The sun., 1907-08-20
TAFT OPENS HIS
own CAMPAIGN

the matter up in Presidential campaign
He advocated therefore n pledge in the
Republican platform that the tariff would
he revised and action postponed until re-
vision would he lcss affected by political
considerations
Secretary Taft. after expressing ap-
pToval ~ the rate law and endeavoring 70
answer it's critics. expressed his approval
of the plan to amend it by requiring GER
tificateS from the Interstate Commerce
Commission for all issues Of securities as
q remedy against overcapitazation. He
also said that he was in favor Of another
amendment limiting stock ownership and
referred TO the Hartman investigation as
revealing n dangerous tendency which,
II not stopped, will lead TO the absorption
of all the railroads in the country into one
hand"
Evidently replying to the criticism OF
the centralizing policy here disclosed. he
sand that the consl itutional limits of Fed
eral action should not be blurred out or
the Federal power expanded by doubtful
construction TO interfere with State
rights. But the right of Congress to take
action TO control interstate commerce he
said. could not be denied.
In regard to trusts Mr.. Taft declared
II TO be his belief that rigorous enforcement
Of existing laws against illegal combina-
tions and equal and just operation Of the
railways would restrain the great corpora
lions within the bounds Of legitimate and
useful business"
Mr.. Taft came out in approval Of legs-
lation against fortunes due TO rebating
or some form Of monopoly or overcapitali-
ration. Such Legislation, he declared.
properly belonged TO the States. He ad-
vocated a Federal graduated inheritance
tax and an income tax at such times as the
Government revenues needed addition or
readiustment. Secretary Taft's speech in
full follows:
o.. Secretary Tsu's speech.
Members Of the Buckeye Republican Ciub
and r'oiioU Citizens OF Ohio
ouICKENING OF PUBLIC CONSCIENCE IN
MIDST or PROSPERITY.
The present is period Of the greatest
prosperity, general comfort and even
luxury. Throughout this country the de-
mand for labor has increased wages TO a
higher point than ever known before. The
compensation Of skilled labor now fire.
guently exceeds that of certain professions
like teaching and the ministry. Wealth
has accumulated enormously in the hands
Of individuals and never before have rich
men given so freely of their fortunes to
educational and charitable objects. Such
conditions are apt to dim and dull the eye
and the ear OF the people Co abuses and dis
honesty in the body polite and social. II
was such periods in the history of ancient
republics when their foundations were
sapped and their fall ultimately brought
about. Prophets of evil have foretold the
same fate for this republic They have
been refuted. In spite of the general COM
fort there have been made manifest by
signs not TO he misunderstood a quickening
OF the public conscience and a demand for
the remedy Of abuses. the outgrowth Of
this prosperity, and for a higher standard
of business integrity. Every lover of his
country should have feeling Of pride and
exaltation in this evidence that our society
- still sound at the core.
ABUSES IN RAILWAY DETERMINATIONS.
have been invited by your body To dis
cuss the national ISSUES. Some of these
BnVolve the abuses over which the public !
conscience has been aroused and the proper |
remedies for their removal The first, |
and possibly the greatest. abuse has been |
IN the management Of the arterial system |
Of the country which the Interstate rail !
roads form. Any unjust discrimination |
IN the terms upon which transportation of |
freight or passengers is afforded an indi- |
vidual or a locality paralyzes and withers |
the business OF the individual or the locality !
exactly as the binding of the arteries and |
veins leading TO member Of the human
body destroys its life.
FAILURE OF THE OLD INTERSTATE COMMERCE
LAW AND CAUSES.
The result OF twenty years operation
under the interstate commerce act Of 1887:
passed to restrain abuses Of unjust discrim-
lnation and unreasonableness of rates was
that the railroads came TO regard the action
OF the commission IL created as Of no i'm
portance. The delays, due to the necessity
OF resorting TO the courts 10 try out the
merits OF every order of the commission
hATnrn al DO 7
OF the complaining shipper or locality 50
slow and burdensome that in contested |
cases It was no remedy al all. The com
mission was not under the old act author
iZed 20 fix reasonable rates. II could only
say that particular rate was unreasonable |
and order railroad TO change its rate and
make IL reasonable The railroad might
fix a new rate at anything less than the
rate declared TO be unreasona BILE and il
the reduction made was not sufficient a !
new action had 10 be brought TO decide that
the new rate was a lso unreasonable.
PRESIDENT RoosEvELTs RECoMMEN DATIoN
NEW RATE BILL.
Made aware OF the moTbund condition |
NJ rai way regulation under The old law
and Of the widespread abuses which pre-
vailed IN railway management. President |
in his message of 100, recon-
nended that the powers Of the commis ssion |
be largely increased first. by enabling the ;
To fix rates and, second. by
MAKING It's Oruer effective against the |
rarriers without resort TO courts TO compel
performance. He asked that il be made
an administrative tribunal with real power
This was done by the passage of the rate
bill in June 1908 The new act enables the
to fix rates and gives efficacy
~ all Of its orders by providing that thew
shal go into effect thirty days after they are |
made unless suspended by an order of court,
md failure To comply with them is punish
able by fine OF 5000 a day during the
delinquency Express companies sleeping
AR companies and oil pipe line companies
IRE brought under the jurisdiction of the
commission as common carriers. The act |
gives the commission power to fix the rates
'Or the various incidental services performed
" railways NJ terminals and on the journey
md To require them TO he performed for
very shiprer.
By Withholding such services from one
md extending them to another and by ,
imposing varying charges for them com I
,anies have been able in the past to make !
hcm convenient instrument for dis
The new law requires the
publication of rates charged for such in
'ldenta services. Railroads are compelled
q furnish cars without discrimination ,
or the movement Of traffic. After NAV,
sos, they are confined in their businesa |