The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1905-05-19
lOOSHVHT'S GREAT TASK.
Shall the Railroads, or the
Government Control?
RATES SHOULD Be ADJUSTED
Greatest Political or Economic
Fight in History.
WEEKLY LETTER FROM WASHINGTON

T1R0t III HISTORY.
WEEKLY LETTER FROM WASHINGTON
President Roosevelt has throwr
dawn the gauntlet ia what promises
to become the greatest political and
economic fight in the history of this
cointry, the effort OF the government
to regain that control Of the railroads
OF the country which control has
been gradually abandoned in the rush
incident to the nations progress.
Against the President Is arrayed the
greatest aggregate OF capital
ever commanded by single in
dustrial interest and the finest aggre.
cation Of legal talent ever brought
together in single cause. Without
a legal training or extensive study Of
economic problems, but guided by an
uuer.ing common sense, the presi-
dent has discovered that the greatest
evil which confronts the welfare OF
the Republic IS the all powerful oil
garchy composed of the railroad man
ayers OF the country, which by the
granting Of discriminating rates,
dlfYerentials and rebates, have built
up the great trusts. the blame for
which has been enormously charged
By the Democratic party to the tariff,
and which today hold ia the palms of
their hands the future Of men. COM
uunities and even the nation itself.
At the outset tho President Is de-
nOuuced as radical and even revo--
lutionary, although he proposes no
measure which cannot command the
respect OF the most conservative
citizen. In his last message to Con-
gress the President urged that power
be conferred on the Interstate Com.
Commission to fix maximum rate,
where it was found. that an unjust
rate was being charged. His message
created sensation but the Congress
met and adjourned and no action was
taken beyond the passage iy the
House Of hastily prepared railway
bill which it was not even expected
by the House leaders, that the Senate
would accept, and the authorization
OF Senate committee to hold shear.
ings" during the recess of Congress at
which testimony on the subject
should be taken. When the Congress
adjourned without definite action the
railway men appear to have assumed
that they had heard the end OF the
subject and that the President would
abandon his effort to accomplish
their control. Those who know the
President held a different opinion,
but as he said nothing 10 public and
made no mOnstration Of annoyance
because he had failed in the FIRST
instance, the railway men seem to
have believed that he had accepted
his defeat as final.
No sooner, however, had the Presi-
dent completed his hunting trip than
he made speech at Denver which
has sent cold shiver down the backs
OF the railway men of the country
and voclferous denunclation is heard
in Washington of the Presidents
Revolutionary theories. President
Roosevelt told the people Of Denver
that the railroads had become the
great arteries OF commerce, that they
had replaced the old highways and
turnpikes, the canals and wagon
roads and that today individuals or
corporations operating railroads
practically controlled the commerce
OF the nation. He declared, IN effect
that the railroads enjoyed special
privileges, the right Of eminent do
lliain. ETC., and that they were the
creatures Of the government, not its
owncrs; that rights OF way across the
country were not and never could be-
come private property; must not be
administered as private property hut,
said the President, sin my Judgment,
il is absolutely necessary that the
1ation-for the State cannot possibly
do it--sbca!d assume supervisory
and regulatory control over the great
corporations which practically con-
t:M tue highways OF commerce"
Twenty-four hours after the Presi-