The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-12-08
PRESIDENT DISCUSSES
NATIONAL QUESTIONS
THE ANNUAL MESSAGE READ
IN CONGRESS.
Important Issues Discussed Ably and
At Length-A Synopsis of the
IN. -. Document. -


Document. =
President. Roosevelt's. annual mes
sage was read in congress on Tues
day. The paper is long and able, and
the presidents suggestions and rec
concentrations are couched IN his us
ual- vigorous language. Important
public questions are dealt with torcl-
bly,; the regulation OF railroad rates
being discussed at length:
President Roosevelt begins his mes
sage with a reference to the continued
prosperity OF the. country, and urges
unani1nity among all citizens and all
classes that this prosperity may IN
crease. Taken as WHOLE" he says,
<swe must all go up or 60 down to-
gether''
The Trusts.
In discussing the trusts he says that
in order to secure a healthy social
and industrial life every big corpora
fion should be held responsible and
be. accountable to some sovereign
strong enough to control its conduct
He SAYS he is i'm no sense hostile to
corporations, and speaks Of the good
which they accomplish, but he ad-
vocates federal supervision. Until the
national government obtains III some
manner which the wisdom of congress
NAV suggest proper control over the
big corporations engaged IN inter-
state commerce-that is, over the
great majority of the big corpora
tioas-it will be impossible to deal
adequately with these evils,
Regulation Of Railway Rates.
The regulation of railway rates IS
discussed at length and the enactment
inro law of some scheme to secure to
the agents OF the government such
.s,,Dervision and regulations OF railroad
rates as shall summarily and effective
" prevent the imposition OF unjust or
unreasonable rates is earnestly urged
This power. the president says. should
bs given to some administrative body
created BY the congress. IN my
iudgment," he says, ''the most I'M
nortant provision which such law
3 should contain is that conferr1ng upon
some competent administrative body
the power 10 decide, upon the case
being brought before it, whether a
given rate prescribed by railroad IS
reasonable and just, and if 1t Is found
10 be unreasonable and unjust. then'
after full investigation OF the com
Dlaint to prescribe the limit OF rate
bevond which it shall not be lawful
10 Gothic maximum reasonable rate.
as it is commonly called-th1s decls-
ion to 60 into effect within a,reaSon-
able time and to obtain from thence
onward. subject to review by the
courts 1t sometimes happens at
present, not that rate IS too high
but favored shipper is given 100 low
= rate. In such case the COMMISSION
would hayc the right to fix this al
ready established minimum rate as
the maximum, and it would need only
one or two such decisions by the. com
mission to cure railroad companies OF
the practice of giving improper MINI
mum rates. 7 call your attention TO
the fact that my proposal is not 10
olive the commission power to initiate
or ORIGINATE. rates generally. but to
REGULATE a rate already fixed or orlgl-
na,cd bv the roads upon compliant
and after investigation. \ heavy pen
altv should be exacted from any cor
noration which fails to respect an or
der OF the commission. | regard TINS
mower to establish a maximum rate
as helm, essential to any scheme OF
real reform in the matter OF railway
regulation. The first necessity IS 10
secure If and unless ii is granted 10