The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1905-12-07

fohus, upon complaint ana after inNfsfir
gation, A heavy penalty should be ex-
acted from any corporation which fails
to respect au order of the commission. /
regard this power to establish a maximum
real reform In the matter OF railway
regulation. The arst necessity q 10 Sc
commission there b. little use ia touch-
ms the subject Al an.
Continuing. the President earnestly
disclaims spirit Of hostility TO
the railroads. pointing out the bene-
fits to be derived by The fair-dealing
roads in the even-handed administers
ton Of justice. In this both the hon
est railroad man and the honest ship
per alike would be benefited. Ending
the subject, the President SAYS:
All priyate-csr lines Industrial roads.
refrigerator charges, and the like should
Be expressly put under the supervision
some similar body so far as rates.. and
agreements practically affecting rates. are
s2neefnsd The n~Tiyats -eaF owne5s aaa
entitled 70 a fair and reasonable ompen-
sation on their investment. but neither
private cars nor Industrial railroads nor
spur tracks should Re utilized as devices
for secufing preferential rates. A rebate
in icing charges. or IN miieage or % a
AAH y FANI NAAt ANN AfAAAkNNA NaHA
charges Is Just as pernlcious as a rebate
In any other way. No lower rate should
apply on goods imported than actually
obtains 10 domestic goods from the
American seaboard to destination except
In cases where water competition Is the
controlling influence. There houid be
publicity OF the accounts OF common car
rfers. no common carrier eugaEed In
Interstate business should keep any books
OF memoranda other than those reported
pursuant 70 law OF regulation, and these
books or memoranda should be open 20
the inspection Of the government Only
N this way can violations or evasions OF
the law be suI ely detected. A system OF
4 examination uf railroad accounts should
be provided similar 20 that now conducted
into the national banks by the bank
examiners. 8 few hrst-class raiiruad ac-
c~ountants. Il they had proper direction
and proper authority 10 inspect books
and papers. could accomplish much IN
/ preventing willful violations OF the law.
Il would not be necessary for them 70
examine into the accounts o. any raiiroad
unless for good reasons they were dtrect-
/ ed to do so hv the Interstate Commerce
commission. II Il greatly TO be desired
al agreement as 20 transportation with
70 a state Intended 70 operate as a fraud
upon the federal Interstate
laws could be brought under the juris-
/ dictiDn Of the federal authorities. AT
present Il occurs that large shipments
Of interstate traffic are controlled by con-
cesslons on purely state business. which
Of course amounts 10 an evasion Of the
law. The commission should have power
90 enforce fair treatment by The great
trunk lines Of lateral and branch lines.
| urge upon she consress the need Tor
merce commission m all taese matters
whether In regulating rates tranSpor-
tafion or fof stoftne or handllns
property o. commodities IN transit The
history 81 the casps htiEzted under the
present act shows thar Nl
efficiency has been to a great degree
destroyed BY the weapon Of delay. almost
the most formidable weapon Ia the HANDS
q those whoas purpose 4 : 10 violate
the law.
The question Of transportation lies az
the root Of al industrial success, and the
revolution To transportation which has
taken place durinE the last half century
has been The most Important factor in the
growth Of The new Industrial conditions.
Most o~nphaucaly We do not wish 20 see
I the man Of great talents refused the re-
ward for his talents stiii less DO We wish
J 80 see him UeualiLe8. hut We DO desire O.
see the system OF railroad transportation
/ given no advantage over the weak man
5 We wish 60 insure as fair treatment for
the small town as Tor the hig city Tor The
5 the old days The highway 81 commerce
whether BY water or hy a road on land
q WIS open 10 all. II belonged 10 the public
$ and the tranic aiqng q was free ~
present the railway Is this highway, ans
We must do our best 70 see that q Is KEEP
$ open 90 an on equal terms Unlike az,
r GA highway IL Is a very difficult ant
y I complex thing 10 manage. ard Il IL fai
: better that Il should he managed b,
e private individuals than ~ the Govern
ment But Il cau only be 50 managed OF
$ condition that Justice - done the public
|. Y = Pf Is ~ m1oa@9ss SEIrbfy nv seelg
able and would probably IN this cQuntr
entail far-reachiug disaster, that ! wisl
20 see such supervision and regulation
4 Of them IN the Interest Of the public a
4 viii make Il evident that there fs no Nee
= for public ownership The opponents @
n government regulation dwell upon tn
q difficulties to We encountered and tn
Intricate and involved nature Of the prob
complicated and delicate problem. and al
d ktnds II difficulties are sure % arise 3
= connection With any PLAZA - solution
while no plan VIII bring All INC benefit
n hoped for by It's more optitiistic adher
a eats. Moreover. under any healthy plan
the henehis viii develop gradually and 20
= rapidly. Finally Ne must CLEARLY under
q stand that the puiiie servants who a.
j. % DO this peculiarly responsible an
j. delicate work must themselves De 81 IA
q efficiency They must be well paid. "a
il otherwise Hnie men can not 90 the lon
= lofts probis whirh sill revolt a. quick
u " a. The Thought u pRnaefinf 10 an
le Sc, % hePeifs pfs'uaies sgsinst re
!, remotely sNNarTftcuCf 60 SIC
y men Hut while ! fully admit the aim
] sdmit isnt mess dimeuitsss warrsat \
i, in Htouplng in our effort % secure q Wis
a nnd Just system They should have q
Il exercise ~ the resolution she overland
y "a iusilce. and the fertility 81 fesoufc.
Whlrh We like 10 thluk % 49, TYPICAL
y American and which Wni go the eu
aciAeNe good results co. this az "a otis
fields ~ activity. The task ia a gre.
oae aud undeTiiea the task ~ deaiin
with the whole Industrial problem Hi
y the fact mat d l. 4 great problem dn'
M not Warrant ua On shHukiug from 81
M attempt 90 solve g. AZ present We "a
y, such utter lack of supervision. sul
NJ freedom from TIE restraints u tHW. 10
excellent men have often hseH utcfnt
4, forced into doing shat they dfpipfi
N because otherwise they wers left az "a
mercy ~ utscfupulqus competition I
I, rail nt and assaii the men WhQ have Dor
AS theY heat could pndfr the condition
accompIshcs little What He need ~
h is 20 develop en- orderly system aI
H. such a system can pnlN cuuf tnfuui
n fhe gradually Increased exercise % "a
NJ right Of eihciens cgutfoi
The necessity for safety appliance
on railroads. recommended ID a
Presidents message 10 The last CO.
10 gress. Is emphasized. together Vil
70 the necessity for a law regulating a
% hours of labor of railroad men.
~ On the labor ouastion tha me