The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-12-05

fictitious damages, or OF "a concession, a
free pass, reduced passenger rate, or pay.
ment OF brokerage, Is illegal.
II Is worth while considering whether
~ would not be wise 20 confer on the
government the right OF civil action
against the beneficiary OF a rebate for at
least twice the value OF the rebate; this
would help stop what Is really blsckmail.
Elevator allowances should be stopped,
for they have now grown 10 such an eN-
tent that they are demoralzing and are
used rebates.
The best possible regulation Of rates
would, OF course. be that regulation se-
cured by an honest agreement among the
railroads themselves to carry out the law.
Such general agreement would, for In
stance. AZ once put a stop 20 the efforts
OF any ono mg shipper or big railroad 10
discriminate against or secure advantages
over some rival. and such agreement
would make the railroads themselves
agents for enforcing the law. The power
vested In the government 20 put a stop
public should, I'm my judgment. be ac-
companied by power TO permit under spe-
cied conditions and careful supervision,
agreements clearly I'm the interest or the
public. But I'm my Judgment, the neces-
city for giving this further power Is by
no means as great as the necessity
| for giving the commission or administra-
tive body the other powers l have emu
merated above: and II may we'll be mad
visable 20 attempt 20 vest this particular
power in the commission or other admin
istrative body until g. already poEsesses
and Is exercising what / regard as by far
the most important Of all the powers
! recommend-as IN deed the vitality import
ant power-that 10 fix n given maximum
rate. which rate. after the LAPSE OF rea-
sonsble time. goes into fun effect subject
/ 20 review by the courts.
/ SHOULD BE UNDER SUPERVISION.
All private car lines. industrial roads;
/ refrigerator charges and the like should
/ be expressly put under the supervision
OF the interstate commerce commission or
some similar body so far as rates, ana
agreements practically affecting rates.
and the owners of industrial railyoads arc
entitled 70 a fair and reasonable compen-
sation on their Investment but neither
private cars nor Industrial railroads nor
spur tracks should be utilized as devices
for securing preferential rates.
rebate IN icing charges or In mileage,
or I'm q division OF the rate for refrigerat-
ing charges is just as pernicious as re
bate IN any other way. No lower rate
should apply on goods imported than ac-
tually obtains on domestic goods from
the American seaboard 20 destination eX-
cept in cases where water competition is
the controlling influence. There should
be publicity OF the accounts OF common
carriers: no common carrier engaged in
interstate business should keep any books
or memoranda other than those reported
pursuant to law or regulation, and these
books or memoranda should be open 10
tho INSPECTION OF the government.
Only I'm this way can violations OF eva
sions OF the law surely be detected.
accounts should he provided similar TO
that now conducted into the national
banks by the bank examiners a few first
class railroad accountants, tf they had
proper direction and proper authority TO
Inspect books and papers. could accom-
plsh much I'm preventing wilful violations
OF the law. II would not be necessary for
them 10 examine into the accounts OF
any railroad unless for good reasons they
were directed 10 do so by the Interstate
commerce commission. II is greatly 10
be desired that some way might be found
by which an agreement as TO transporta-
ton within a state intended 10 operate
commerce laws could be brought under
the Jurisdiction Of the Federal authori-
! ties AT present It occurs that large ship,
ments OF Interstate traffic are controlled
| by concessions on purely sate business.
which Of course amounts TO an evasion
of the law,
The commission should have power 90 en-
force fair treatment by the great trunk
lines OF lateral and branch lines.
EXPEDITIONS ACTION ASKED.
providing for expeditions action by the
Interstate commerce commission In all
these matters, whether IN regulating rates
for transportation or for storing or for
handling property or commodities in tran
sit. The history OF the cases litlgated un-
der the present commerce act shows that
It's efficacy has been to a great degree de-
stroyed by the weapon OF delay. almost
the most formidable weapon In the hands
Of those whose purpose 1t Is 10 violate
the law.
Let me most earnestly say that these
recommendations are not made In any
spirit ofhostility 20 therailroads. on
ethical grounds. on grounds OF right, such
hostility would be intolerable and on
grounds OF mere national self interest we
must remember that such hostility would
tell against the welfare not merely OF
some few rich men. but OF a multitude
OF small investors. multitude OF railway
employees. wage workers: and most Sc
as a whole I believe that on the whole
our railroads have done well and not Ill;
but the railroad men who wish 10 do well
should not be exposed 20 competition with
those who have no such desire. and the
only way 10 secure this end Ia to give 90
some government tribunal tho power TO
see that Justice is done by the unwilling
exactly as it is gladly done by the willing
Moreover, II some government body IL
given Increased power -t44e-effeet- Will be
to furnish authoritative answer on behalf
OF therailrosd whenever irrational clamor
against II is raised or whenever charges
made against II are dispruved. j ask this
legislation not only IN tho interest Of the
public but In the interest of the honest
railroad man and the honest shipper
alike, for II Is they who are chiefly teop-
arded by the practices OF their dishonest
competitors. This legislation should be en-
acted i'm spirit az remote as possible
from hysteria and rancor.
TRUE TO TRADITIONS.
true 10 tho traditions we have inherited
we shall always scorn any effort 70 make
us hate any man because he is rich. Just
as much as we should scorn any effort
10 make us look down upon or treat con-
temptuously any man because he Is poor.
We Judge man By his conduct that is
by his charac cter-and not by his wealth
or intellect II he makes his fortune hon
estly. there is no just cause OF quarrel
with him. Indeed. We have nothing but
the kindliest feelings OF admiration for
the successful business man who behaves
decently, whether he has made his sue
cess by building or managing a railroad
or by shipping goods over that railroad
The big railroad men and big shippers are
simply Americans of the ordinary type
who have developed 20 an extraordinary
degree certain great business qualities
They are neither better nor worse than
their fellow citizens OF smaller means
They are merely more able In certain
lines and therefore exposed 20 certain pc
culiarly strong temptations. These temp
tations have not sprung newly into being
the exceptionally successful among man
kind have always been exposed 20 them;
but they have grown amazingly In power
as a result OF the extraordinary devel-
opuent OF iudust r1alism along new lines