The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-12-06
SUMTER S. c.. WEDNESDAY. DECEMBhR 8. 1905.

happens at present, not that a rate is
too high but that a favored shipper is
given too low a rate. In such a case
the commission would have the right
to fix this already established mini
mum rate as the maximum; and it
would need only one or two such de-
cisions by the commission to cure rail-
road companies of the practice OF
giving improper minimum rates. l
call your attention to the fact that
my proposal is not to give the COM
mission power to initiate or originate
rates generally, but to regulate 6. rate
already fixed or originated by the
roads, upon complaint and after in
vestigation. A heavy penalty should
be exacted from any corporation
which fails to respect an order of the
commission. I regard this power to es-
tablish maximum rate as being es-
sential to any scheme of real reform
in the matter of railway regulation.
The first necessity is to secure it; and
unless it is granted to the commission
there is little use in touching the sub
ject at all.
All private car lines, industrial
roads, refrigerator charges, and the
like should be expressly put under the
supervision of the interstate COM
merce commission or some similar
body so far as rates, and agreements
practically affecting rates, are con-
cerned.
I urge upon the congress the need
Of providing for expeditions action
by the interstate commerce commits
sion in all these matters, whether in
regulating rates for transportation or
for storing or for handling property
or commodities in transit The his
tory of the cases litigated under the
present commerce act shows that it's
efficacy has been to a great degree de-
stroyed by the weapon Of delay. al
most the most formidable weapon in
the hands of those whose purpose it
is to violate the law.
Let me most earnestly say that
these recommendations are not made
in any spirit of hostility to the rail-
roads. On ethical grounds, on grounds
of right, such hostility would be intol-
erable; and on grounds of mere ma
tional self-interest we must remem-
Der that such hostility would tell
against the welfare not merely of
some few rich men, but Of multi
tude of small investors. a multitude Of
railway employees, wage-workers; and
most severely against the interest Of
the public as whole. I believe that
on the whole our railroads have done
we'll and not i'll; but the railroad men
who wish to do we'll should not DE
exposed to competition with those
who have no such desire, and the on
lv way 10 secure this end is to give to
some government tribunal the power
to see that justice is done by the un-
willing exactly as it is gladly done by
the willing.
Business success, whether for the
individual or for the nation. is a good
thing only so far as ii is accompanied
by and develops a high standard Of
conduct-honor, integrity, civic cour-
age. The kind of business prosperity
that blunts the standard Of honor,
that puts an inordinate value on mere
wealth. that makes man ruthless
and conscienceless in trade and weak
and cowardly in citizenship. is not a
good thing at all, out a very bad thing
for the nation This government
stands for manhood first and for busi-
ness only as an adjunct of manhood.
Tie question of transportation lies
at the root of all industrial success
and the revolution in transportation
which has taken place during the Ia:
haif century has been the most inn
portant factor in the growth OF the
new Industrial conditions
We wish 10 insure as fair treatmen:
for he snail towns as for the big CITY.
for tne sr:3all shipper IS for the hie
shipper. m the old days the aishvay
Of commerce. whether by water or ty
road on land, was open TO all: it be-
lonsed to the public and the traTe
along it was free. At present the rail
/ way is this highway. and we must d.
our best to see that it is kept open t
all on equal trims. The task is a great
one and unGerlies the task of dealing
with the whole industrial problem
But the fact that it is a great problem
Goes ne: warrant us in shrinking from
the attempt TO solve it. At present we