Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-27

duced. that the railways are charging too
much, IS the most foolish of all. Your
runway rates are less than those of any
country known to civilized man. A trif1ing
reduction which you would be able to get
would net secure happiness comfort to
the great mass of people, but might cause
great suffering to these very same ones.
II you can get public rates and the same
rates TO all that is what you need What
you desire for the good of the country IT
large Is more good tracks good equipment
and good service. and you can get them
Only by allowing the railways to charge
fair riices for thei: services"
Nj Ingalls, concluded by inHeighing
against the agitation against railroads, and
somewhat sarcaSticalIy referred to the
tendency OF calling on the President to
rectliy everything. He also declared that
Wall street must stop making railroads the
foot ball of sock speculation.
YOU must manage your railways. he
said. Addressing himself TO the railroad men.
80 IS "a rlIcatc ,he public. While being
conSHfNatiN" and protecting your interests.
you must give the public the consideration
that is due il. You must reason and
explain your situation to Congress. to leg
iSlaiu to city governments, to CONNER
CiaI hCdi's.
Above al. you must have legislation
giving you authority to contract and make
agreements between yourselves which can
be enforced. These agreements must be
public. and in case of complaint. passed
upon by the interstate commerce commits
sion You must have legislation provid-
new stock and bonds issued. except with
the approval of the interstate commerce
commission"
For Free Trade With Canada.
Before taking up his assigned topic, that
of the Public Duties of the Citizen" Mr.
Hamn spoke briefly on the question of
reciprocity with Canada. The state of
Massachusetts. he said, deemed it impera-
tive for it's future welfare to increase its
trade with Canada. Among other things
Massach usetts desired that coal should be
made reciprocally free of duty between
Canada and the United States, which
would also benefit Pennsylvania.
On the subject of citizenship Mr.. Hamlin
said. in part:
THE theme I wish to discuss is the ad-
visibility of extending in constitutional
manner national control to subjects over
which it has no present jurisdiction. Such
Capitalization, in my opinion, even if made
lawful as to concrete instances, would not.
If applied generally, inure to the welfare of
the people, but would inevitably result in
radical, revolutionary changes in gov
eminent.
ITO many estimable citizens there seems
to be an eternal, hopeless conflict between
the national and state governments. which
be abated only by reducing the states
consistent with any sovereign rights
Mr. Hamlin expressed the opinion that
such a course, which would be far-reach-
ing in its effects, would not be for the best
interests of the people. He added:
''If, however, such an extraordinary In
crease of power should be granted by the
people to the federal government by con-
stitutional changes, where could such power
safely be reposed? While Congress could
enact the necessary laws. these laws must
be left to the executive departments for ad-
minstration and execution. Can it be that
these departments so idle at the present
moment that such extraordinary, new duties
could properly be imposed upon them? Just
the contrary is the truth
No necessity existed for further cen
tralization of power, in the opinion of Mr.
Hamin. He remarked:
Il believe that the people of New York,
Massa chusetts, Pennsylvania, and of the
other sovereign states. If aroused to the
necessity of such action are competent to
enact all needed legislation concerning the
matters reserved to the states and never
surrendered to the federal government.
Each state, however, should carry out
faithfully its duties and it's responsibilities
under the national and state constitutions
If state deliberately refuses to exercise
its duties and permits the stream of inter
state commerce to be fouled by it's inaction
in my judgment it would be far better for
the national government to exclude its
products from interstate commerce, If 1t
has that power, until the state performs Its
duty than to enter the state and perform
this state duty by national inspectors"
Chief among the duties of the citizen Mr.
Uamlin placed the duty to strengthen the
government of his state to restore to 1t the
balance of power, which, under the conSti-
| tuition belongs to 1t.