Weekly Arizona journal-miner., 1907-12-04
FEDERAL REGULATION
OF RAILROADS.

One of the most interesting and
widely read of recent contributions to
the literature Of disturbed finance is IN
address by President Robert Mathcr Of
~ Rock Island system, delivered but
. snort time ago before the Chicago
Association of Commerce. This ad
drep bears upon the subject of finance
ssd Rooscveltian policy as applet to
railroad management. Mr.. Mather con.
elsdcd an elaborate interpretive re.
view of the history of American rail.
reading with the suggestion that rail
road regulation be taken out Of the
hands of the states and entrusted TO
federal government. His argument ut
most points is cogent and commanding
Of the sharpest respect Of thinkers.
There are many people who will
agree with Mr.. Mather's theory that
stats regulation Of railroads, involving
= multiplicity Of more or less unstabl.
Ssd frequently changing policies, with
tls statutes Of the several states diff
fsrent in text and often in intent, can.
not but tend toward confusion and
esnplexity. And such conditions, in
the end, must operate 20 the disaIvant
age not only Of the railroads hut to
that Of the people rs whole.
State Legislatures, in some cases
yielding 20 popular clamor, II il urged,
will enact measures Of harsh and IN
just character, while others, under
railroad influence, will legislate upon
lines Of greatest latitude and go TO tae
other extreme.
1t 10 difficult enough TO maintain
6xed policies, even under federal con.
tsol. As matter Of fact, in the case
81 the railroads, governmental policies
cannot remain unalterably fixed. In
the end, that, too, would work hard.
ship; because q government, TO perform
its proper functions, must be as pro.
Gsessive and evolutionary AZ the condi.
tions il seeks TO govern.
The main thing is to keep our laws
and regulations consistent with the ad.
vsncement and expansion Of affairs: II
that IN done, We shall find That our pol.
icies are fixed enough. The great
trouble in this connection arises out of
the everchanging personnel Of those
in charge of affairs, each new legisla.
tive or executive body having its own
peculiar theories TO advance and exper,.
nent with.
Opponents Of railroad logic ~ rule,
argue that the present financial condi.
tion IL due in large measure 10 the ap.
Plieation Of Mr.. Roosevelt ideas in
tine punishment Of those who have VIC.
lated the laws, particularly the Inter
state Commerce law of 1887. which
made Violating illegal.
Few, II any, however, defend the
principle underlying the Relating sys
ten. Those who worked the system are
not defended M having been obedien,
20 law since lss7--but IL IL pleaded
in estenuation of their offcnses that re-
batting was not illegal prior to 1887
and that tho system developed prior h
that time. II is further stated that
since then, due to the policy OF a few
roads In continuing to give rebates
practically all the roads have be,r
forced 70 follow suit or lose Tonnage
this despite the fact, rs Mr.. Mathel
points out, tonnage has increased tire,
OF four times M fast as transportation
facilities aud the roads are unable to
handle the Tonnage offered them.
Doubtless. following upon the com
PLEASANT forbearcnce and indulgence OF
ns predecessors, the Roosevelt demand
that vitality he given to the law
against rebating and that notable and
persistent offenders he punished, has