New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-10
PRESIDENT ON RATES.
Absolutely Necessary That the Ma
ton Assume Control.

Denver, May 9.-President Roosevelt discussed
railroad rate legislation at the dinner given by
the Chamber of Commerce in the Brown Palace
Hotel last night He finished his speech after
midnight and started for Chicago this morning.
He said:
I want 10 say word as to governmental
policy in which I feel that this whole country
ought TO take great interest and which is it
self but part Of 4 general policy into which
think our government must go. 1 have spoken
OF the policy OF extending the powers Of the
Interstate Commerce Commission and Of giving
them particularly the power to fix rates and to
have the rates that they fix 30 into effect prac-
ucally al once AS I say, that represents in my
mind part OF what should be the general policy
OF this country. The policy Of giving not TO the
State, but TO the national government, an in
creased supervisory and regulatory power over
corporations is the first step, and TO my mind
the most inn ortant step. In the days of the
fathers Of the older among you the highways of
commerce for civilized nations were what they
had always been; that is, waterways and roads.
Therefore, they were open to all who chose to
travel upon them. Within the last two genera
tions we have seen systems grow up, and now
the typical highway OF commerce IS the rail-
road. Compared TO the railroad, the ordinary
road for wheeled vehicles and the waterways,
whether natural or artificial, have lost all their
Importance. Here in Colorado, for instance, it
is the railroads which are the only highways
that you need take into account in dealing with
the question OF commerce in the state or out
side OF the State. Therefore, under this changed
system we see highways OF commerce grow up,
each OF which is controlled by single corpora
uCn ndiViGuali sometimes several OF lneHl
being controlled in combination by corporations
or by q few individuals When such IS the case
IN my Judgment II is absolutely necessary that
the nation-for the State cannot possibly do it
should assume a supervisory ana regulatory
function over the great corporations Whlch
practically control the highways of commerce.
As with everything else mundane Wheh you
get that supervisory and regulatory power on
behalf OF the nation you VIII not naFe cured
all the evils that existed ana you VIII NOT equdI
the expectations Of the amiable but III regulat-
ed enthusiast who thinks that you VIII nave
cured all those evils : measure of good VIII
come Some good will be DONE some injustice
viii have been prevented, but we shdll ne d d
long way from the millennium. Get tlaL Iact @
clear in your mind, or you viii be laying up LoI
yourselves q store Of incalcuiabe disappolnt-
ment in the future. That is the first thIhs'
Now. the second step. When you give na+ li+
ton that power remember that harm ana not
good viii come from the giving unless you slNe
Il with the firm determination not oniy 10 ger
justice for yourselves but 10 GO JuS'CS t.,o ~
others. that YOU viii be jealous 10 90 justice
TO the railroads to exact justice from III
We cannot afford in any shape or way Ia -, ''lio I
country 10 encourage q feeling which woulG 40 90
Injustice 10 a man of property, any more lileILs
we would submit TO injustice from a man st -
property Whether the man owns the pisseHt ! o.
railroad or the greatest OUTSIDE COZ Pa 80
the land or whether he makes each DAY ' pleau "a
by the sweat of that days toll ne Is ehtiueu i ~
justice and fair dealing, no more anu 40 1883
THE PANAMA CANAL.
President Roosevelt concluded his speech with
the following comment on the Panama Cafiai
project
It was perhaps unnecessary for ms 70 say eitds
am yArfecrIy ware that many most aolnlraDIe
gentlemen disagreed with me In my ac.i0il non
toward The Panama Canal but am in an IN
renertart frame of mind The ethical concep-
tion upon which / acted was that dld no. no.
intend Uncle Sam should be held up. puS p
without regard TO that when the caiial colne@
into onerafion I think IL VIII have a very lIl- m
portant regulatory effect in connection whih 'i
transcontinental commerce of the Repuhlic. G..
fbi11iC yrbeT such is the case. these great rail
roads Will have to revise their way OF looking
at the interests of certain inland cities: a
AS saw gentlemen, don't misunderstand me-
I understand thoroughly the argument from