The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-05-04

transportation, ana Is thus Improperly,
and probably unlawfully. favored at the
expense OF its competitors and OF the gen.
eral public.
Contention Disproyed.
The argument is sometimes advanced
against conferring upon some govern
mental body the power OF supervision and
control over Interstate commerce, that
20 do so tends 10 weaken individual ini-
tiative Investigations such as this con-
clusively dlsprove any such allegation.
On the contrary. the proper play for i'm
divdual Initiative can only be secured by
such governmental supervision as will
curb those monopolies which crush out all
individual initiative. The railroad itself
can not without such government aid
protect the interests OF I ,wn stock
holders as against one OF n great cor
porations loosely known as crusts
In the effort 10 prevent the railroads
from uniting for improper purposes we
have very unwisely prohibited them from
uniting for proper purposes: that is. for
purposes OF protection TO themselves and
10 the general public as against the power
or the great corporations. They should
certainly be given power thus to unite
on conditions laid down by congress. such
| conditions 10 include the specific approval
OF ihe"interstate commerce commission OF
any agreement 10 which the railroads NAV
come In addition 10 this the government
must interfere through it's agents TO de-
prive the railroad OF the ability 10 make
10 the big corporations the concessions
which otherwise IL is powerless To refuse.
no ne ne government should have power
5y its agents 10 examine into the con-
quot or the railways-that IS the ex
aminers under the direction OF the
should be able to examine as i'fSt0h fsnpl
oughly into the affairs OF the railroad
as as bank examiners now examine into
the aHalrs of banks.
IL is impossible 10 work a material
abpPve bPrevemsnf desar,ha6 N conditions such as
law suit is often a necessary method:
but by itself Il is an utterly inadequate
H.aethod' what is needed is the con-.
III ing upon the commission of ample
Affirmative power, so conferred as to
MAKE make It's decisions take effect at once.
court as 'y is de@anded 1D n1Sd az action by the
| tuition. The courts have the power
70, and will Undoubtedly; interfere ir
become in effect confiscatory of spof,s the
property OF an individual or corpora
ton, or II the commission should un-
| thority conferred upon IL by the law
under which IL is actisn.
am we'll aware that within the
grosser and far more ~s freauent SH' iSr ISr
}nsIrie,,s }}nssI,Ge, ana Injustice Of much more
/
always result from the failure to give
| the commission ample power 10 act
promptly and effectively within these
| broad limits.
An Imperative Suggestion.
Though not bearing upon the aues-
| ton or railroad rates, there are two
| measures consideration OF which is inn
| peratiyely suggested by the submis-
sion or this report. The Standard oil
| company has largely by unfair or un-
lawful methods, crushed out home
| competition. 1T is highly desirable
| that an element of competition should
| be introduced by the passage OF somo
such law as that which has already
| passed the house, putting alcohol used
! in the arts and manufacturers upon
the free list, Furthermore, the time
| has come when no oil or coal lands
| held by the government, either upon
I e-PHAl+e-domain proper or in terri
| tory owned by the Indian tribes, should
be allenated The fee TO such lands
should be kept in the United States
| government whether or not the profits
| arising from IL are 10 be given TO
any Indian tribe, and the lands should
| be leased only on such terms and for
| such periods as will enable the gov
| ernment to keep entire control thereof.
| THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
The White House, May 4. 1906.