Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-20
in this matter is reasonable quiokness Of
action.


action.
EvastOns OF the Law.
The abuses OF which we have genuine
right to complain take many shapes. Re
bates are not now often given openly.
But they can be given just as effectively
in covert form; and private cars, terminal
tracks and the like must be brought under
the control of the commission or admins
trative body, which Is to exercise super
vision by the government But In my
judgment the most important thing 10 do
is to give this administrative body power
to make its findings effective, and this can
be done only by giving II power, when COM
plant Is made OF a given rate as oeihg
complaint proper, then itself to FIX a max
imum rate which Il regards az Just and
reasonable this rate to go into effect prac-
time and to stay in effect, unless reversed
by the courts. ] earnestly hope that We
shall see a law giving this power passed
by congress. Moreover, | hope that by
law power will be conferred upon repre-
sentatives Of the government capable Of
performing the duty OF public accountants
carefully to examine into the books Of
railroads, when so ordered by the Inter-
state Commerce commission, which should
itself have power to prescribe what books.
and what books only, should be kept by
railroads. II there is in the minds of the
commission any suspicion that a certain
railroad is in any shape or way giving
rebates or behaving improperly, | wish the
commission to have power as matter Of
right, not as n matter of favor, to make a
full and exhaustive investigation of the
receipts and expenditures of the railroad,
so that any violation or evasion Of the law
may be detected
Not n Revolutionary Plan.
This is not revolutionary proposal on
my part, for l only wish the same power
given in reference to railroads that Is now
exercised as a matter Of course by the
national bank examiners as regards ma
tional banks My object in giving these
additional powers to the administrative
body representing the government-the In
ever II may be-is primarily to secure a
real and not a sham control to the gov
eminent representatives. The American
people abhor a sham, and with this abhor-
renee / cordially sympathize Nothing is
more injurious from every standpoint than
law which is merely sound and fury
merely pretense, and not capable OF work.
ing out tangible results. ] hope to see all
the power that / think Ii ought to have
granted to the government; butt | would
far rather see only some of II granted, but
really granted, than see a pretense OF
granting all, in some shape that really
amounts to nothing.
course, that II this power Is granted IT. Is
to be exercised with wisdom and caution
and self-restraint. The Interstate Com.
merce commissioner or other government
official who failed to protect n railroad
that was in the right against any clamor
no matter how violent on the part of the
public, would be guilty of as gross A wrong
as II he corruptly rendered an Improper
service to the railroad at the expense OF
| the public. When l say square deal
mean a square deal; exactly as much q
! square deal for the rich man for tht
| poor man; but no more. Let each stanC
, on his merits receive what is due him
| and be judged according to his deserts
! To more he lis not entitled. and less hi
shall not have.
At the conclusion of his speech, which
was enthusiastically applauded, the presi
dent took luncheon in a special banque
hall on the fair grounds in company will
! the officials of the fair and state.
The president was afterward escorted t
the depot by a military and civil parade
in the party being many ladies in carriages
and left Raleigh at 1:3O for Durham
| Greensboro, High Point, Salisbury ant
Charlotte on his way south.