The sun., 1905-10-20

Government not tn exercise supervisory
aud regulatory fiFht over the Railroads.
for " Is vital 10 tho wellhring ~ tho pub
lic that they should he managed IN spirit
~ fairness and Justice toward oil tho public
Actual cvreroncc has shown that II Ia
not possible To- leave the railroads uncnn-
trollCd. Such u aystcm, or rather such
lack of system, Il fcrtle in abuses of every
kind and puts premium upon unscrupn-
lu,is aud ruthless cunning IN railroad IMAM
agcment for there are sorne big shippers
and some railroad managers who are al
ways willing to take unfair advantage OF
their weaker competitors. and they thereby
force other big shippers ard big railroad
men vho would like TO do decently into aim
liar acts of wrong and injustice, under
penalty uf bning left behind In the race
Tor surcosa. Government supervision is
needed quite ~ much in the interest OF
the big shipper and OF the railroad man
who want to do right "a in the interest OF
the small shipper and the consumer.
Experience has shown that the present
laws are defective and need amendment.
The effort to prohibit all restraint OF COM
pet eiition, whether reasonable or nnreason-
able, Is unwise. What we need IL to have
some adrnnist rative body with ample
power to forbid combination that s hurtful
to the public, and to prevent favoritism to
one individual at the EXPENSE OF another.
In other words we want an administra-
tive body with the power to secure fair
and just treatment as among all shippers
who Use the ralroads-and all shippers
have IA right to Use them. We must not
leave the enforcement OF such law merely
to the DEPARTMENT Of Justice; 1t is out OF
the question for the law department OF the
Government to do what should be purely
administrative work. The DEPARTMENT OF
Justice is to stand behind and cooperate
W tn the administ rative body, but the adj
minist strative body itself must be given
the power to do the work and then held to
strict accountability for the exercise OF
that power. The DELAYS OF the law are
proverbial and what we need in this matter
is reasonable quickness Of action,
HALLWAY ABUSES.
The abuses of which we have a genuine
right to complain axe many shapes. Re-
bates 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 control of the commission or admins
trative body which Is to exercise super
vision by the Government. But in my
judgment the most important thing to do
is to give to this administrative body power
to make its findings effective, and this can
be done only by giving it power, when COM
plant is made OF given rate as being un-
Just or unreasonable. il ii finds the COM
plant proper, then itself to fix maximum
rate which 1t regards as just and reasonable,
this rate to go into effect practically at once,
that is within a reasonable time, and to stay
in effect, unless reversed by the courts.
earnestly hope that we shall see a law giving
this power passed by Congress. Moreover,
hope that by law power will be conferred
upon representatives Of the Government
capable Of performing the duty Of public
accountants carefully to examine into the
books Of railroads, when so ordered by
the Interstate Commerce Commission.
which should itself have power to pre-
scribe what books, and what books only,
should he kept by railroads. II there is
in the minds OF the commission any sus-
picion that a certain railroad is in any
improperly. l wish the commission to
have power as matter OF right, not as
matter Of favor to make full and eI-
haustive investigation Of the receipts and
expenditures Of the railroad, so that
any violation or evasion Of the law may
be detected. This is not a revolutionary
proposal on my part, for l only wish the
same power given in reference to rail-
roads that is now exercised as matter OF
course by the national tank examiners
in giving these additional powers to the
administrative body representing the
Government-the Interstate Commerce
X Commission, or whatever it may be-is
primarilv to secure real and not
sham control to the Government repre-
sentatives. The American people abhor
sham. and with this adherence cordially
sympathize. Nothing is more injurious from
every standpoint than law which is merely
sound and fury, merely pretence, and not
capable Of working out tangible results.
l hope to see all the power that think 1t
ought to have granted to the Government;
but would far rather see only some Of it
granted, but really granted, than see
pretence OF granting all in some shape that
really amounts to nothing.
It must be understood as matter OF
course, that if this power is granted 1t Is
to be exercised with wisdom and caution
and seH-restraint. The Interstate Com
merce Commissioner OF other Govern
ment official who failed to protect a vail
road that was in the right against any
clamor, no matter how violent. on the
part Of the public. would be guilty Of as
gross a wrong as If he corruptly rendered
an improper service to the railroad at the
exrense Of the public, When say square
square deal for the rich man rs for the poor
man: but no more. Let each stand on his
merits. receive what is due him, and be
Judged according to his deserts. To more
he is not entitled: and less he shall not have.
A buffet luncheon was served in tent
near the grand stand following the Presi-
dents address and then the rarity. returned
to the train, which left at o'clock toward
the South, The Raleigh reorle said that
no crowd as large had ever been assembled
I'VE forgive President Roosevelt for all
but one thing-you know what that is
said a leading Democratic State official,
~and we will do our best to forget that.
He has done greater things than any ex-
cent two or three of our Presidents
In front of the residence Of another promi-
nent citizen Of Raleigh was this placard in
ITO our loved President, who dares to
do right, who dares to do what no other
can do
North Carolinians talked commercial pros
perity and sectional reunion to the Presi
dent all day They pointed With pride to tfe
tol acco factories at Durf am the cotton mills
at Salisl ,ry and the furniture shops at High
Point. There were many exConfederates
in gray uniforms everywhere, and when the
President complimented the veteran soldiers
of the South in is speech at Raleigh Major
Gen. Carr OF the Confederacy rose from
his seat near by and waved both arms and
shouted.
TALK ON DUTIES OF COLLEGE MEN.
At Durham. where the President arrived
at 2 o'clock, he addressed u Q townspeope
and students OF Trinity College.
On the Presidents train was William E.
Lamt eth, n graduate OF tfis college and a
post graduate Of 10th Yale and Harvard.
whose notal le address on Southern prol lens
at the Harvard commencement last Juno
was so conspicuously applauded by Presi-
dent Roosevelt
Prof. John Spencer Bassett of Trinity also
travelled through the State with the Presi-