The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-02
THr PREsTDENTs PLAN.

There are still rev peoplO VIM AZ
sist that President Roosevelt has NOT
outlined any specific plan Of rate regu-
1atfon and that until he does so mem
bers of congress ought to be careIui
about pledging themselves to vote for
what he wants. This is, of course, err
roneous. for the president outlined his
programme for rate regulation in very
decided terms in his speech at Raleigh,
N. c., six weeks ago. 1t will be inter
esting to note just how closely ne ao-
heres to that plan in his message 70
congress next week. In the course OF
his Raleigh address he said:
Actual experience has shown that it
is not possible to leave the railroads
uncontrolled. Such a system, or rather
such a lack of SYSTEM is fertile IN
abuses of every kind. and puts prem
ium upon INSCRIPTIONS and ruthless
cunning in railroad management; Tor
there are some big shippers and some
railroad managers who are always VIII
ing to take unfair ADVANTAGE OF tn elk
weaker competitors, and they tnerepy
force other big shippers and big rail-
road men who would like to do decently
into similar acts OF wrong and lnJustlces
under penalty of being left behind IN
the race for success. Government Su-
pervision is needed quite as much IN
the interest Of the big shipper ana OF
the railroad man who wants to DO right
as in the interest of the small shipper
and the consumer
present laws are defective and need
amendment. The effort to prohibit all
restraint of competition, whether rea-
sonabIe or unreasonable is unWlse
What we need is to have some admin
istrative body with ample power TO for
bid combination that is hurtful to the
public, and to prevent favorttism to one
individual at the expense of another
In other words, we want an admins
tratiVe body with the power to secure
fair and just treatment as among all
shippers who use the railroads-and
all shippers have a right to use them.
We must not leave the enforcement OF
such a law merely to the departing nt
of Justice; it is out of the question for
the law department of the government
to do what should be purely admins
trative work. The department or JUS
tice is to stand behind and cooperate
with the administrative body, but the
administrative body itself must be
given the power to do the work and
then held to a strict accountable for
the exercise Of that power. The delays
of the law are proverbial, and what we
need in this matter is reasonable quick
ness OF action.
THE abuses Of which we have a
genuine right to complain take many
Shapes. Rebates 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 con
4 troll OF the commission or administra-
1 tive body which is to exercise SUPER
vision by the government. But in my
/ judgment THE MOST IMPORTA Mr.
/ THING TO DO IS TO GIVE TO THIS
/ ADMINISTRATIVE BODY POWER
/ TO MAKE ITS FINDINGS EFFEC-
TIVE, and this can be done only bv
| giving 1t power, when complaint is
made of a given rate as being unjust
/ or unreasonable, If it finds the com
/ plant proper, then itself to fix q
[ maximum rate which it regards as
/ just and reasonable, this rate to 20
I into effect practically at once, that is
/ within a reasonable time, and to stay
4 in effect, unless reversed by the courts.
+ law giving this power passed by con
/ gress- Moreover, hope that by law
power viii be conferred upon repre-
/ sentatives Of the government capable
/ of performing the duty of public ac-
I countants carefully to examine into
/ the books Of railroads. when so or
/ dered by the interstate commerce
/ commission, which should itself have
power to prescribe what books, and
/ what books only should be kept bv
/ railroads.
IF there is in the minds Of the com
mission any suspicion that a certain
+ railroad is in any shape or way giving
rebates or behaving improperly I wish
I the commission to have power as mat
+ ter of right, not as a matter of favor.
{ to make full and exhaustive investiza-
ton Of the railroad, so that any viola