Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1905-12-14

the commission power to initiate or
originate rates generally, but to regulate
roads. upon complaint and after investi-
cation. heavy penalty should be .ex-
acted from any corporation which falls
to respect an order OF the commission ]
regard this power to establish a maximum
rate as being essential to any scheme OF
real reform r in the matter OF railway
cure It; and unless II Is gr"nted to the
commission there is little use in touch
Ing the subject at all.
Continuing, the President earnestly
discaims any spirit Of hostility to
the railroads, pointing out the bene-
fits to be derived by the fair-dealing
roads in the even-handed administra-
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 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, and
agreements practically affecting rates, are
concerned The private-car owners and
the owners OF Industrial railroads are
entitled to fair and reasonable compen-
satlon on their investment, but neither
spur tracks should be utilized as devices
for securing preferential rates. A rebate
IN icing charges or In mileage, or IN
division Of the rate for refrigerating
| charges Is just as pernicious as rebate
in any other way. No lower rate should
apply on goods imported than actually
| American seaboard to destination except
| In cases where water competition Is the
controlling Influence. There should be
publicity of the accounts of common car
| riers; 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 to
| the inspection of the government. Only
| In this way can violations or evasions OF
the law be surely detected A system OF
| examination OF railroad accounts should
be provided similar to that now conducted
| into the national banks by the bank
| examiners; n few first class railroad ac-
countants, II they had proper direction
and proper authority to inspect books
| preventing wilful violations of the law.
| 1t would not be necessary for them to
examine into the accounts of any railroad
| unless for good reasons they were direct
ed to do so by the Interstate Commerce
commission. 1t Is greatly to be desired
that some way might be found by which
| an agreement as to transportation with
| in a state intended to operate as a fraud
upon the federal interstate commerce
LAYS could be brought under TIE 1uris
present 1t occurs that large shipments
| OF interstate traffic are controlled by con-
cessons on purely state business, which
| of course amounts to an evasion OF the
law The commission should have power
to enforce fair treatment by the. great
trunk lines of lateral and branch lines.
l urge upon the Congress the need for
expeditions action by the Interstate Com
merce commission In all these matters,
whether In regulating rates for transpor-
tation or for storing or for handling
property or commodities in transit. The
history OF the cases litgated under the
| ~ mt hnu hnt 70
efficiency has been to a great degree
destroyed by the weapon OF delay, almost
the most formidable weapon in the hands
OF those whose purpose 1t is to violate
the law.
The question Of transportation lies at
the root Of all industrial success and the
revolution In transportation which has
, taken place during the last half century
: has been the most important factor in the
growth of the new industrial conditions
Most emphatically we do not wish to see
l the man of great talents refused the re-
ward for his talents. Still less do we wish
4 to see him penalized but we do desire &c
see the system of railroad transportation
! so handled that the strong man shall be
t given no advantage over the weak man
.. the small town as for the big city, for thu
I small shipper as for the big shipper II
$ the old days the highway OF commerce
g was open to all; It belonged to the public
$ and the traffic along It was free, a
y present the railway. is this highway, AM
|
$ open to all on equal terms, Unlike tn
r old highway 1t is a very difficult ant
complex thing to manage and it Is ia
Q private individuals than by the govern
/, ment But 1t can only, be so managed o.
$ condition that justice is done the pubIliI'G
4, ownership OF railroads is highly undeslr
II able and would probably in this c9untr
II to see such supervision and regulatio
d Of them In the. Interest OF the public a
IS will make 1t evident that there is no nee
n government regulation dwell upon tn
is difficulties to be encountered and tn
l. intricate and involved nature OF the prob
y lem. Their contention Is true. 1t is
II complicated and delicate problem, and a
st kinds Of difficulties are sure to arise
%he no plan WIN Bring Pa all The Sene
II hoped for by Its more optimistic adhel
a ents. Moreover, under any healthy plal
r rapidly, Finally. we must clearly under
d stand that the public servants who NJ
l. to do this peculiarly responsible err
l. delicate work must themselves be OF II
IS highest type both as regards integrity ar
to efficiency. They must be well paid, Il
RS otherwise able men can not in the lor
r run be secured; and they must posses
Z lofty .probity which will revolt as quicl
1T ly at the thought of pandering to az
as tSe houRRht OF an SFRnst
In remotely resembling subserviency to riC
~ men. But while l fully admit the diff
SuiIlcS III Nic way L w ubl LOT u HlOmel
.s admit that these difficulties warrant
~ In stopping In our effort to secure n wi
ed and just system. They should have
ch other, effect than to spur us on to Il
lw | exercise OF the resolution, the even ham
he ed justice. and the fertility OF resourc
a. which we like to think OF as typical
nt American, and which will in the Ell
ne achieve good results in this as In 9th
he fields OF activity. The task is a gre
y one and underlies the task OF dealil
I'M with the whole industrial problem. b
es the fact that 1t is great problem do
in not warrant us in shrinking from Z
tai attempt to solve 1t. At present we IA
70 such utter lack OF supervision. su
oh freedom from the restraints OF law, tn
on excellent men have often been litera
m forced into doing what they deplor
al because otherwise they were left at I
"a. mercy OF INSCRIPTIONS competitors.
lin rail at and assail the men who have do
mi as they best could under the condtio
de- accompllshes little. What we need TO
H. il to develop an orderly system; n
Ill. such a system can only come throu
is the gradually increased exercise OF I
ST. right OF efficient government control
me The necessity for safety applianc
so on railroads, recommended in {
-.