The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1905-10-26
I'VE q. ripht to use them, We must

have right to use them. We must
not leave the enforcement OF such a
law merely to the Department OF JUS
tice; it is out of the question for the
law department of the Government
to do what should be purely admins
trative work. The Department OF
Justice is to stand behind and CO.
operate with the administrative body
but the administrative body itself
must be given the power to do the
work and then held to Il strict ac-
countability for the exercise Of that
power. The delays OF the law are
proverbial, and what we need in this
matter is reasonable quickness OF
action.
The abuses OF which we have a gen
uine 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 tracks and
the like must be brought under the
control of the commission or admin
istrative body, which is is to exercise
supervision by the Government. But
in my Judgment the most important
thing to do is to give to this admin
istrative body power to make it's
findings effective, and this can be
done only by giving it power, when
complaint is made Of a given rate as
being unjust or unreasonable, ii it
finds the complaint proper, then it.
self to fix q maximum rate which 1t
regards as just and reasonable, this
rate to go into effect practically at
once. that is within reasonable time
and to stay in effect, unless reversed
by the courts. | earnestly hope that
by law power will be conferred upon
representatives of the Government
capable of performing the duty OF
public accountants carefully to ex-
anime into the books Of railroads,
when so ordered by the Interstate
Commerce Commission, which should
itself have power to prescribe what
books, and what books only, should
be kept by railroads. If there is in
the minds Of the Commission any
suspicion that a certain railroad is
in any shape or way giving rebates
or behaving improperly, l wish the
Commission to havepOwer as mat
ter of right, not as a matter offavor,
to make a full and exhaustive inves-
tigation of the receipts and expendi-
lures of the railroad, so that any
violation or evasion of the law may
be detected. This is not a revolu-
tionary proposal on my part, for L
only. wish the same power given in
reference to railroads that is now ex-
ercised as a matter of course by the
national bank examiners as regards
national banks. My object in giving
these additianal powers to the ad-
ministrative body representing the
Government-the Interstate Com
merce Commission, or whatever 1T
may be-is primarily to secure a real
and not a sham control to the Gov
ernment representatives. The Amer
lean people abhor sham. and with
this adherence l cordially sympa-
thize. Nothingis more injurious from
every standpoint than a law which Is
merely sound and fury, merely pre-
tense, and not capable of working
out tangible results. / hope to see
all the power that | think it ought
to have granted the Government;
but | would far rather see only some
of it granted, but really granted,
than see a pretense of granting all.
in some shape that really amounts
to nothing.
1t must be understood, as a matter
OF couse, that if this power is grant
ed it is to be exercised with wisdom
| and caution and self-restraint. The
| Interstate Commerce Commission or
other Government official who failed
to protect a railroad that was in the
right against any clamor, no matter
how violent, on the part of the pub
lie, would be guilty OF as gross a
wrong as if he corruptly rendered an
improper service to the railroad at
the expense OF the public. When ]
say a square deal l mean a square
deal; exactly as much a square deal