Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-04-02
ROOSEVELpS POSITION CLEAR


been of improper discrimination in railroad
rates.
But 1 am convinced that there must be
an increased regulatory and supervisory
power exercised by the government over
the railways, Indeed, would like II ex-
ercised to q much greater extent than /
have any idea OF pressing at the moment.
For instance, I would greatly like to have
It exercised in the matter of overcapital-
ization. am convinced that the wages
fictitious capital upon which dividends had
70 be paid. ! need hardly say that this
does not mean hostility TO wealth; All I
want IN any rate legislation is to give
the government an efficient supervisory
power, which shall be exercised as scrupu-
lousy to prevent injustice TO the railroads
as to prevent their doing injustice to the
public. Our endeavor is TO see that those
big railroad men and big shippers who are
not reSRGnssiye 70 me de mans Hi SessSo
would be glad to do Of their own accord.
From the Messages.
In his message to congress at the be-
ginning OF the first session of the Fifty
ninth congress. December s. 1906, the presi-
dent said:
In order to insure a healthy social and
Industrial life every big corporation should
be held responsible by and be accountable
TO some sovereign power strong enough TO
control its conduct / am in no sense hos
tile to corporations. This is an age OF COM
binations and any effort to prevent all com
binations will be not only useless, but In
the end vicious. because of the contempt
for law which the failure to enforce law
over. recognize in cordial and ample fashion
the immense good effect by corporate
agencies In country such as ours. and the
wealth of intellect, energy ana fidelity de-
voted to their service, and therefore nor
mally to the service Of the public by their
officers and directors. The corporation has
come to stay Just as the trade union has
done
great good. Each should be favored so
long as It does good. But each should be
sharply checked where 1t acts against law
Until the national government obtains in
some manner which the wisdom OF con-
gress may suggest. proper control over the
big corporations engaged in Interstate COM
merce-that Is, over the great majority OF
the big corporations-it VIII be impossible
to deal adequately with these evils.
This power to regulate rates, Ike all SINH
lar powers over the business world should
be exercised with moderation, caution and
self-restraint, out Il should exist so that
II can be effectively exercised when the
need arises. do not believe IN the
government undertaking any work which
can with propriety be left In private hands,
But neither do I believe In the government
finching from overseeing any work when
II becomes evident that abuses are sure to
obtain therein unless there Is governmental
It is because, in my Judgment. public
sble and would probably Ia this country
entail far-reaching disaster that / wish to
see such supervision and regulation OF them
In the interest or the public as will make II
evident that there Is no need FOR public
ownership
Enect OF one Law.
In his message to congress at the begin
ming OF the second session OF the Fifty
ninth congress. December z 1906. the presi-
dent said;
The interstate commerce law has rather
amusingly flashed the predictions, both OF
those sno asserted that Il would ruin the
railroads and OF those who asserted that
complish nothing During the last hve
months the railroads have shown increased
earnings and some OF them unusual
We hold that the government should not
conduct the business OF the nation, but
that j. should exercise such supervision
as will insure us being conducted In the
interest OF the nation. Our aim ie 90 far
as may be, 70 secure for all decent, hard
working men, equality OF opportunity and
equality Of burden.
The actual working OF our laws has
shown that the EFFORT 10 prohibit all com
bination, good or bad, Is noxious where Il
is not ineffective. Combination OF capital
like combination OF labor Is a necessary
element Of our present Industrial system
Often railroads would ike TO combine for
the purpose Of preventing a big shipper
from maintaining improper aevantages al
the expense OF small shippers and OF the
general public. Such a combina ton. In
stead u being forbidden BY law, should be
mitted 70 railroads 10 make agreements
provided those agreements were sanctioned
by the Interstate Commerce Commission
and were published. With these -condi-
tons complied with Il Is imPessibie 10 SEE
What harul such comblQati0n could do
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