Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-10-23
RAILROAD CONTROL
PRESIDENT MAKES SPEECHES IN
NORTH CAROLINA.
Principal One at Raleigh fair Dealt
with Preservation of Forests
and Legislation for Supervision
of RaiirOadS-preScnf Laws Need
Amendment.

Charlotte, n. c., Oct. 90 The ova
ton which President Roosevelt receiv-
ed during his journey through por-
ttion of Virginia Wednesday was con-
tinued yesterday as he travelled through
North Carolina. Beginning with his
arrival at Raleigh at o'clock in the
morning, be was greeted by cheering
crowds at Durham, Greensboro, High
Point, Lexington, Salisbury and Char.
lotte, the demonstration in this city
being fitting farewell of the citizens
of the old tarheel state.
The feature of the day was his visit
to the fair which is in progress at Raj
eigh. Here he delivered an address
which dealt with the important ques.
tions of railroad control and the pres.
ervation of forests. His speech was
given close attention, and he frequent
ly was interrupted by hearty applause
He wss accompanied to the fair
grounds by Mrs. Roosevelt, and she,
too, was the recipient of much atten-
ton. In his speech at the grounds
the president said in part:
Preservation of Forests.
The preservation of the forests is
vital to the welfare of the country.
China and the Mediterranean coun-
tries offer examples of the terri BILE
effect of deforestation upon the physi-
cal geography, and therefore ultimate
ly upon the we'll being of the nations.
Zone of the most obvious duties
which our generation owes to the gen.
erations that are to come after us is to
preserve the existing forests.
"We cannot afford to wait longer
before assuming control, in the inter-
ests Of the public, Of these forests; for
if we do wait the vested interests Of
private parties in them may become
go strongly intrenched that it may be
a most serious as we'll as a most expen-
sive task to Dust them.
Supervision of Railroads.
1.-The extraordinary development of
industrialism in the last half century
has been due to several causes, but
above all to the revolution in the
methods Of transportation and commu-
nication; that is, to steam and cleo
tricity, to the railroad and the tele-
graph.
"The management of the new high
way, the railroad, or rather of the in
tricate web Of railroad lines which
cover the country, is task infinitely
more difficult, more delicate and more
important than the primitively easy
iask Of acquiring or keeping in order
the old highway; go there is properly
no analogy whatever between the two
cases. l do not believe in government
ownership of anything which can with
propriety be left in private bands, ant
in particular l should most strenuously
object to government ownership OF
railroads.
But l believe with equal firmness
that it is out Of the question for the
government not to exercise supervis
DRY and regulatory right over the rail
roads; for it is vital to the we'll being
of the public that they should be man
aged in spirit of fairness and justice
toward all the public. Actual expert
ence has shown that it is not possible
to leave the railroads uncontrolled.
There are some big shippers ant
some railroad managers who are al
ways willing to take unfair advantage
of their weaker competitors. Govern
ment supervision is needed quite al
much in the interest of the big shipper
and Of the railroad man who want tt
do right, as in the interest of the small
shipper and consumer.
Present Laws Detective.
Experience has shown that the
present laws are defective and neet
amendment. The effort to prohibit al
restraint of competition, whether rea
sonsble or unreasonable, is unwise
What we need is to have some admin
istrative body with ample power tt
forbid com bination that is hurtful.
1.-THE delays of the law are proverb
ial, and what we need in this matter
is reasonable quickness Of action.
"Rebates are not now often giver
openly. But they can be given just
as effectively in covert form; ant
private cars, terminal tracks and thu
like must be brought under the con
troll of the commission or administra
tive body, which is to exercise super
vision by the government.
| 81 earnestly hope that we shall SET
a law giving this power passed by con
gress."