Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-28
COMMISSIONER
rs BANQUETED
NoN-PARTIsANsHIP is LANES
KEYNOTE
LEAVES FOR SAN FRANCISCO
TONIGHT
Hearing VIII Be Held In Northern City.
Official Hopes for Settlement
Without ..ecourse to
Courts

Interstate Commerce Commissioner
Franklin X. Lane was entertained at
noon yesterday by the Democratic club
of Los Angeles, whose board of directors
tinguished Californian.
With Mayor Harper seated on one side
and Toastmaster M. j. McGarry on the
other Commissioner Lane faced a spread
such as only this club serves, and spent
| q few hours in speechmaking and story
telling which recalled the old campaign
| ing days.
Chairman McGarry introduced Mr.. Lane
as 'the wise man from the east" which
| led the guest of honor to say that he
was a man of the west transpanted
temporarily while serving his country.
| The last time Commissioner Lane was
| in Los Angeles he said he meant to have
| remained longer. but the serious illness
of his wife called him away He had
since his return seen great changes
II have the spirit of the west In me-"
said the speaker, 'the loyal spirit of
California.
Il will always be fond of the west and
feel that 1 understand it.
zone can get close, to the people out
here. You know the men, you are dealing
with. Elsewhere you do not find the
force and vrility of these western Amer
leans.
"It is indeed an honor that the presi
dent has done the state of California in
giving that state representation on one
of the most important commissions in
the country.
president Roosevelt is in sympathy
with the west. There is kind of
democracy in. the man that believes In
the people and all the people.
For All the People
1.-THE work of the commission is for
all of the people-the whole people.
There Is opposition to regulation by
the railroads. We are attacked on one
hand by the corporations, on the other
by the shipper, but we sit as a court for
both. with the rights of the people para
mount.
ION the one hand the companies have
invested their millions; on the other the
shippers have great interests at stake.
Yet the millions of consumers are the
ones who pay the rates and freight.
Regulation affects everyone
Every man is vitality interested in the
commissions work because 1t affects
everything he eats, wears or consumes.
Industrial and social success rests
largely with the railroads nowadays.
1.-THE government sits as the judge IN
the controversy. On one hand the rail-
roads with their claims of right to do
as they see fit; on the other side are
the shippers fighting shippers. We sit
| between these interests.
Few know the immense amount of
work involved. We have cases in which
| the records take. up from 800 to 1000
pages.
I'VE have commissioners, able and true.
mo word has ever gone out questioning
the probity of the commissioners. No
question has ever been raised that these
men were influenced by any other motive
than exact Justice to all.
1T is an honor for the nation to have
| such a commission.
Square Deal Policy
"As long as Roosevelt remains presi-
dent the policy of the Hepburn bill will
continue to be that of the nation-a pol
icy which Roosevelt has given currency
as the square deal.
1--WE meet here as members of a nation
sharing In her prosperity and ready to
carry out her ideals.
1--WE have entered upon an era where
a sincere and earnest regard for higher
ideals has taken hold.
Even In the southern states they want
men who do things-men who will carry
out the will of all the people.
Ten or twelve years ago when par
tisan lines were more tensely drawn
things were different. Other influences
were at work then.
This is the day of the strong Amer
ican-strong in the purpose to do right
for his country, to ignore Republican
and Democratic policy If need be for the
greater good.
''The movement is one of conscience.
touching the Industrial success of our
people.
''The principles must be carried out be-
cause they are the policies of the people.
There is talk that we are inclined to
get too radical in the United States.
That is absurd and based on ignorance.
There is no country on the globe that
has not already attempted far more
serious regulation of railroads than the
United States.''
Hear Case in North
After consulting with various oil oper-
ators and railroad officials of the South
ern Pacific and Salt Lake railways Com
missioner Lane has decided to hold his
investigations out of the federal court
and in San Francisco.
This action has been taken by the
commissioner in view of the fact that
most of the documents necessary for the
proper carrying on VI TIE ihVesli6dlloi
are filed in the northern city.
Commissioner Lane thinks he can ar
range the matter at the headquarters of
the railway systems at San Francisco
without going to the federal courts.
Should the former fail, however. he will
open vigorous prosecution against the
railways.
This evening he will leave for San
Francisco.
In commenting on his plans he re-
marked: 1.-THE railroads must understand
that they will have to obey the law.
There will be no violation of single ono
of its provisions If we can prevent it."
Yesterday many local oil operators were
closeted with Mr.. Lane and 1t is ex-
pected that they will follow him to San
Francisco to attend the hearing of the
investigation.