Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-10-20

straint of competition, whether reason
aDlc on unreasonable, Is unwise. What
we need is to have some administrative
body with ample l'owcr to forbid com
bination that is hurtful TO the public,
and 10 prevent favortsm to one in
dividual at the expense of another. In
other words, We want an admnistra-
tive body with the power to secure fair
and just treatment as among all ship
pers who use the railroads all
shippers have a right to use them. We
must not leave the enforcement of such
! Il 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 administra- :
tive work. The department of justice
is to stand behind and cooperate with
the administrative body, but the adj
ministrative body itself must be given
the Eowcr to do the work and then
| held to a strict accountability for tho
exercise of that power. The delays of
the law are provorbial, and what we
| need in this matter is reasonable quick
ness of action.
The abuses Of which we have a gen
uinc 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 administrative
body, which is to exercise super vision
by the government. But in my judg-
ment the most important thing to do is
a aI, ,;..t,
power to make its findings effective,
| and this can be done only by giving it
power, when complaint is made of a
given rate as beirg unjust or unrea-
sonable. if it finds the complaint
proper. then itself to fix a maximum
| rate which il regards as just and rea-
| ,onaDIe, this rate to go into effect prac-
| ucally at once, that is within a reason
able time. and to stay in effect, unless
| reversed by the courts. | earnestly
| hope that we shall see law giving this
power passed by Congress. Moreover,
/ hope that by law power will be con-
| ferred upon representatives of the gov
crnment capable of performing the
duty of public accountants carefully
| TO examine 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
| keIt by railroads. If there is in the
! minds of the commission any suspicion
| that Il certain railroad is in any shape
| or way giving rebates or behaving i'm
| properly, | wish the commission to
have power as matter of right. not as
a matter of favor, to make a full and
| exhaustive investigation of the receipts
| and expenditures of the railroad, SO
| that any violation or evasion of tho
| law may be detected. This is not a
| revolutionary proposal on my part. for
| l only wish the same power given in
reference to railroads that is now ex-
erciscd as a matter of course by the
ratioral bank examiners as regards ma
| tional banks. My object in giving
| these additional powers to the adj
| mnistrative body representing the gov
| ernment-the Interstate Commerce
| Commission. or whatever it may be-is
primarily to secure real and not a
| sham control to the government repre-
| Scntativcs. The American people alb
| hor a sham. and with this adherence I
| cordially sympathize. Nothing is more
ii
| law which is merely sound and fury.
merely pret"nse. and not capable of
working out tangible results. | hope
| to see all the power that I think it
| ought tn have granted to the govern
ment; but | would far rather see only
some of it granted. but really granted.
than sec q pretense of granting all. in
some shape that really amounts to
nothing.
1t must he understood. as matter of
course, that if this power is granted it
is to be exercised with wisdom and
| caution and self-restrant. The Inter-
state Commerce commissioner or other
government official who failed to pro-
tcct railroad that was in the right
against any Clamor, no matter how
violent. on the part of the public,
would be guilty Of as gross 4 wrong as
if he corruptly rendered an improper
service to the railroad at the expense
of he public. When I say a square
deal | mean a square deal; exactly as
much a square deal for the rich man as
for the poor man; but no more. Let
each stand on his merits, receive what
is due him, and be judged according to
his deserts. To more he is not entitled,
and less he shall not have.
At the conclusion of his speech which
was enthusiastically applauded. the
President took luncheon in a special
banquet hall on the grounds in COM
pany with State Fair marshals and
other officers Of the fair and state.
many ladies being present by invitation
of Chief Marshal Mebane, who gave the
luncheon to about 100 guests.
He was afterwards escorted to the
station by the military and civic pa
rdde and left Raleigh at 1.3O for Dur
ham, Greensboro High Point, Sails
bury and Charlotte on his way south.
Brief Address at Durham, N. c.
Durham \ O. Oct 1o-proS;dart