The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-05-06

to tho reasonable satisfaction OF the
public.
"E,levcnth--The rates which they
charge for passenger and freight SER
vice cnn be regulated and all dis-
ordinations abolished.
"Twclfth---Thelr interchange OF cars,
frclghta and passengers with zach otn.
er can be regulated.
"Thirtccnth---All agreements thcy
make with each other. in regard OF
joint rates and pooling agreements, can
bo controlled.
I'm order to get this absolute con-
troll the power to organize these cor
rorations must be pitched on some
giant OF power In the Constitution
which Is not only exclusive. but which
In It's exercise Ia all pervadine,
IntraState Traffic.
Ihe power to regulate commerce
ifnong tho States and with foreign ma
items Is too narrow for such PURPOSES.
iecause there is an Immense maNJ of
commerce In this country whicl, is on.
'lTeiy beyond the control OF Congress.
transportation. as an element Of COM
Ilcrce, can only be regulated by the
congress In 30 far MS 1t Is Interstate
or foreign transportation; that there "a
al immense mass OF transportation
which Ii absolutely intrastatc and over
winch the eSngresg, by vitu Of its
commercial power, has no 1lrisdlction.
hut tho power to establish post
roads is co-extensiye with the limits
OF tho United States. 1t enters into
every remote corner Of the territory OF
the United States and extends from
every point within the territory To
every other point therein. It gives the
government power to establish n most
road from every point to every other
point to nationwide these roads: to
provide all the terms and conditions
Tor their use and operation: and Ia
create corporations az Instruments to
facilitate the government In the per-
formance of this exclusive function.
II believe that the authors Of the
Constitution, in contemplation Of the
vast distances separating tho parts OF
this republic from each other, granted
this exclusive power to the Federal
government. In the expectation and
belief that the whole country would
/ be knit together by highways con.
structcd and operated by the central
government. in the fun knowledge tina,
such highways. while having for their
primary object the Transportation o!
the mails. would necessarily be used
r''OuHtEltN anu lNClItEftdlly, IOr the
| transportation OF freight and passen.
I gers, Just as from time immemoral the
stage coach which carried tho mall also
! carried passengers and freight
The Cumberland Road.
"The Federal government did con-
struct one such highway through the
] States Of Maryland Virginia, pennsyl-
vania and Ohio known as the Cum ber-
/ land Road but, unfortunately. the sub
| jact fell into the domain of politics. the
I road was not kept up, and 1t was
finally abandoned to the States through
| which It ran. under various statutes,
both of the United States and OF the
! States, the Interpretation of which gave
rise TO litigation.
1T is possible that in order to put
/ the matter on absolutely unassailable
/ grounds the title to the rights of way
OF al these post-roncs would have
| TO be put in the United States, which
would grant the right perpetually to
use these rights of way for Transport
tation purposes to the corporations or
( gained by il, under the conditions and
limitations fixed by the law of thei.
organization
.If that were deemed necessary, II
could be established that ono of the
i.onditlons upon which an existing ccr-
iroration should transmUt to itself into
Federal corporation should be the as
signment OF It's title to its rights OF
WAY to the United States government
as a postroad. subject to It's right OF
perpetual use thereof as Federal
corporation under the conditions ant
Limitations CT the Federal s.alute-
Tho above Is a mere outline of the
plan which 1 suggest, and an Indication
OF the principles and authorities by
which ! believe 1t to be supported.
My personal belief Is that the rail.
reads OF the country would willingly
submit to the drastic regulation ant
supervision which my plan suggests
IN order to obtain the large measure
Of protection that would come to thei,
properties and to the capital invested
By uniform exclusive system of gov.
eminent supervision, regulation, taxa.
ton and by relieving them from al
control of the States and of their DO.
lltical subdivisions
Your obedient servant.
EDGAR HOWARD FARRAR."