Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1905-12-15

of the commission. I regard this power
TO establish a maximum rate as being es-
sential 10 any scheme of real reform IN
the matter OF railway regulation. The
first necessity is 70 secure IL; and unless it
Is granted TO the commission there is 1T
tie use OF touching the subject at all.
To Punish All Subterfuees.
Illegal transactions often occur under
that a shipper has been told by a traffic
oftcer TO buy a large quantity of some
commodity and then after it has been
bought an open reduction is made in the
rate to take effect Immediately, the ar
rangement resulting TO the profit of the
one shipper and the one railroad and TO
the damage of all their competitors; for
ii must not be forgotten that the big ship
pers are at least as much 90 blame as any
railroad In the matter of rebates. The
law should make 1t clear so that nobody
can fail to understand that any kind of
commission paid on freight shipments,
whether in this form or in the form of
fictitious damages, or of a concession, a
free pass, reduced passenger rate, or pay
ment CT brokerage, is Illegal.
1t is worth while considering whether II
would not be wise 10 confer on the gov
ernment the right of civil action against
the beneficiary of q rebate for at least
twice the value Of the rebate; this would
help stop what is really blackmail. Ele-
vator allowances should be stopped, for
they have now grown 10 such an extent
that they are demoralizing and are used
as rebates.
Control Over Private Car Lines.
All private-car lines, industrial roads. re-
frigerator 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, and
concerned. The priVate-car owners and
the owners OF industrial railroads are en-
titled to a fair and reasonable compensa-
ton on their investment. but neither pri-
vate cars nor Industrial railroads nor
spur tracks should be utilized as devices
for securing preferential rates. A rebate
In icing charges, or in mileage, or in a
charges is just as pernicious as a rebate in
any other way. No lower rates should
apply ON goods imported than actually OBJ
tains on domestic goods from the Ameri-
can seaboard to destinat ton except in
cases where water competition is the con-
trolling influence.
Publicity Is Much Needed.
There should be publicity OF the ac-
counts OF common carriers; no common
carrier engaged In interstate business
should keep any books OF memoranda 9TH
er than those reported pursuant 10 law or
regulation, and these books or memoranda
Should De open 10 the inspection Of the
government. Only in this way can viola
tons or evasions OF the law be surely de-
tected. A system of examination of rail-
read accounts should be provided similar
70 that now conducted into the national
banks by the bank examiners: a few first
class railroad accountants, If they had
proper direction and proper authority to
inspect books and papers, could accom-
plisn much in preventing willfuI viola
lions of the law.
Courts to Act Rapidly.
urge upon the congress the need Of pro-
Vidfng for expeditions action by the In
t~erstate Commerce commission in all these
matters, whether in regulating rates for
transportation or for storing or for handl-
ing property or commodities in transit.
The history OF the cases l~itigated under
Tha nfsnGnnf ~ nNAraA 80 49, - IT,
efficacy EGs been TO a great degree de-
stroyed by the weapon OF delay, almost
the most formidable weapon in the hands
or those whose purpose it is to violate the
law.
The Labor Question.
The question of securing a healthy, self
respecting and mutually sympathetic at
utude as between employer and employee,
one. Al phases Of the labor problem
prove difficult when approached. But the
Snderlying principles, the root principles,
must be solved, are entirely simple. We
can get justice and right dealing only
II we put as of paramount Importance
the principle of treating a man on his
ence to his Social position, his occupa-
ton. or the class TO which he belongs.
There are selfish and brutal men in all
ranks OF life.
This government is not and never shall
be government by a plutocracy; This
government by a mob. 1t shall continue
to be In the future what 1t has been in
the fheo+pg af fkat a ess~e eBeT man, r,c eas oT D on the Is
to be tFeaIed simply and solely on his
worth as a man, thai all his personal and
and thgt 1RSh Is n Hd2 70 to es w a%alesu ot6efs;
nor to suffer wrong from others.
To Regulate Life Insurance.
The great insurance companies afford
striking examples Of corporations whose
business has eNtended so far beyond the
jurisdiction Of the states which created
them as to preclude strict enforcement of
supervision and regulation by the parent
states. tn my last annual message l recon-
mended that congress carefully consider
whether the power of the bureau of cor
porations can not constitutionally be eX-
tended to cover interstate transactions in
insurance"
Recent events nave emphasized the i'm
portance Of an early and exhaustive con-
sideration Of this question, to see whether
1t is not possible 10 furnish better safe
guards than the several states have been
able to furnish against corruption of the
hagrant kind which has been exposed.
1t has been only too clearly shown that
large corporations take but small note of
the ethical distinction between honesty
and dishonesty; they draw the line only
this side Of what may be called law
honesty, the kind of honesty necessary in
order TO avoid falling into the clutches Of
the law.
State Supervision Inadequate.
/ repeat my previous recommendation
that the congress should also consider
whether the federal government has any
power or owes any duty with respect TO
domestic transactions in insurance of an
interstate character. That state supervi-
sion has proved Inadequate is generally
conceded. The burden upon insurance
companies, and therefore their policy hold
ers, OF conflicting regulations Of man
states, is unquestioned. while but little
effective check is imposed upon any able
and u~nScrupulouS man who desires to ex-
plot the company IN his own interest at
the expense OF the policy holders and OF
the public.
AS a remedy for this evil of conflicting,
ineffective, and yet burdensome regulations
there has been for many years a wide
spread demand for federal supervision. The
congress has already recognized that in
terstate insurance nay be d proper subject
for federal legislation, for In creating the
bureau OF corporations it authorized ii to
publish and supply useful information con-
corning interstate corporations, including
corporations engaged in insurance" WHAT
is said above applies with equal force 10
fraternal and benevolent organizations
which contract for life insurance.
Takes Up the Tariff.
There is more need OF stability than of
the attempt to attain an ideal perfection
IN the methods of raising revenue; and the
shock and strain TO the business world
certain 20 attend any serious change IN
these methods render such change mad
visabie unless for grave reason. 1t Is not
which TO determine the moment when the
reasons for viii outweigh the reasons
against such q change. Much must de-
pend, not merely on the needs, but On the
and desires are not necessarily Identical.
OF COURSE no change can be made on