The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-05

OF tne myriad evils It brings IN its
train; for such decentralization often
means an initiation that invites busi-
ness panic; it always couceals the true
relation of the profit earned to the capi-
tai actually invested and it creates
burden of interest payments (which is a
fertile cause of improper reduction in
or limitation Of wages; it damages the
small investor, diScOurages thrift. and
encourages gambling and speculation;
While perhaps worst of all is the tricki-
ness and dishonesty which it implies
for harm to morals is worse than any
possible harm to material interests. and
the debauchery of politics and business
by great dishonest corporatoins
material evil they do the public.
Until the national Government obtains.
in some manner which the wisdom of
the Congress may suggest, proper con-
troll over the big corporations engaged
IN interstate cOmmerce-that is, over
the great majority of the big corpora
tions-it viii be impossible to deal ade-
quately with these evils.
Full of Difficulties.
l am well aware of the difficulties of
the legislation that I am suggesting
and OF the need of temperate and eau.
tious action in securing 1t. should en-
phatically protest agaius1 in. pref erly
radical or hasey action The first thing
to do is to deai with the great Ct-rjlOra-
tions engaged in the business of in
terstate transportation. As I said IN my
message of December last the i'm
mediate and most pressing need, so far
as legislation is concerned, is the enact
nent into law of some scheme to secure
to the agents of the government such
supervision and regulation of the rates
charged by the railroads of the country
engaged in interstate traffic as shall
summarily and effectively prevent the
imposition OF unjust OF unreasonable
rates 1t must include putting "A COM
plete stop to rebates in every shape and
form. This power to regulate rates. like
all similar powers over the business
world. should be exercised with modera-
ton. caution, and self-restraint: but it
should exist, so that it can be effective
~ exercised when the need arises.
The first consideration to be kept in
mind is that the power should beaffirm-
atiVe and should be given to some ad-
ministrative body created by the con-
gress If given to the present interstate
commerce commission or to a reorganiz-
ed interstate commerce commission,
such commission should be made un-
eduiVocally administrative. do not be
Iieve in the government interfering with
private business more than is necessary
I do not believe in the government un-
dertaking any work which can with
propriety be left in private hands. But
neither do I believe in the government
finching from overseeing any work
when it becomes evident that abuses are
sure to obtain therein unless there is
governmental supervision. 1t is not my
province TO indicate the exact terms of
the law Which should be enacted; but
I call the attention of the congress to
certain existing conditions with which
it is desirable to deal. In my judgment
the most important provision which
such law should contain Is that confer
ring upon some competent adninistra-
tive body the power to decide. upon the
l7+ Haf
a given rate prescribed by a. railroad
is reasonable and just, and if it is found
to be unreasonable and unjust, then
after full investigation of the complaint
to prescribe the limit Of rate beyond
which it shall not be lawful to go-the
nlaximum reasonable rate. as it is COM
monty caued-this decision to go into
effect within a reasonable time and 10
obtain from thence onward, subject 10
review by the courts 1t sometimes
happens at present not that rate IS
too high but that a favored shipper IS
given TOO low a rate. In such case the
commission would have the right 10 ilN
this already established minimum rare
at the maximum, and il would neec
only one or two such decisions py lhs
commission to cure railroad coliipaAies
of tn. practice Of giving improper MN
ir7,,,rn rates I call your attention to the
fact that my proposal is not TO give the
cornrnissfon power to initiate OF orig
mate rates generally, but to regulate a
rate already fixed OF originated by the
roads. upon complaint and after inves-
tieation. A heavy penalty should be
e,ac4ed from any corporation which
fafIszfo resnect an order of the cOrSpcis-
sion. ] regard this power 70 establish
/ a maxinuu rate as being essential to
any scheme Of real reform in the matter
of railway regulation The hrst necessl-
/ fv is to secure it: and unless it IS grant
ed ia the commission there is little use
I IN touching the subject at all
Shippers Also to Blame.
! Illegal transactions eften occur un-