The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-05-31
HE RoosEre1r pRoaRaM.

HE ROOSEFELT PROGR4M. The interest which attaches to the speech made yesterday at Indianapolis by President Roosevelt springs from the fact that in another year his sue cessor In the presidential chair will be nominated. and. if common reports are true, according to his personal view of his fitness. President Roosevelt has said these same things many times be- fore, but they have related rather to the attitude of Congress which has listened to them and acted upon them. They now relate to the popular ap- provaI of the Roosevelt program. which he wishes continued after he has re- tired from the presidency
 President Roosevelt declares enphat- ically that there will be no turning back of the hands of legislative control over interstate enterprises. He says that every law which has thus far been en- acted is q wise law called into being by the evils that have crept into railroad management. This is rather sweep ing assertion in view of the fact that the Hepburn bill has not been utilized, and until it is 1t Is slight exaggera- tion to call 1t perfect legislation. It is the Presidents belief, however, that his enthusiasm in behalf of federal con trol is not only justified by the coun- try's experience with it thus far, but that tho results of it are the best thing imaginable for the railroads Tt is the course of real of ultimate conserva- | tism." he tells us. Nor would he stop short of bringing these institutions as completely under the control of the government at Washington as the na- | tional banks are, He wants the gov i ernment to so far exercise control over the railroads as to determine their is- suance of stocks and bonds, and to en- force the widest possible publicity with regard to their management. The re- {; strietions to be imposed are not to be ! unreasonable" for that would ham, per the growth of the United States" They are to be of a character presum- ably. though he lacks in detail as to just what he does mean, to so lift the character of the railroad business, as a consequence of being associated with the government, that investors will rush to buy their securities. In short the railroads cannot themselves be trusted to behave, which makes It necessary for the well behaved federal government to give them the benefit of { its scrupulous good will
 The feature of the Presidents speech yesterday which we do not remember to have heard him recommend before, is that involving the national incorpor- ation of interstate railroads. That has
 
 a decided interest for the people of the State of Connecticut if, in addi- tion to it's present property, the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad company is actu- ally seeking to take over the Boston & Maine, thus giving it business in the six states of New England. Would President Roosevelt recommend that this expanded Connecticut institution take out then papers of national incor- poration, and would that fit in with the ideas of President Mellen? It is 6b. vious that if this were done, by act of congress, the charter under which the company now does business would be suspended, the six legislatures which now have rights in Legislation over it, would be deprived of voice in its conduct and all of the cities and towns through which it passes would lose all right to dictate rates of speed etc. Would the United States sena. tors and members of the nationa House of Representatives from New England favor such a change? Would the people of New England send mer to congress who held such views a. to the surrender of their Legislative rights, with the very doubtful assur anec confronting them that under fed eraI control railroad manners woulS permanently improve? The President, program is very progressive one ant will bear watching.