New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-14
THE PRESIDENTS COURSE.

Can the President be satisfied that the man
ayers of the great railways Of the country
have seen the error OF their ways. are prepared
to cooperate with him TO the end that all proper
and Just federal control of railways shall become
accomplished fact. and. having been satisfied
of these facts he be induced to make a pub
lie statement expressing his confidence in the
ability Of the federal government deal with the
railway question and urging tho states to refrain
from attempting Ia do so? The President himself
is quoted the effect that the state legislatures
have proved themselves unable to cope with the
problem entirety. from which he has ar
gued the necessity Of federal control And on
this representation is based the argument that
the President having won his fight for fun and
competent federal control. should now come to
the assistance Of tho railways and exert his
mighty influence 20 save them from the disas-
trous effect OF state legislative interference
President Stickney. who came 70 Washington
to-day, is convinced that the courts will sustain
tho proposition that authority over the railroads
cannot be divided between the federal and state
governments. that the authority OF the federal
government 20 regulate railways engaged In in
terstate commerce implies authority to control
roads engaged in intrastate commerce. and ex-
Guides the right Of the states 10 exercise such
control because inter and intra state commerce
Nay men take so radical view of this PROPOSE
ton as Mr.. Stckney, but that practically all re-
gard some relief from state legislative enact
ment as essential to their continued welfare is
certain, and that they purpose to ask the Pres-
dent TO lend his assistance to that end is re-
corded as entirely probable
POOLING OF RATES.
Still another question on which the railway
men desire to sound the President is his willing
ness to promote reasonable pooling of rates In
his last message to Congress the President
quoted the Interstate Commerce Commission as
saying that despite the TRANSIT Missouri and
kindred decisions of the Supreme Court pool
ing associations exist now as they did before
these decisions. 'and with tho same general ef-
feet The President then adds
In Justice to all parties. we ought probably
to add that II Is difficult 10 see how our inter
state railways could be operated with due re-
gard to the interest Of the shipper and the rail-
Way without concerted action Of the kind af-
forded through these associations This means
that the law as construed by the Supreme
Court is such that the business OF the country
cannot be conducted without breaking il I
recommend that you give careful and early CON
sideration TO this subject. and If you find the
opinion of the Interstate Commerce Commission
justified that you amend the law so as to OBJ
viate the evil disclosed.
The advisability of urging tho President to
make some public pronouncement on this sub
ject, indicating that he will use his influence
with Congress to secure legislation making rea-
sonable pooling legal is being discussed in rail-
way circles. and is offered as one means OF
utilizing the assistance OF the President 10 Off
set certain influences which are now tending to
depress railway securities