Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-04-02


zation of railroads.
A similar request was made at the
last session but favorable action was
not taken upon it.
Could Only Repeat Himself.
In his letter to Mr.. Smith the presi-
dent enclosed copies of the speech he
made at Raleigh, N. c.. October 10,
1905, and the one he delivered before
delegation Of railway employees in
this city on November IA, 1905, to-
gether with his last message to con-
gress at the beginning of the first and
second sessions of the last congress.
The president concludes his letter to
Mr.. Smith as follows:
you will see in the two speeches
and the two messages about all that I
would say IL spoke now. AS I said
to your body the other day, have al
ready expressed again and again my
carefully thought out beliefs, I am
more than ever convinced that these
beliefs are wise and that the policy I
recommended in my message at the
opening Of each Of the last regular
sessions of congress must be carried
out.
"Just at the moment I do not see
| that I have much to add to what I
have already said. and I think that
what has occurred since wrote the
two mesa res in question merely IL
Illustrates in striking fashion the de-
STABILITY of the course I therein out
| lined"
Modified Government Ownership.
These portions of his sueeches and
nessapes which the president marked
are as follows:
In his address at Raleigh the pres
ident said:
II do not believe in government own
ership of ANYTHING which can with
nronrietv he left in private hands, and
IN particular houId most strenuous
" object to government ownership of
railroads. But believe with equal
frmness that 1t is out of the question
for the government not to exercise a
snnervisorv and regulatory right over
well-heing of the public that thew
should be managed in a spirit of fair
ness and Justice towards the public.
actual experience has shown that
IS is not POSSIBLE to leave. the railroads
uncontrolled Such system, or rath-
err such a lack of system, is fertile in
abuses of every kind. and puts a premi-
UNI upon INSCRIPTIONS and ruthless
cunning in railroad management; for
there are big shippers and some rail-
road MANAGERS who are always willing
TO take unfair ADVANTAGE of their weak
err councillors and thew thereby force
other big shippers and other big rail-
road men who would like to do decent
lv into similar acts Of wrong and in
Justice. under penalty of being left
behind in the race for success.
. Government Supervision Needed
Government supervision is needed
quite as much in the interest Of the big
shipper and Of the railroad manager
) who wants to do right as in the inter-
est of the small shipper and the con-
/ sumner
Experience has shown that the pres
; ent laws are defective and need amend
ment TIL effort to prohibit all re-
straint of competition whether reason
able or unreasonable is unwise. What
we need is to have some adminisra-
] tive body with ample power to for
| bid combination that is hurtful to
the public and to prevent favoritism to
: one individual at the expense of an
J other. In other words we want an
/ administrative body with power to Sc
t cure fair and just treatment as among
: all shippers who use the railroads
them
! Make Findings Effective.
! 'Tn my judgement the most impor-
! tant thing to do is to give to this ad
| ministrative body power to make its
: findings effective. and this can be done
] by giving it power, when complaint is
, made of a given rate being unjust or
unreasonable, If it finds the complaint
proper then itself to fix maximum
rate which it regards as just and
reasonable. this rate to go into effect
: practically at once. that is. within a
reasonable time, and to stay in effect
unless reversed by the courts.
earnestly hope that we shall see
a law giving this power passed by con-
gress.
There Is in the minds of the COM
mission suspicion that certain rail-
roads are in any shape or way giving
rebates. or behaving improperly I
wish the commission to have power
as matter of right, not as a matter
of favor, to make full and exhaustive
: investigation into rates and expendi-
lures of railroads so that any evasion
of the law may be detected.
: Not Revolutionary Proposal.
This is not a revolutionary proposal
: on my part, for I only wish the same
: power given in reference to railroads