The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-01-23
Mr.. cIay's Speech.

power TO Tx maximum freight charges
by railroads.
Mr.. cIay's Speech.
Mr.. Clay supported the proposition that
the interstate commerce commission
should be permitted to regulate railroad
rates He cOntended that the railroad
companies should not be interfered with
in the first instance in preparing their
schedules but said that when these arc
once promulgated there should be a body
with authority to modify and revise upon
complaint. He took issue with state
II entS made earlier in the session by MIR.
Foraker in opposition to the constitu-
uOnal right of congress to delegate its
authority to regulate interstate COM
merce, saying that on account of the vast
number Of complaints liable to arise 1t
would be impossible for congress with its
other pressing business to give anything
like adequate attention to them. Mr..
Clay added:
If congress should remain in session
from year to year, devOting its entire
time to this work, it would be impossible
to pass upon One-tWenteth of these Va
riOus complaints filed by the American
shippers against the different railroad
systems of our country. I repeat, If con-
gresS cannot pass an act providing that
all interstate rates shall be reasonable
and just, thus fixing a standard and
delegating to the commission the power
to hear the facts and carry out the leg
islative viii of congress. then the Amerl-
can people are at the mercy Of the rail-
roads"
Friendly to Railroads.
He declared himself a friend of the
railroads, but said that because of their
public character it is proper that they
should be compelled to furnish to the
public transportation of persons and
property that is both reasonable and JUST,
and power ought to be lodged in an i'm
partial intelligent and brOad-m1nded trl-
bunal to pass upon the differences be-
tween the railroads and the shippers and
SoT hoFI,
And" he added, IF congress cannot
exercise this power through a commits
slOn then ] am at a loss to know how
the people can expect proper relief
He declared that the laws granting au-
thOrity to state commissions to revise
rates so as to insure justice had been fire.
quentIv upheld by the courts.
''In- these very cases. he went on, cit
was claimed that the legislative power
must be exercised by the legislature it
self and could not be delegated to any
other body, but the courts have uniform
ly held that where the legislature en-
acted that rates shall be reasonable and
just. the duty of executing this law and
of finding what rates are reasonable and
lust may be delegated to a commission,
and that a grant of such power is not
delegation Of legislative authority IL
such laws enacted by the legislatures Of
different states. have been sustained as
reasonable. why cannot congress enact
that all interstate freight rates shall be
reasonable and just and leave to the
right and power to investigate and find
ont what rate will be a proper one, what
rate will be just and impartial, as be-
tween the shippers and the roads?"
Analysis of the Law.
After quoting many decisions in sup
mort of his contention Mr.. Clay analysed
the law and said that it does not afford
adequate protection to the shipper He
stT2aiIroads can destroy towns cities
ard private industries by improper rates,
and who will say that power should not
be lodged somewhere to investigate in
telligentIv all complaints. solely with a
view Of doing justice between the roads
and the shippers? The presumption is
that an intelligent. predetermined COM
mission will be impartial and seek dill
gently to do Justice to both sides. Why
presume that the commission will decide
adversely TO the roads, Why presume
that narrOW-minded Darusans easily in
fIueuced by public clamOr, will be ap-
Dointed to discharge this duty? It viii
not be a difficult task to secure honest,
work, and no other kind ought to be ap-
pointed "
Mr.. Clay limited at a possibility of an
agitation of the question Of government
ownership OF railroads if attention is not
given to the demand for regulation, say
SThe sentiment has been growing in
favor Of government ownership. MI
Hearst came within a few thousand votes
OF being elected mayor Of the city of
New York in the last election. 7 have
never been a follower Of Mr.. Hearst
Who had the remotest idea Of the strong
following which he developed in that
race2 It was not the man; IL was the
platform on which he made his race
government ownership. / do not believe
in government ownership Of railroads |
recognize the fact that the vast number
Of employees engaged in the work of Op-
Grating and building these roads would
he largely under the influence Of the
party in power in controlling government
such power would enable the party in
control of the government to hold it for
all time to come. The only wav to turn
public attention from the public control