Evening star., 1907-10-27
Senator Newlands' Address.

Senator Newlands' Address.
The summonIng by President Roosevelt
Of a national conference of the various
interests connected with the transporta-
tion question. with view to restoring
the confidence of,investors was suggested
by Senator NewIands.
Confidence in American corporations
has been shaken both here and abroad,
said the senator Investors are alarmed
and improveme nts absolutely necessary to
the Transportation of the country are held
up. When Congress meets there VIII be
many plans for relief. but that body VIII
never take Up this question in any dd"-
quate way until instructed by public op'n-
ion. We should Immediately have a con
ference at Washington devoted exclusive
ly to the transportation question IN It's
broadest aspects and composed of men
expert in the financing, operation and con
troll of TRANSPORTATION. including the gov
ernors of states and members of public
service commissions. After fun debate
and deliberation the country will be as
tonished to find how few the points of
difference are between the transportation
managers. on the one side, and the pub
lie, on the other.
Need of New System.
"The nation and the states have KIN .cked
together the heads of the railroads in
such fashion as to make them realize
that they are simply public agents, and
they will come TO such conference in
a much more conciliatory mood than
heretofore. I believe in constructive
rather than IN punitive or retaliatOry ac-
ton We should look to the future and
organize a transportation system, en-
bracing both the railways and the water
ways, which will enlist the harmonious
action of the nation and the states. If a
tnf
evils now complained of would disappear.
Proper control can never be accom-
plished so long as we permit corporations
to resort to the states of least public Vlr-
tue for their power. Is 1t not clear that
united action is necessary. and that
united action can only be accomplished in
the constitutional Way-through the Union
of the states represented by Congress?
Regardless of State Lines.
I'VE will welcome. therefore, the ma
tional consideration of all these questions
relating TO inland waterways. We well
come 1t because it opens up the great
question of transportation regardless of
state lines We welcome it because its
very consideration will compel the broad
and liberal view Of the granted powers of
the Constitution.
I'VE cannot take the broad view of
the powers Of the national government
as relating TO carriers by water and refuse
to recognize those powers relating to
carriers by water and rail. Transpor-
tation is a national question. The com
mon carriers engaged in interstate and
foreign commerce must be national agents.
The laws creating them must be the law
of the nation. The regulations which
control them must be the regulations OF
the nation.
Under national Incorporation there will
be great corporations, whose lines will in
transporting bulky products. utilize in
land waterways through steamboats, and
barges. They will subject to the approval
Of the interstate commerce commission,
be enabled to make such joint rates by
land and sea as will make their ships
profitable, Notwithstanding the increased
cost of American construction and ad-
lministration. There will be no need of
ship subsidy 10 advance our merchant
marine. These corporations will be under
full governmental control. 1t will frank
ly recognize the economic necessity of
consolidation and combination, and the es-
sential4y monopolistic character of the
business, and will regulate consolidat ion.
combination and monopoly with true
regard of the interests OF the public served
by 1t, the property rights OF the capital
employed in it. and the human rights of
the labor employed by it,
The speaker said that many of the
states which are most loudly asserting
their rights toward controlling railway
lines are just as positively Calming the
sovel egn power Of the nation over the
waterways and insisting upon the eXer-
| else of that national power.
Waterways Commission.
| Referring to the inland waterways com
mission, Senator Newlands said: Thus
far the commissions work has been one
of investigation. 1t has not prepared Its
! recommendation to the President, and
can only give my individual views, which
are subject to modification.
| Il am more and more impressed with
the Importance of the work and with the
wisdom of preparing broad and compre-
hensive plan for the improvement of our
| inland waterways. embracing not only
| the Mississippi valley. but all the naviga.
BILE rivers of the gulf and the Atlantic
and Pacific coasts. well as a sheltered
waterway along the gulf and Atlantic
| coasts, which steamers of standard draft
! Il