Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-05-22
Commerce Commissioner De
clares For More Stringent
Control Of Traffic Lines
MAKE STOCK SAFE
Addressing National Manufacturers,
'Prouty Says People and lines Should
Have Fair Treatment, Which is Only
Possible Thru Closer Supervision and
Control.

New York, May 22.--Charles Prouty
member of the Interstate commerce
commission, addressing the National
Manufacturers association today, said
the government should exercise some
direct control over the capital and ac-
counts of railroads, and that 1t is
probable that interstate railways
should be valued by the government.
Prouty said:
Government regulation is itself on
trial Regulation must be sufficiently
strong to choke the cry for national
operation. / am not asking that addi-
tional powers be conferred upon the
interstate commission. We must cce-
ate department. of railways, which
should be charged with that part OF
railway regulation which is properly
administrative and executive. A rail-
way company should not be deprived of
its property by reduction in its rate,
until 1t has been given a fair hearing
before some disinterested tribunal, but
the duty Of beginning complaint rests
upon the government and should not
be cast upon private individuals.
1T is not possible to fix rates so
| that given percent will be returned
| to the stockholders. Harriman's oper-
ations in the Alton did not directly af-
feet rates upon that railroad system,
| but they did create a condition which is
for all time perpetual inducement to
| the imposition of unjust charges. what
| has been done can not be corrected.
| All that has become vested in the in
terstate commission it would be both
unjust and unwise to disturb, but
with respect to the future we can
prevent repetition of the past.
"Railroad securities ought to be
fayorite investment for the savings OF
small and great alike. 1t is not the
| feeling of apprehension that people
will confiscate the railroads which pre-
vents permanent investment in rail-
road stocks, but rather uncertainty as
| to the future of those stocks When 1t
once becomes certain no railroad stock
or bond can be issued without the
consent of the. government that every
dollar which comes from their sale
shall be legitimately invested In prop
erty, and when no Interstate railroad
can buy dollar in stock Of railroad
without the consent of the government,
railroad securities will be much more
likely to assume their proper place in
the public confidence. Any compre-
hensive scheme Of legislation should
give to the railways the right to force
and maintain traffic associations and
n or
rates."
Straus on Labor.
Among the notable addresses today
was one by Oscar S. Straus, secretary
of commerce and labors He advised
the manufacturers to be fair in re-
ferring to the relations between capital
and labor. On this subject he said:
Most of the strife between capital
and labor would disappear if it were
more fully recognized that a high rate
of wages, within economic limitations,
is powerful lever to reach a low cost
Of production, which practically rules
today in the industries of the United
States. I hope another year you will
have with you at your annual festivi-
ties representation Of the great labor
groups who rightly share with you the
credit for Americas wonderful indus
trial development, who have shared
and are entitled to share more and
more with you, according to the meas
ure Of their, deserts, the prosperity that
has crowned your and their joint Ia
bors. In no other country in the world
Is the standard Of labor and the stan
dard of life among the wage-earning
classes higher, and hope the country
may have your aid and cooperation In
fastening the day when thej honest
individual may be permitted more and
more to enjoy the fruits Of constant
industry and the advantages of his la
Dor, free alike from the tyranny OF his
own class and sof the inequitable exac--
tions Of the employer class. The
cheapest labor is that labor which is
most productive, and the more the
forces of cultivated intelligence, con-
scientiousness, and hopefulDess shall
infuse themselves into human industry.
the more abundant and valuable the
results the greater the sum of human
happiness. and the more stable the po-
litical institutions of country
mo greater, more important. ana
vital question has ever come forward
for solution than the relation between
capital and labor. 1t is today ag1tatlng
the parliaments of all enlightened ma
ti1ns, and is receiving the thoughtful
attention of statesmen and legislators,
who recognize that the plane OF solur
tion lies high above the narrow path
ways of selfish interest. No one mas
addressed himself to this great and
pressing subject with more philosopn-
ical foresight and practical application,
and with that fearless espousal OF the
right, than President Roosevelt. His
messages to congress, his public
speeches, and his advocacy for the
passage of laws all evidence a Wise.l
consistent and determined plan to safe
guard the rights of capital on the one
side and to redress the justified griev-
.ances Of the masses on the other. and