The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-10-20

for 1t is vital TO the well-bcng OF tho pub
lie that they should begmanaged IN a
spirit Of fairness and Justice toward all
Must Control Railroads.
Actual experience has shown that It is
controlled. Such n system, or. rather
such lack of system. is fertile In abuses
OF every Kind ana puts premium upon
INSCRIPTIONS and ruthless cunning in rail-
big shippers and son1e railroad managers
who are always willing to take unfair
advantage OF their weaker competitors.
ana they thereby force other big ship
l1ke to 40 decent1y into similar acts of
wrong and Injustice. under penalty Of be-
Ing left behind In the race for success.
as much in the interest Of the big shipper.
and OF the railroad man who want to do
right rs N tho interest Of the small ship
per ana the consumer.
& Experience hns shown that the present
laws are defective and need amendment.
The effort to prohibit all restraint of com
-pssttion; whether reasonable or unsea son-}
d. What e !, we need Is to have some admints-
a dratiyo body WITH ample power to forbid
eo on that Is hurtfu to the pMbis
ual at the expense Of another. In other
sWo1r,ds,, we want an administrative body.
With the power to secure fair and just
the railroads and all shippers have right
f. 70 use them. We must not leave the en-
forcement Of such a law merely to the
question for the law department Of the
government. to do what should be purely
administrative work. The Department Of
with the administrative body but the
administrative body itself must be given
the power to do the work and then held
to q strict accountability for the exercise
of that power. The delays OF the law arc
proyerbial and what we need In this. mat
ter Is reasonable quickness of action.
right to complain take many shapes Re-
bates are not now often given openly.
but they can be given just MS effectively
In covert form; and private cars. terminal
tracks and tho like must be brought under
the control OF the commission or admin
istrative body which ls to exercise super
vision by the government.
More Power.
But in my Judgment the most Important
thing to do Is to give to this admlnlstra-
fectlve, and this can be done only by
giving It power when complaint is made
Of BIn f1i as b bSns unjust or
proper, then Itself to fix a maximum rate
which It regards as just and reasonable.
this rate to go into effect practically al
and to stay in effect. unless reversed by
the courts. I earnestly hope that we shall
see a law giving this power passed BY Con.
power will be conferred upon representa-
tives of the government capable Of per.
| forming the duty Of public accountants
carefully to examine into the books 9 q
state Commerce Commission, viii ch
should itself have power to prescribe VIVA
books, and what books only should =.
| of the commission any suspicion that {
certain railroad is in any shape or way
| giving rebates or behaving Improperly, !:
wish the commission to have power as
matter Of right, not as a matter OF favor
to make a full and exhaustive inyestiGa
ton Of the receipts and expenditure
evasion Of the lay may be detected. Thi
is not revolutionary proposal on m.
/ part, for l only wish he same power givel
cised as matter Of course BY the nationa
BANK banfs Ny OBJECT II E!ylnE th q qdd 1
toa powers to the aamln,stratYe Poo
state Commerce. Commission, or whatcvc
it may bells primarily to, secure a rea
not shnm aee goYeen
renee / cordially sympathlze Nothing
more INJURIOUS from every standp1ht ina ina
merely pretcnso and not capable OF work
ing out tangible results hope to see a
the power that think It ought Is, % PAY
far rather SEQ only some Of 1t granted. b.
. really granted, than sec n pretense {
granting all, in some shape that reall
amounts to nothing. 4.
II must BIO understood. as q matter
course, that II this poWeris granted II
to be exercised With. wisdom and ,cautio
and self-restralnt. The Interstate Con
merce Commissioner or other governmel
official who failed to protect a railroa
that Was In the right against any claHo
no matter how violent. on tho part of II
D,lhlIc would be guilty of MS gross Il
Wrong Wrong az il he corruptiy. rendered an in
proper service to the railroad at the e;
Q pense of tho public, When ! say squal
/ deal mean square deal; exactly
] much a sgl,Rroidoal for the rich man {
c for the poor man; but no more. Let cat
y stand on his merits, receive what Is d!
0 him, and be Judged according to his q
$ serts, no more he is not entitled and lie
!. Al tho conclusion of his address II
. President was given luncheon at, the In
i grounds, about one hundred guests ber
y present, Sst
n leigh at 1880 7. NJ.
J !: 1HRONG GREETS H|N|