The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-12-23
RAILROADS OPPOSE
PRESIDENTS PLAN
Issue Is Political and Popular In
fiuence in Regulation Of
Rates.
ROOSEVELT WANTS TO
CONTROL COMMISSION
Es1lSins, for Roads, Would Bar
Executive from Direct Ac-
ton for People.
BY w. w. Jermane.


Washington, Dec. 23.-The discussion
evils has disclosed two very different
theories as to what ought to be done.
The president may be considered as
standing for one theory, while Sena-
tor Stephen B. Elkins and some OF the
railroad presidents voice the other.
by ME-. EIkins-is to remove all ques-
tions touching railroad rates as far as
possible from political and popular in
huence.
The other theory is to bring political
or popular influence directly to bear on
ell railroad questions and to carry 1t
out by the most efficient and expert in
strumentalities.
The president says he favors
change in the present law as to the
terms Of office Of the members OF the
interstate commerce commission, so
that the commission would end it's Off
cial Life at the end of each admlnlstra-
tion, He believes that a new president
coming into office should have the
power to appoint complete new COM
mission If he so desired.
Amenable to President.
The object of this plan is apparent;
more a1neaable to the president. On
Pc held to strict account by the people
tor the way the commission did its
work.
Il president were to be elected by
balm railway abuses, and his promise
b. correct them, he would be assured Of
O commission entirely In sympathy with
his plans and purposes; and It the ad-
administrations failed to make good It's
PROMISES, 1t would By impossibl e to
Nay.regillative tribunal over which he
The present Interstate, commerce
eethn,issieH Is not under the jurisdie-
sien ef Any branch of the executive
department OF the, government. The
tefms OF efaee OF the five commits
ses 9aAs snsatsd bhsS year"
~ sys that. the members are renewable
! ally fof failure to do their duties, in
Asapaeiby OF malfeasanee. Some er1barF-
Eassing questions might arise 1t presi-
Dent attempted to remove commission
srs fot personal or p ent,etala riea 81 rs,
courts. No president has ever attempt
ed to exert authority over the COM
mission.
-. Change Of Departments.
An attempt was made when the de-
Dartment sof commerce and labor was
created 10 make the interstate com
6aorce commission a bureau in that de-
partment. This was resisted vigorously
bv interests represented by the boards
Of trade. This was presumably. the
railroad rather than the shipping inter
est. The opposition was successful, tPe
president seeing that he would be likely
Eo lose the whole bill If he persisted II
this attempt. That effort Is likely tt
be renewed in connection with the legis
lat1on now being agitated.
The Railroad View.
Onnosed to this administration view 4
Ma railroad view, which Is that 1t woult
be q menace to the railroads and al
The commercial interests of the countr,
to place them at the mercy of the PEG
"What would happen to the railroad
bebs s'S We're re- elected presidenta' aske
Senator Elkins, when this proposition
fear Of the radical sentiment Of tn
country, If it should ever get into power
"What we =, want is to refer rel r., th NJ;
Road regulation to tribunal, whic
would be absolutely removed from an
Independent Of popular clamor,' Sel
ator Elkins continued. "They shoul
be settled by a court which would b
like the supreme court Of the Unite
Of men whose ability and reputation IL
integrity would be absolutely above su
picion. The matter of railroad rates {
regulation never should be permitted
become question of politics.
HBut whatever remedy is worked OF
7 feel that now is the time to take i
this question and settle it for good,
is big question, and cannot be solve
In moment. We must go at it deli
erately and must act only after the mo
thoro Investigation and consideration.
w The Shipping Interests.
The shipping interests, as REPRESENT
posed to both the Elkins and the admi
istration plans. Mr.. Bacon says tn
the Interstate commerce commlssl'
both as to its membership and it's fire
dom from executive domination. t
stands for the plain issue Of more pow
to this commission.
The Presidents Idea.
be this: The power to regulate t
railroads comes from the people.
I is exercised thru congress, but t
source Of the power is the people. L
executive branch of the government
7 the viii Of the people in the first
stance; afterward appeal may be had
the courts, but matters of general poll
are delegated by the people to the pre-
dent whom they elect, # the ,peol
elect president with the idea that
| will see that certain railroad abuses
corrected by federal control, the pre-
dent feels that he has right to cont
/ the instrumentality by which those
forms are necessarily brought about
namely, the interstate commerce 60
| mission.
ppEyxYERV RIIRNS