The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1905-04-12
PRESIDENT MAKES ADDRESS TO
LEGISLATORS.
Regulation Of Rallroad Rates the
Principal Topic Considered-
Hopes for Pleasure Of Appoint.
Ing . Commission to Enforce
DEGREES.

-
before joint session of the Texas leg
islature, in the course Of which he
said:
"There are one or two things l
should like particularly to say in this
chamber and to the members Of the
Texas legislature. / received copy
Of the resolution passed by your body,
introduced, understand, by ex Minis.
ter Terrell, in reference to the passage
Of the interstate commerce act. wish
to thank you most heartily for what
You did.
~ think, Governor. and Mr.. Speaker
and Gentlemen, that the longer our ex.
perience in public office 10 the more we
realise that at least 96 per cent, II not
more, in importance Of the work done
BY any public officer who 10 worth his
salt has nothing whatever to do with
partisan politics. The things that oon-
cern 10 all az good citizens arc inf
nitely larger than the matters concern
ing which we are divided ono from an.
other along party lines. Fundamen-
tally our attitude in our foreign affairs
and in reference to foreign nations
must in the long run, II we are to be
successful as people be based ON GER
tain common sense rules Of conduct,
the identical rules upon which every
self -respecting citizen must base his
private actions. This is especially
true az regards all questions dealing
With capital and labor; and especially
in dealing with the great aggregations
Of capital usually to be found in corpo-
rate form through which 90 much of
our business at the present day is con-
Quoted.
Right to Regulate.
IL would like to say in brief Just
what my position 10 As regards this
particular question with which I had
TO deal and as regards which the Texas
legislature took the action 1 90 much
appreciate.
ION the whole there have been few
instruments in the economic develop
ment Of the country which have done
more for the country than the railroads..
! do not wish in any shape or way TO
interfere with the legitimate gain of
any of these great men whose special
industrial capacity enables them to
handle the railroads 90 as to be of
profit to themselves and of advantage
to all of us. should be most reluct.
anti will put it stronger than that
! should absolutely refuse to be par
ty to any measure, to any proposition
that interfered with the proper and
legitimate prosperity Of these men, and
l should feel that such measure was
aimed not only at them but at all of
rs, Tor an attack upon the legitimate
prosperity Of any Of us is in the long
run sure to turn into an attack upon
all. With that proviso Gas to which I
ask you to remember that l mean lit.
orally every wold) let me further add
that the public has the right, not
privilege, but in my view q duty, to
see that there Is in its behalf exercised
such supervisionary and regulatory
power over the railroads as will insure
that while they give fair treatment
themselves they get it in return.
The proper exercise Of that power
is conditioned upon the securing Of
proper legislation which will enable
the representatives of the public to wee
that any discriminating rate ia altered
90 40 to be just and fair rate, and il
altered Immediately.
Danger Of Abuse.
II know perfectly we'll that when
you give that power there 10 q chance
Of its being occasionally abused. There
is no power that can be given to the
representatives Of tho public which 1t
10 not possible to abuse. Az every one
knows, the power OF taxation, which
must, Of course, be given to the repre-
sentatives Of the people, 10 the power
Of death, for 1t IL possible to kill any
industry BY excessive taxation. There
must DO certain trust placed in the
common sense and common honesty OF
those who are to enforce the law. II
it ever falls, and l think it will, to my
lot to nominate board to carry out
sach law, shall nominate men, 90
far 40 am able, on whose ability,
courage and integrity l can count;
men who will not DO swsyed by any
influence whatever, direct or indirect,
social. political or any other, to show
improper fa soritism for the railroads.
and who, on the other hand, II q rail