The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-05-13
IlITS Strong Law
,,es1nfN1 AGAIN SPEAKS ON
RATE LEGISLATION.
-, a Banquet rendered by
,s0ver Chamber of Commerce.
ooumission Should Fix Rates
.,d,oo AppeaI-private Car
all Needs to Be Remedied.


o.,rer. May lo-The entertainment
I,en, ;ae,t Roosevelt by the citizens
Of rl rsr was a fitting conclusion Of a
o. p's oval welcome as he journeyed
d! ,u ~ H. the state of Colorado from
sh'ousu Springs. All the towns
'ilen" tha Denver and Rio Grande rail-
slo1s o we which the presidential party
f' ss,lsd gathered at the stations to
u''.. tbs president, and every evidence
sesrty good will was seen and
s The browning event came in
' s''t form of banquet rendered Presi-
DC Do roosevelt by the Denver Chamber
dsDI rommerce at tho Brown Palace
botel 1,s+;.. 10 bber. IN
s,eod the president, who rose amid
I sss,, and responded to the toast,
The Nation
,s.or discussing various questions Of
,. a- particularly to Colorado, the
l. ..s;dpnt took up the railroad rate leg
Station as follows:
i'' ..I want to say a word as to the gov
.nont poicy in which 1 feel that this
, rhos country ought to take great
; "t and which is itself but part
l # q general poicy into which 1 think
~ government must go. l speak OF
.ba 1ol,cy of extending the powers of
.bo interstate commerce commission
snd # giving them particularly the
Dorror 70 fix rates and to have the rates
that they fix 20 into effect practically
at once. As say, that represents in
nv mind part of what should be the
rsDaral policy oftbis country, the poll
ev of giving, not to the state. but to
,is genera government an increased
rcustcry power over corporations.
The First Necessary Step.
The first step, and to my mind the
most important step, is thus connec ted
With giving such power over the great
usrsportation corporations of this
country. | was going to say when the
first pioneers came to Colorado, but
that would hardly be so, but in the
DAYS Of the fathers of the Oldest 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 generations we
have seen system grow up under
which the old methods were complete
revolutionized, and now the typical
highway of commerce is, of course,
the railroad.
Compared with the railroad, the
ordinary road for wheeled vehicles,
and the waterway, whether natural or
sricfial, have lost their Importance.
Here in Colorado, for instance, the
railroads are the only highways you
nesd to take into account in dealing
with the question of commerce in the
state, or outside the state. Therefore,
under this changed system, we see the
highways of commerce grow up, each
(which is controlled by single COR
pcration or individual, sometimes sew
efal Of them being controlled in COM
mon by corporations or by a few indi-
yiduss.
Cannot Cure All Evils.
When such is the case, in my judy
aels 1t is absolutely necessary that
'ue natlon- for the state cannot posi-
ogdoit-shou assume supervisory
aao regulatory function over the great
prpratlons which practically control
'ue highways of commerce."
Inc president cautioned his hearers
wv I" believe that with these things
uune the millennium would have ar
tNea Some good would then have
t'sh cone, some injustice prevented,
wv 'nefe would still be much that is
aus as 1t should be. These things re-
~s 'uoered store of disappointment
SOula not be laid up for those who OK.
se0.eo more than would be accom-
said:
.. 0annnt attempt to speak in detail
Nnat should be put into the law, as
uope to see it passed at the next ses-
aoh of congress.
:. NOT only sould tbs power of rate leg
Gs s4on 60 into effect, but in my be-
VIII, .. we should at the same time deal
css su lne private car, which, as regards
., 'ain Industries, offers an even great
On. uenace than is offered by the pres
system of fl fixing rates."
Care Must Be Exercised.
tbs, ''sloent Roosevelt then pointed out
,bas great care should be exercised
81 I'M no injustice be done.
sa;s We must make up our minds.'' he
con, That nothing but harm will
snna. nom any scheme to exercise such
corno. lsioh as that 1 advocate over
eOnm aa'ions, and especially over the
csar1u carriers, unless we have it
mbon. hAed IN our minds that the
lice a,;, Is 70 be one of substantial JUS
The nnh1e e 10 the common carrier and
o,h LAND WITHDRAWN.