Evening journal., 1907-05-31
ASKS
FOR SAME POWER
OVER RAILROADS
AS OVER BANKS
lc0ntInued Nsom FIrst 20

invoke tho power OF the nation to re- |
strain the wrongs committed by the man
Of great wealth who does evil is not only
TO neglect the interests Of the public,
but is to neglect the interests Of the man
Of means who acts honorsbly by his fel- /
lows. The power OF the nation must be ex-
ertod to stop crimes OF cunning no less
than crimes of violence.
To-day I wish to say a word to you
about the first and most important fea-
turc Of this task, the control OF the COM
mon carriers doing an Interstate business;
a contnol absolutely vested In the nation,
while In so far as the common carriers |
also transport the mails It is in my opin-
ion probable that whether their business
is or Is not Interstate 1t is ITO the same
extent subject to Federal control under
that clause of the Constitution granting
to the National Government power to es-
tablsh post roads and therefore by neces-
sary implication power to take all action
necessary In order to keep them at the
highest point Of efficiency.
Present Laws Step in Right Direction
EVERY Federal law dealing with corpo-
rations or with railroads that has been
put upon the statute books during the
last six years has been step IN ad-
vance in the right direction. All action
taken by the Administration undcr these
and tho pro-existing laws has been just
and proper. Every suit undertaken dur
ing that period has been suit not mere
ly warranted but required. by tho facts
a suit IN the interest Of the people as
whole and in the long run, particularly
IN the interest OF stockholders as we'll as
On the interest Of business men Of prop
erty generally There can be no swerving
from the course that has thus been map-
ped out in the legislation actually enacted
and in the messages I'm which have
asked for further legislation.
I'VE best serve the interests Of the hon
est railway men when we announce that
we will follow out precisely this course.
There win bo no halt in the forward
movement toward a full development OF
this policy; and those who wish us to
take a step backward or to stand still,
if their wishes were realized. would nnd
that they had invited an outbreak OF the
very radcahsm they fcar There must
be progressive legislative and adminis-
trative action for the correction Of the
evils which every sincere man must ad-
init to have existed in railroad manage
ment In the past
Movcm/ { Has Come to Stay
"rhe movement 10 regulate railways
by law has come TO stay The people OF
this country have made up their minds
to exercise n closer control over all kinds
Of public-service corporations, including
railways. Every honestly managed raii-
way will gain and not lose by the policy
The men more anxious to manipulate
stocks than to make the management of
their roads efficient and honest are the
only ones who have cause to oppose h.
wherever evl doers can be. they
shall be, brought to justice: aud no crm-
inal high or low, whom we can reach
viii receive immunity. But the rights Of
innocent investors should not be jeon-
ardized by legislation or executive action;
we sanction no legislation which would
fan heavily on them. instead Of on the
original wrongdoers or benencares OF
the wrong.
Better Facilities Demanded
"The great need Of the hour, from the
standpoint Of the general public-of the
producer, consumer, and shipper alike-is
the need for better transportation facili-
ties. for additional tracks, additional ter
minals. and improvements i'm the actual
handling OF the railroads; and all this
with the least possible delay. Ample, safe,
and rapid transportation facilties arc
even more necessary than ch sap transpor-
tatiQn.
Opposes Rebates as Usual
"rhere can be no question as TO the de-
| sirablity of doing away with rebates or
any method OF favorns one shppor at
the expense Of n competitor. and droc.
dealing with the rates is sometimes the
only method by which this favoritism can
be avoided
FaVors Positive Restraint
81 omphatcally believe that positive
restraint should be imposed upon railway
corporations, and that they should be
required to meet positive obligations In
the interest OF the general public / no
less omphaucally believe that IN thus
regulating and controlling the affairs OF
the railways it is necessary TO recognize
the need of an immense outlay of money
from private sources and the certainty
that this win not be met without the as
surance of sufficient reward TO induce
che necessary Investment.
Il believe that tho railroad men OF the
United States are coming to a more per-
feet sense Of the responsibility Of the re-
lation which they bear to the public. and
Of the dignity of that relation. They are
public servants in the highest and fullest
sense. Indeed. there Is not a brakeman
nor switchman upon the most remote
read i'm the land who does not MI a
public function and render service of
large public usefulness. We begrudge
neither honor nor reward TO these men
to whom we entrust our lives and our
property. Behind these active workers
IN the railroad field are those who have
the determination OF railroad policies.
These men are entitled TO great rewards;
and in return public opinion Is reht in
holding them TO rigid accountability Tor
the way they perform their public duties.
Finally friends let us never forget
that this IS not merely a matter of busl-
ness but also matter OF morals. Tho
success of our whole system Of govern
ment depends upon our discriminating
between men, not with reference 10
whether they are rich or poor. whether
they follow one occupation o. another but
with reference solely 70 whc.her they
act as honest and upright citizens shou
act Let the local attorneys of the bi.
roads keep out Of politics; and when they