout the west ana to the
people Of the United States in general
/ The forest reserves themselves are Of
i extreme value 10 the present us vol
] as to tbe future welfare of nil the
western nublic land states They now
erfully affect the use and dIsposa1 of
/ tbe nublic lands They are of sne.
clol importance because they nre.
serve the water supDIy and the SUNNY
] of tIrnhor for domestic ,ur,,osos mud So
promoto settlement under fine reclaim.
/ tion act Indeed fbee 3ro essential ia
the welfare of every one of the trent
interests of the V-aet
have rcpeatadly called attention to
the confusion which exists in govern
p,put forest matter. bnr3usn the work
Is scattered Among tlIrco indopondent
o,.,.,riz,tions As ba.. rr,n,niaand
nd au tba forest voIl. or fine povarn
meut should be concentrated i'm the DE-
pafimout of agriculture. where tie
lar.rr uart of that work is already