The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1907-04-02
PRESIDENT CAN SEE NO REASON
FOR A PUBLIC ADDRESS ON
RAILROAD SITUATION.
STANDS BY FORMER DECLARATIONS
IN FAVOR OF EFFECTIVE GOVERN.
MENTs SUPERVISION OVER
CORPORATIONS.

Washington, April 2:-President
Roosevelt, in declining the invitation
of the Illinois Manufacturers associa-
t1on to make an address at Springfield
next week on the railroad situation,
writes a letter to G. H. Smith, presi-
dent of the association, explaining
such an address from him at this time
would be useless, as his position was
we'll understood and as he stands by
his previously expressed views. To
the different men, friendly and I'M
friendly, who have visited him or writ
ten to him, he has answered verbally
or in writing that his words and acts
spoke for themselves and needed no
explanations whatever and that he
should not in his future course devi-
ate one hairs breadth from the
course he has pursued in the past and
was now pursuing. ..
From an authoritative source it is
learned that the president has not the
slightest intention of taking any ac-
ton which would invalidate railroad
securities. The president holds, on
the other hand, that every executive
action of his administration regard
ing the railroads has furnished it's own
ample justification. Neither has the
president, it is pointed out, made any
reference to the physical valuation Of
railroads, holding the roads capable of
working out that problem for them
selves. Attention is called to the fact
that the Northern Pacific and Great
Northern roads already have submit
ted figures regarding such valuation. 1t
is also we'll understood that the pres
ident again will ask congress for
power to deal with overcapitalization
of railroads, which request was de-
MED at the late session.
Reiterates Former Position.
The president, in his letter to Mr..
Smith, outlines at length his position
on the railroad question by means of
copious extracts from speech he de.
livered at Raleigh, N. c., Oct 10, 1905;
another from a speech delivered in
Washington Nov. IA, 1905, and from
his late messages to congress. His
position since the time of his ad
dresses and messages, the president
declares, have been amply justified by
the course of events. It's wisdom is
| obvious, he adds, and there is no oc
cAsion or reason for amplification at
present.
Quoting from his Raleigh address
the President calls attention to his
belief that the government should do
nothing which can properly be left in
private. hands, but that such regula-
tons should be exercised against the
railroads as to insure their operation
in a spirit of fairness to all con-
cerned. Whatever power the govern,
ment Yields must be with wisdom
caution and self-restraint. Railroads,
he declares, must be protected from
any public clamor, no matter how vic.
lent, when the roads were in the right.
Referring to his Washington ad-
dress the president says railroad rates
are not as whole too high, but that
the evils that exist are due to unjust
discrimination and this should be pre-.
vented by law.
In quoting from his messages to
congress the president outlines again
his we'll known views favoring effec-
tive government supervision over cor
porate organizations, holding any eff
fort to prevent all combinations would
Be useless and vicious He also justi-
fies the new interstate commerce law.