Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-08-20
Tells lust How Ne Stands on Ma
tional Issues--ls Opposed to
Government Ownership.
Accepts President Rooscyelt's Policies
In Their Entircty-Favors lnhcr-
itancc and Income Tax.


Ohio, yesterday
Mr.. Taft discussed at great length
railroad abuses and the efforts OF the
present administration to remedy rate
and other evils. lie Is in favor of
adding amendments 10 the rate bill To
afford II more power.
lie answered the argument that tho
old Elllins bill was better than the
present rate bill by pointing out the
weaknesses of the former, chief among
which was its failure TO provide inn
prisonment punishment for individual
breakers.
He made u strong point In pointing
out that the new law is 10 be cmincnt-
~ successful, or the railroads would
not have fought II as bitterly as they
did
He argued that competition could
be protected with laws in force pro-
hibiting one system from acquiring
stock In u competing line.
lie advanced the statement that
railroads managed by governments
cannot be operated as economically,
nor as profitably as privately managed
roads.
Another point against government
ownership is the danger of putting I'M
mcnsc concerns in charge of an exec
utiye, who might prove reckless and
incapable.
The necessary expenditure of at
least $4,000, 100000. 10 acquire the
interstate lines, thus creating an cnor-
nous national debt, was still another
point raised against government con-
troll.
He denied thut the nations chief is
socialistic in any policy, asserting mat
he Is directly opposite. In Furnishing
law-breakers, he explained, the presi-
dent has no fayOrites, nor classes.
Mr.. Taft favors the honest growth
of corporations; Illicit methods brand
monopoly. He believes imprisoning
guilty trust-managers would hasten
reform.
He is strongly in favor of maintain
ing the protective tariff and proceed
ing very slowly with revision, should
IL be proved necessary.
Columbus, o., Aug. 19.-Secy. Taft
arrived here today from Newark O.,
where he was met by committee of
citizens and escorted to this city. The
city Is probably more deliberately deco
rated than at any time since the well
ONE to Mckinley. Secy. Taft held
conference with his political manager,
A l. Vorys, during the day and will
probably stay here tomorrow TO meet
political leaders from throughout the
state The long -heralded speech of the
secretary on the issues of the day is
as follows:
SOCIETY SOUND IN CORE.
Members of the Buckeye Republican
Club and Fellow Citizens of Ohio:
The present Is period OF the great
est prosperity, general comfort and
even luxury. Throughout this country
the demand for labor has increased
wages to higher point than ever be-
fore known. The compensation of
skilled labor now frequently exceeds
that of certain professors, like teach
ing and the ministry. Wealth has ac-
cumulated 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 10 dim and dun
the eve and the ear of the people TO
abuses and dishonesty In the body
polite and social. 1t was such periods
in the history of ancient republics
when their foundations were Slapped
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 be misunderstood,
quickening of the public conscience
and n demand for the remedy of abuses
the outgrowth OF this prosperity, ana
for a higher standard of business integ-
rity. Every lover OF his country should
have a feeling of pride and eEaltation
In this evidence that our society is
still sound at the core.
GREATEST ABUSE OF ALL.
have been invited by your body to
discuss the national issues. Some of
these involve the abuses over which
the public conscience has been aroused
and the proper remedies for their re-
moval. The first, and possibly the
greatest abuse has been In the man
agement of the arterial system of the
country which the interstate railroads
form. Any unjust discrimination IN tho
terms upon which transportation or
freight or passengers is afforded an
individual or a locality paralyzes and
withers the business OF the individual
or the locality exactly as the binding
OF the arteries and veins leading 10 a
member OF the human body destroys
it's life.
OLD LAW, A FAILURE.
The result OF 20 years operation under
the interstate commerce act OF 1857
passed 20 restrain abuses Of unjust dis.
elimination and unreasonableness OF
rates was that the railroads came TO
regard the action of the commission II
created as OF no Importance. The de-
lays, due to the necessity of resOrting
to the courts TO try out the merits OF
every order OF the commission, before
IL became effective, made the remedy OF
the complaining shipper or locality 80
slow and burdensome that In contested
cases II was no remedy at all, Tho com
mission was not, under the old act, au-
thorized to fix reasonable rates, II
could only say that n particular rate
was unreasonable ana order a railroad
10 change It's rate and make II reason
able. The railroad might fix new
rate at anything less than the rate de-
olared TO be unreasonable, and N the
reduction made was not sufficient. a
new action had 10 be brought 10 decide
that the new rate was also unreason-
able.
NEW RATE A SUCCESS
Made aware OF the foribund condi-
ton OF railway regulation under the
old law and OF the widespread abuses
which prevailed IN railway manage
ment, Prest. Roosevelt, IN his mes
cage OF 1904. recommended that tho
powers OF the commission DO largely
Increased, first by enabling the COM
mission 10 hx rates and second by
making its order effective agniuat tho