Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-05-11

ernmental supervision. ms will curb those
monopolles which cash out al individual
initiative. The railroad itself cannot with.
out such government aid protect the inter.
ests Of Its own stockholders as against one
Of these great corporations loosely known
us trusts.
Approves Proper Agreements.
In the effort to prevent the railroads
very ~nnwisely prohibited them from uniting
for proper purposes that Is. for purposes
of protection to themselves and to the gen
eral public as against the power of the
great corporations. They should certainly
be given power thus to unite on eondi
lions laid down by Congress-, such condi.
tions to include the specific approval Of
the Interstate comnsrce commission Of any
AGREEMENT to which the railroads maj
ment must Interfere through Its agents to
deprive the railroad OF the ability to make
to. the big corporations the concession which.
otherwise 1t Is powerlpss to refuse.
The government should have power by
It's agents to examine into the conduct OF
the railways--that Is. the examiners. Under
commission, should be able to examine as
thoroughly into the affairs of the railroad
as bank examiners now examine into the
affairs OF bnnks. ''""f sf'"|
ION mission Needs Power.
It is impossible to work a material i'm
proyernent in conditions such as above de.
scrIbed merely through the instrumentality
OF "a lawsuit. A lawsuit Is often Il neces-
SlEy ~ Z, Dli u llNtrI II IL VII utterly
Inadequate method. What Is needed is the
comforting upon the commission of ample
8 Affirmative p0y: er, SO conferred as to make
It's decisions take effect at once, subject
only to such action by the court as Is de.
manded by the Constitution. The courts
have the power to, and will undoubtedly.
interfere If the action Of the commission
should become in effect coniscatoFg of the
property Of an individual or corporation OF
if the commission should undertake to do
anything beyond the authority conferred
upon 1t by the law under which it is acting.
[ am well aware that within the limits
thus set tho commission may at times be
! guilty of injustice {: hut far grGSser and
Of n much more ;2turfOus kind, now results
and must always result from the failure to
give the commission ample power to act
promptly and effectively within these broad
limits.
Free Alcohol VIII Help.
Though not bearfng upon the question
3f railroad rates, there are two measures
eonSidera tion Of which Is irHperatigeIy sug-
gested by the submission OF this report.
The sta Bdard Oh Company has. largely by
unfair or unlawful methods, crushed out
home competition. 1t is highly desirable
that an element OF competition should be
introduced by the passage Of some such
House, putting aicofoI used in the arts and
manufactures upon the free list.
Furthermore. the time has come when no
oil or coal lands held by the government,
slthery upon the public domain praper or Ia
he affenated. The fee to sHch lands shou!d
be Kept In the United States government
whether or not the profits arising from 1t
are 70 be given to any Indian tribe. and
the lands shouid be leased only on such
terms and for such periods as viii enable
the government TO keep entire control there.
of. THEODORE ROOSEVELT.