Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1907-12-05
Federal Control of
Railroads l. Favored.

NO small part Of the trouble that we
have comes from carrying to an ex-
IRENE the national virtue OF self-re-
lance. ~ independence in initiative
and action. II is wise to conserve this
virtue and to provide for its fullest eN-
ercise. compatible with seeing that lib
erty does not become "A liberty to
wrong others. Unfortunately. this Is
the kind Of liberty that the lack oNull
effective regulation inevitably breeds
The founders Of the constitution pro-
Vlded that the national government
should have complete and sole control
Of Interstate commerce. There was
tAen practically no interstate business
save such as was conducted by water.
and this the national government at
once proceeded to regulate in thorough
going and effective fashion. Condi-
tlOns have now so wholly changed that
the Interstate by water is in
significant compared with the amount
that goes by land. ana almost all big
business concerns are now engaged in
interstate commerce, As a result. II
can be but partially and imperfectly
controlled or regulated by the action OF
any one of the several states such aC-
tion inevitably tending to be either too
drastic or else too lax. and in either
case Ineffective FOR purposes Of justice.
Only the national government can in
th~Uroughgoing fashion exercise the
A''N'H YUM a I MS AbtF MOI mean
that there should be any extension Of
federal authority for such authority
already exists under the constitution in
umpiest and most far-reaching form.
but IL does mean that there should be
an extension Of federal activity This
Is not advocating Capitalization. II is
merely looking facts in the face. and
realizing that Capitalization In business
has already come and can not be- avoid
ed or undoHe, and that the public at
large can only protect Itself from Ger.
ain evil effects Of this business CEN
tralizatlOn by providing better methods
for the exercise of control through tht
authority already centralized In the
national government by the cunstltu-
tiOn itself. There must be no halt in
the healthy constructive course Of ac-
lion which this nation has elected "a
pursue, and has steadily pursued. dur.
ing the last sIN years, as shown both In
the legislation OF the congress and m,
administration OF the law by the de.
pHrtment Of Justice. The most vita.
need Is In connection with the railroads
A. to these. In my judgment thor,
should now be either "a national lncor,
pUratlun act or "a law licensing rauUs,
companies 10 nga In interstate com
msrce upon certain conditions Tn. la y
shuul be so framed as to give to ~.
interstate commerce commission powa
TO pass upon the future issue OF securI
Ties. WINE uWplt means should be pro
ylded TO enable the commission. when
ever In It's Judgment II is necessary I
make & physical valuation Of any ran
road. A. ! stated in my message 10 m
congress a year = railroads Shout
be given power 10 enter into agre.
ments subject to these agreements he
Ing made pgblic In minute detail and I
tAe consent Of the interstate comm.rr
commission being FIRST Cbtulnrd. I'M
the national! government assun,
proper control OF interstate commsrc,
IN the exercise OF the authority II a
ready possesses Il will be lmpossibI
either TO give TO or TO get from n
railroads fun Justice The rallroat
ana all other great corporations wi
do well to recognize that this contF,
must come, the only question Is as
h governmental body can mo,
wisely exercise IL The courts viii d,
ttruins the limits within which u
federal authority can exercise il. an
there viii sim remain ample woJ
within each state for the railway con
misEion Of that state, ana the nation
Interstate commission wi