Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-11-23
GROSSCUP'S PLAN.

GROSSCUP'S PLAN.
would put in the place OF the pres
ent commission some department oi
the government. like the comptrolle.
OF the currency, like the secretary OF
executive, ready. mobile, active le
partment OF the government. Let q
department of the government be ere
ated-at least a bureau, whose sole
duty it would be to see that the rail
roads obey the law which would feel
that its sole duty was not to Judge
but to find out; not to adjudicate, bUc
to complain; not to sit on bench,
but TO go out and look up where com
plants had been made by citizens
tnat wrong was being done TO them
or TO their community. Give to that
department the aid OF the ablest meu
that can be found in the country. One
OF the great difficulties in public life
is that the public does not comptte
with the corporation in getting TIE
best brains that the country possess
es. In pursuit of such men | would
go into the railroad ranks. | know
railroad men just as public spirited.
just as impartial and ten times as
able as | am. VINO, for a reasonable
salary and a safe tenure could be de
tached from their present occupations
and made servants OF the government
In that way | would give to the gov
ernment the efficiency and ability that
the railroads enjoy, and the impartial
ity that the government ought to have.
Then. having equipped the govern
ment with a department for inquiry
and prosecution-a department whose
sole duty it would be to inquire and
prosecute think it would be wise TO
create a separate court OF transportI-
ton. giving its members life tenure
like the present judges OF the United
States courts. but requiring them to
devote their entire time to railro5
cases. | would construct cOGIt
taken from among the best men OF
the country, with lay members, per
haps, from some OF these railroad men
who are SO experienced in this whole
complex subject of rate making, Nnn
give to that court exclusive jurisdiC
tin of transportation. would not
lion of transportation. / would moi
Gerry mysteries. nor with personal In
jury cases, but | would make 1t in
cumbent on and profitable to them 10
study the whole railroad situation as
if they were the servants of the road,
So far as proficiency was concerned,
but to be the unbiased and impersonal
servants of the people so far as jus
tice was concerned. Let there be tlye
or seven judges. Let them sit to-
gether in Washington and separately
throughout the country. Whenever
complaint was awaiting investigation
a Judge of the court would be on hand
to give immediate investigation.
1t would be unnecessary to create
any great number OF Offices Ior sucn
court. The clerks OF the United
States courts as they now exist could
be clerks eN-ofhcio OF this court. The
marshals OF the United States coulu
be marshals eX-olfclo OF this court.
The juries assembled at every point
where the United States circuit and
district courts are sitting could be
made Interchangeable win Juries IN
the courts where this court would sit.
This court could so on the circuit in
diviuually, member Tor member. when
ever complaint had been made, ana
within week or three weeks at most,
after this executive officer oil the gov
ernment had lodged MS complaint,
would have the machinery in motion
that would bring final judgment IL
the case was So large OF complex that
it ought to have the judgment ol the
whole court he could reserve 1t Tor
the whole court, and within month
the whole court could sit at some cen
trail point, such as Washington, and
consider the case. But often he could
dispose of II himself, as your judges
and different great centers oil the
country are disposing OF questions JUS
as large. involving just as much Il
the people who are litigants.
would equip the court with all tint
powers OF court OF chancery TO Ell
force its Judgments The court coult
Bill en- banc at stated periods TO hea
appeals or whenever an unusual cas-
was pressing 1t. Rate railroad prot
lens could be decided by the court el
Dane, In the first Instance, instead Q
Judge individually. There would b
appeals on constitutional questions t
the supreme court of the United State
anu 'he supreme court would presery
its power OF supervision by means c
Wits OF certiorari. such as now mr.,
vaii In the circuit court of appea,
'' me purpose OF preserving the I'm