The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-12-06

washington. Dec. 5.-Ihe Presi-
dents message received the attention
of the house today for two and one
hal hours. The reading was listened
10 with marked attention and az IT'S
ronciusion the document was applaud
ed
President BOOseV0lts annual mess
age opened with plea for the cooper
alton of an classes IN continuing the
counfry's prosperity and In correcting
existing evils for a square deale for
everybody. Toe message first takes up
the question Of corporations and rail-
road rate legislation. The president
says:
COMPOSITIONS.
am ln no sense hostile 10 corpora
Cons. Ihis IS an age 81 combination,
and ans effort 90 prevent all c0mbina-
ticI VIII be not only useless. but In
she end vicious. because Of the con-
tempt FOR Jaw which the failure 60 en-
force law inevitably produces. The
corporation has come 90 stay. just as
the trades union has come to stay.
Bach can do and has done great good.
Each should be favored SO long as it
does good. But each should be sharp
~ checked where it acts against law
and Justice
Experience has shown conclusiveiy
that it is useless 10 try 10 get any ade-
ouote regulation and supervision of
these great corporations by state &C.
ti0n. such regulation and supervision
can ony be effectively exercised by a
} scVereign whose jurisdiction is cock
tensVe with .thc field work Of the cor
poraucns. thar as. by the national gov
eminent / believe that this regula-
tion and supervision can be obtained
hH the enactment OF laweby the con
Gress. IL this proves Impossible. 60 wiz
certainly be necessary ultimately 10
confer in fullest form such power upon
che national government hy a proper
amendment of the constitution.
The laws cf the congress and OF the
several states hitherto. as passed upon
by the courts. have resulted more often
an showing that the states have no
power in the matter than that the ma
uonal government has power. SO that
thcre at present exists a very unfOrtu-
nate condition Of things under which
these great corporations doing an in-
terstate business occupy the position
az subjects without a sovereign. Meth
er any state government nor the ma
uonal rcvernment having effective
control 0ver them. Our steady aim
should be hy legislation, cautiously
and carefully undertaken. but resolute-
ia persevered I'M. 10 assert the SOW
ereiEnty OF the national government by
Affirmative action.
This Is only IN form an innovation.
III substance 81 is merely q restoration.
Cor from the earliest time such regula-
ucn cf Industrial activities has been
recognized On the action OF the law
making bodies, and an that / propose
IS 90 meet the changed conditions IN
a1cn manner AS VIII prevent the COM
uonUoaEh abdicaUnE the power I'd
tts ALWAYS possessed. NOT only in this
country. but also in England before
and since this country became a sepa-
rate nation.
Rsiirosd Rate Legislation.
As I said IN ms message Of Dec.
last. me immediate and most pressing
need SO Tar as legislation IS concerned
rs tne enactment into law 81 some
echeme TO- secure 10 the agents OF the
government such supervision and regu-
lotion oi the rates charged by the rail.
roads of The country engaged In inter
state iratie as shall summarily and ef-
lecufel3 prevent the imposition of un-
1ust az nnreasonable rates. 10 must
include putting a complete stop 20 re-
bates n every shape and form. This
roWer 70 regulate rates. ike an SINH
Jar powers over the business world
eho6ld De exercised with moderation.
c1rtlon and self restraint. but il
should exist So thar it can be eHee
ure.y exercised when the nesd arises.
Ir my 1udEemenL the most important
provision which such Law should con
tain as thar c1nferring unon some CON.
petent administrative body tie power
40 decide upon the case being broueh
before 81 Whether a given rate nre.
acribed De- railroad IS reasonable and
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