The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-07-04
GOODFIGHT AHEAD,
SAYS la TOILETTE
Wisconsin Senator Says Nation
~ Has outgrown swaddling
Clothes.


Clothes.
Washington, July 4.-''There is good
fighting ahead in the next ten years
for q man in public life,'' exclaimed
Senator Robert NJ. La Toilette of Wis
consin a day or two ago, as he was fin
lshlng his work preparatory, to his de-
parture from Washington. "This gov
eminent has outgrown it swaddling
clothes and needs new garments. In
the years of our material development
we have had little constructive legisla-
ton. Industrial and commercial condi-
tons In this country have outgrown en-
tirely the regulations the fathers
up. But it must be done. There must
be no letup in the fight. ~" '.'
p" A good beginning certainly has
been made since President Roosevelt
came into office. The president de-
serves much credit for having had the
courage to recommend remedial legisla-
ton and for having raised to higher
plane the people g idea Of what legis.
lation should be. He has been a great
educator and has paved the way for
the proper regulation Of the trusts.
greed and graft, I repeat, has only be-
gun. -. It must be carried on without
cessation. In the few months I have
been in the senate have tried to pre-
sent for consideration questions of pub
tic policy, which believe are Of vital
Importance. I had previous experience
with some Of these questions as govern
or of Wisconsin, thru stormy period.
l am thankful to have met with success
in some instances in the senate, and
hope to renew my plea.
'Publicity, discussion and agitation
are necessary, to accomplish any good
failed, for instance, to get a limited
court review provision in the railroad
rate law, 1t is apparent the discussion
OF this question, with the right to is
sue iniunc tions, cannot fail to have it's
effect on our judiciary. ...
Judges Must Bow to People.
"Our judiciary, after all, 1t must be
emembered, is susceptible to public
opinion. This must be so and it is well
that it is go. More care undoubtedly
will be exercised in the issuance of in
functions and orders by our courts
Senator. Bailoy deserves unstinted com.
mendation in this connection for the
| service he did in his masterful presenta-
| ton Of the constitutional and legal as.
poets Of railroad rate legislation. Traf,
fic rate legislation, however, never will
be effective until basis for the prope,
valuation of railroad property is adopt
ed. This is necessary to establish be-
yond question what is reasonable
| rate under the new law. The only
power. given to the interstate commerce
| commission is to take up individual,
complaints by shippers, compare the al
| legged unreasonable rates with othel
rates in force and determine the com
| parative reasonableness Of the rate un
| der complaint.
"Both rates, however, the one con
corning which complaint is made ant
that with which it must be compared
may be unreasonable. To determine alb
solutely the "reasonableness Of any rat
or schedule Of rates the fair value O.
the property of that railroad must b.
established: I am glad to hear that Ger
tain men of influence in the administra
ton are convinced Of the logic Of thi
assertion, and I look for favorable &C
ton In line with, this suggestion in som,
future session Of congress. 'S~L@- ''"~s',"
| "Al transportation rates should b.
fixed on a reasonable basis and mus
be so fixed eventually. Generalization
and the practice Of watering stock
and bonds as a basis for fixing rate
and paying dividends upon an initiate,
value, is another evil congress mus
I consider and remedy. A rate so higl
as to provide dividends upon watere,
stocks and bonds is not reasonable,
and no order Of the interstate com
merce commission can make it So TIL
courts have determined that the com
mon carriers are entitled to a fair re
turn upon fair valuation of thei
property. No valuation of such proper
| ty will be fair to the public whic
should be permitted to make 'watered
stock or bonds a factor in the deter
mination ola reasonable rate. Lin
its Of valuation, must be fixed. I at
Il tempted to have that done in the in
stance Of the Lake Erie g.. Ohio Rive
Ship canal bill. but my colleagues woul
not accept the suggestion. Yet it wi
become recognized principle in time
because it is right
In commenting upon the above tai
by Senator La Toilette and upon tn
senator's services in the senate, tn
Washington correspondent Of the Ney
York Press says: -i 81
With scarcely six months experienc
in active service in the senate, La Fo
lette's record is one Of which man
an older member might well be proud
One of the most original and importar
suggestions, he preached was for tn
! retent ton by the government of all COS
lands now included in the public d.
main, which corporations and trust
| especially the great railway SYSTEM
have been grasping at every opport,
nifty. -.
Courage Attracted Roosevelt.
He has shown there are at leas
; 100000 acres Of these lands still j
the possession, Of the government Sci
ator La Toilette g attention was draw
to this subject by clause in the Il
dian. bill to dispose Of the coal lani
| Of the Choctaw tribe. he fought an
defeated that steal. That was his fir!
, contest in the senate. His courage a
) tracted President Roosevelt s attentic
and he sent for La Toilette to talk
: over. -.-.< ...-.., ..
5 When the president spoke so favo
r ably of this idea, intimating that !
| might recommend it to congress in h
, next message should it fail to gain SUI
{ port in this session, va Toilette pr
pared his resolution, including all 90
eminent coal lands. Fortunately
him he did not delay in presenting
= for the willy Spooner, his colleague, wi
has not relished the popularity La F.
lette is gaining, took his cue from Il
INJURY the president had instituted