The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1905-10-19

HGNIInL. IlhG A0AG
acts Of wrong and injustice. under
penalty OF being left behind IN the
race for success. Government snPer
yisidaepis needed quite a much IN
ifhe interest Of the big shipper and
Of the railroad man who want to dol
right as in the interest of the small
shipper and the consumer
Experience has shown that the
nresent laws are defective-and need
amendment. The fort to prohibit
all restraint Of competition, whether
reasonable or unreasonable, Is I'M
wise. What we need is to have some
administrative body with ample
power to forbid combination that Is
5urtful to the public, and to prevent
fayoritism to one individual at the
expense Of another. In other words
ow want an administrative body with
the power to secure fair and Just
treatment as among all shippers who
use the railroads-and all shippers
have a right to- use them. We must
not leave the enforcement of such a
law merely to the Department OF
Justice it is out of the question o
the law department. of the Govern
mcnt to do what should be purely
ministrative work. The Depart
ment of Justice is to stand behind
md cooperate with the administra-
tive body, but the administrative
body itself must be given the power
to do the work and then held to a
strict accountability for the exercise
Of that power. The delays of the
law are provcrbial, and what we need
IN this matter is reasonable quick
ness of action.
6sThe abuses of which we have a
genuine right to complain take
many shapes. Rebates are not now
often given openly. But they can
be given Just as effectively in covert
form; and private cars. terminal
racks and the like must be brought
1nder the control of the commission
3r administrative body, which is to
exercise supervision by the Govern
nent. But in my judgment the
most important thing to do is to
rive to this administrative body
power to make its findings effective.
md this can be done only by giving
t power, when complaint is made of
given rate as being unjust or IN
,casonable, if it finds the complaint
roper then itself to fix a maximum
ate which it regards as just and
casonable. this rate to go into effect
practically at once, that is within q
reasonable time, and to stay in effect
1nless reversed bv the courts. ]
earnestly hope that we shall see a
law giving this power passed by Con-
rress. Moreover, I hope that by the
law power will be. conferred upon
representatives of the Government
capable of performing the duty of
public accountants carefully to eX-
mine into the books of railroads.
vhcn so ordered by the Interstate
Commerce Commission, which
houId itself have power to prescribe
that books. and what books only.
tould be kept by railroads. IF
here is in the minds of the Com
mission n suspicion that a certain
abroad is in any shape or way CIV
ug rebates or behaving improperly.
I wish the Commission to have power
IS a matter of right, not as matter
If force, to make a full and eX-
lnaustive investigation of the re-
eeipts and expenditures of the rail
-oad. so that any violation or evasion
# the law may be detected This
$ not a revolutionary proposal on
my part. for I only wish the same
noewr given in reference to railroads
hat is now exercised as a matter of
course by the national bank exam
;ners as regards national banks. My
,bjcct in giving these additional
powers to the administrative body
representing the Govcrnment--the
Interstate Commerce Commission.
or whatever it may be--is primarily
70 secure a real and not a sham con-
trol to the Government representa-
ives. The American people abhor
, sham, and with this adherence J
.ordiallv sympathize. Nothing is
more injurious from every stand
noint than a law which is merely
sound and fury, merely pretense,
md not capable of working out
tangible results I. hope to see all
The power that | think it ought to
have granted to the Government
hut 7 would far rather soc only some
of it granted, but really granted.
than sec a pretense of granting all,
in some shape that really amounts
to nothing.