Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1905-12-05

factor In the growth of the new indus
trial conditions. Most emphatically we
do not wish to see the man of great
talents refused the reward for his tai
ents. Still less do we wish to see him
penalized, but we do desire to see the
system of railroad transportat SO
handled that the strong man shall be
given no advantage over the weak
man. We wish to insure as fair treat
ment for the small town as for the big
city, for the small shipper as for the
big shipper. In the old days the high
way Of commerce, whether by water
or by a road on land, was open to all.
It belonged to the public, and the traf-
fic along it was free At present the
railway is this highway, and we must
do our best to see that it is kept open
to all on equal terms. Unlike the old
highway, it is a very difficult and COM
pick thing to manage, and it is far bet
ter that it should be managed by pri-
vate individuals than by the govern
ment. But it can only be so managed
on condition that justice is done the
public. It is because, in my judgment,
public ownership Of railroads is highly
undesirable and would probably in this
country entail far reaching disaster that
wish to see such supervision and reg
ulation Of them in the interest Of the
public as will make it evident that
there is no need for public ownership.
The opponents of government regula-
ton dwell upon the difficulties to be
encountered and the intricate and in
volved nature Of the problem. Their
contention is true. It Is q complicated
and delicate problem, and all kinds of
difficulties are sure to arise in connec.
ton with any plan Of solution, while
no plan will bring all the benefits
hoped for by its more optimistic ad.
herents. Moreover, under any healthy
plan the benefits will develop gradual.
~ and not rapidly. Finally we must
clearly understand that the public serv.
ants who are to do this peculiarly re.
sponsible and delicate work must
themselves be Of the highest type both
as regards integrity and efficiency
They must be well paid, for otherwise
able men cannot in the long run be Sc
cured, and they must possess a lofty
probity which will revolt as quickly al
the thought Of pandering to any gust
of popular prejudice against rich men
as at the thought of anything even re.
motely resembling subserviency to rich
men. IL .a &
Difficulties Should Be a Spur.
But, while fully admit the difficult
ties in the way, do not for a moment
admit that these difficulties warrant
US in stopping in our effort to secure a
wise and just system. They should
have no other effect than to spur us on
to the exercise Of the resolution. the
even handed justice and the fertility of
resource which we like to think Of as
typically American and which will in
the end achieve good results in this, as
in other fields Of activity. The task is
great one and underlies the task OF
dealing with the whole Industrial prob
lem. But the fact that it is great
problem does not warrant us in shrink
ing from the attempt to solve 1t. AT
present we face such utter lack of SUI
pervision, such freedom from the re-
straints of law, that excellent men
have often been literally forced into
doing what they deplored because 9TH
erwise they were left at the mercy of
INSCRIPTIONS competitors. To rail at
and assail the men who have done as
they best could under such conditions
accomplishes little. What we need to
do is to develop an orderly system, and
such q system can only come through
the gradually increased exercise of the
right Of efficient government control.
Safety Appliances.
In my annual message to the Fifty
eighth congress at it's third session I
called attention to the necessity for
legislation requiring the use Of block
signals upon railroads engaged in inter.
state commerce. The number OF serS
GUS collisions upon unlocked roads
that have occurred within the past
year adds force to the recommendation
then made. The congress should pro-
vide by appropriate legislation for the
introduction of block signals upon all
railroads engaged In interstate COM
merce at the earliest practicable date
as measure Of increased safety to the
travelling public.
Through decisions Of the supreme
court of the United States and the low
er federal courts in cases brought be-
fore them for adjudication the safety
appliance law has been materially
strengthened, and the government has
been enabled to secure it's effective en-
forcement in almost all cases, with the
result that the condition Of railroad
equipment throughout the country Is
much improved and railroad employees
perform their duties under safer condi.
tons than heretofore. The govern
ment's most effective aid in arriving
at this result has been its inspection
service, and that these improved con.
ditions are not more general is due to
the insufficient number Of inspectors
employed. The inspection service has
fully demonstrated its usefulness, and
IN appropriatfng for its maintenance
the congress should make provision FOR
an Increase in the number NJ fpann,%.