The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-01-31

rieo on in way Of which the founders OF
have had any idea
All great business concerns are engaged
IN Interstate commerce, and IL was be-
yon0 question the intention Of the found
rrs Of our government that inter te
commerce i'm all its branches and aspects
should be under national and not state
control
n the courts decide that this intention
was not carried out and made effective In
the constitution as II now stands. then in
the end the constitution. II not contrued
diucrently, viii have 10 be amended SO
that the original undoubted intention may
ne made effective.
but. OF course. a constitutional amend
inent Is only To he used as a last resort IL
cvcry effort OF legislation and administra-
iton shall have been proved inadequate.
UNDER NATIONAL CONTROL.
Az the present moment the greatest
need Is for an increase i'm the power OF
the national government 10 keep the
great highways OF commerce open alike
TO all on reasonable and equitable terms.
Less than century ago these highways
we've still. as they had been since the
dawn OF history either waterways. nat
uIai or artificial. or else ordinary roads
lower
The railroad. which was utterly un-
known when our government was formed
ana when the great principles OF our iu-
rsprudencc were laid down. has now he
come almost everywhere the most import
ant and, In many large regions the only
form Of highway for commence
! he man who controls its use cannot be
permitted TO control it IN his own interest
alone
II is not only Just but H. Is I'm tho i'm
terost Of the public that this man should
receive the amplest payment for the
masterful business capacity which enables
him TO hcncdt himself while benehting tho
public. but in return he must himself
recognize his duty 20 the public. lie will
not and cannot do this " our laws are
20 defective that In the sharp competl-
tiou ~ the business world the conscien
tious man is put at q disadvantage by
his less scrupulous fellows. n is IN tho
interest 90 tho conscientious and public
spirited railway man that there should
De such governmental supervision OF the
railway tranlc of the country az 10 re
ouire from his less scrupulous comDeti-
tors. and from unscrupulous big shippers
as we'll that heed 10 the public welfare
which he himself would willingly give
and which is OF vital consequence 10 tho
small shipper Every important raIroad
is engaged In interstate commerce There
fore this control over the railroad. must
come through the national government
MUST GIVE AND GET JUSTICE.
The control must be exercised by some
governmental tribunal and 90 must De
real and effective Doubtios- there will
be risk that occasionally f an unit
president is elected this control VIII be-
abused but this is only another way n
saving That any adequate governmental
power from The power Of taxation down
can and will hc abused II tho wrong nen
get control of it
Tho details must rest with tho law.
makers of the Two houses ~ congress
but about tho principle there can bc no
doubt Hasty or vindictive action would
merely work damage hut Ion temperate
roeolutc fashion there must hc lodged in
some trIbunai tho power over rates and
especially over rebates whether secured
hy means Of privatc cars ~ private