The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-20
Points Out Difference Between
Himself and Bryan.
FOR TARIFF REVISION
But Would Wait Until After
Presidential Election.
Processes Adherence to the Pol
icies of Roosevelt.

Buckeye Republican club here last
night. declared in favor OF tariff re-
vision, by a Republican congress. af-
ter the next presidential election.
He hopes in this way to free the
consideration of schedules from the
tumult incident to a national cam
paign.
Secretary Taft's speech consisted or
a defense of the Hepburn bill, as
compared with the Elkins law; an un-
qualified Endorsement of President
Roosevelt's policies, with a plea for
their continuance; a comparison of
the Roosevelt and Bryan theories or
government, and an exposition of his
own views the protection princf-
pie, revision of schedules, and the az
legged relation between the tariff and
the trusts.
The secretary said:
I have been invited by your body
to discuss the national issues. Some
of these involve the abuse over which
the public conscience has been
aroused, and the proper remedies for
their removal The first, and possi-
bly, the greatest, abuse has been in
the management of the arteriaI sys-
tenn of the country which the inter-
state railroads form
Failure of Old Law.
The result of twenty years opera
ton under the interstate commerce.
act of 1887, passed to restrain abuses
of unjust discrimination and unreal
condolences of rates, was that the rail-
roads came to regard the action Of
the commission it created as of no
Importance. The commission was not,
under the old act, authorized to fix
reasonable rates.
Made aware of the moribund cond,-
ton of railway regulation under the
old law and of the widespread abuses
in raj mo 90
ment. President Roosevelt. in his
message of 1904. recommended that
the powers of the commission be
largely increased, first by enabling
the commission to fix rates. ana, sec
ond. by making its order effect1ve
against the carriers without resort to
courts to compel performance. He
asked that it be made an administra-
tive tribunal with real power. This
was done by the passage of the rate
bill, in June, 1906.
Railroad Opposition.
Never before was there such a united
opposition by the railroad interests to
any national measure as they insti-
tuted against the rate bill.
The objections urged against it were
three: First. it was said to be unwise
because it was a departure from the
laissez faire doctrine of little gov
ernment as possible. and was a long
step toward socialism and government
ownership.
The revelations of infidelity to trust
obligations in the insurance investiga-
tions in New York. the fraudulent dis
ordinations in the traffic of the coal
carrying roads disclosed by the inquiry
made by the interstate commerce COM
mission and the disclosure of secret
rebates on an enormous scale granted
the Standard Oil company by the rail-
roads in the report of Mr. Garfield, as
commissioner of corporations. over
came such a specious argument, Great
ed a strong public opinion in favor of
a radical remedy against all dishonest
corporate practices. and held up the
hands of those supporting the bill.
The second ground of opposition
was that tribunal like the commits
sion was utterly unable to fix rates;
that it was impossible for a body of
laymen to reach a safe and just con-
without creating hopeless confusion.
The third and final objection was
that the law was invalid in that con-
gress was thereby delegating its 1egis-
lative power to another body, and was
violating the general constitutional
rule that has an exception. There may
be delegation of legislative power
where the purpose in the original con-
ferring of the power can be subserved
only by its delegation to an agent.
Small Vote Against Bill.
The opponents of the bill were not
able with these objections to muster
more than seven negative votes in the
house of representatives, or three
votes in the senate.
The opponents of the measure con-
tinue to denounce it. They insist that
the only effective and an all-sufficient
law to regulate railways is the Elkins
act. passed in 1908, and that this is
shown by the fact that all the prose-
cutions in which convictions have
been had against railway companies
and Favored shippers in the last two |
years. have been under the Elkins act, |
and not under the rate bill.
Let us look into the facts in regard |
this allegation no oh 7iaf
tionS which have been instituted have
been criminal indictments against the |
sugar trust and the Standard OIL com |
panv and certain RAILWAYS and their
agents and officers for taking and civ
ing secret money rebates. Thev coI1Id /
not have been brought under the ate
bill because the acts prosecuted were
committed before the passage of tba
rate bill
Jail Penalty Restored
1t is we'll understood that the FIlxins
bill was passed without opposition nv
and with the full consent of the raiI
roads and that the chief reason for this
was the elimination of the penitentiarv
penalty for unjust discriminatfons
The Imprisonment of two or three
prominent officers of a railway com /
pany. a trust, engaged in giving or |
receiving secret rebates. would have |
a greater deterrent effect for the fu- !
ture than millions in fine.
In the rate bill. congress amended |
ment as part of the punishment of |
secret rebates.
6Corltinued on Page Three.)