The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-04-02

rate 20 go into effect practically at once
that Is within reasonable time, and to
courts. i earnestly hope that we shall
see law giving this power passed by
III there is in the minds OF the com
mission any suspicion that certain rail-
road is In any shape or way giving re-
bates. or behaving improperly. wish the
roads that is now exercised as n matter
OF right, not as n matter OF favor, TO
make n full and exhaustive investigation
Of the rates and expenditures OF the rail-
road, so that any evasion nf the law may
be detected. This IL not a revolutionary
proposal on nay part. for | only wish tne
same power given In reference to rail-
roads that Il now exercised as a matter
course by the national bank examiners
as regards national banks. My object In
Administrative body representing the GOV
ernment-the Interstate Commerce com
mission, or whatever Il may he-is prl-
marily TO secure a real and not sham
control to the Government representa-
tives, The American people abhor a
sham and with this adherence cordially
sympathi5e Nothing is more injurious
from every standpoint than n law which
iS merely sound and fury, merely pre-
tense. and not capable OF working out
tangible results, hope To see all the
power that I think It ought To have
granted TO the Government. but l would
far rather see only some OF 1t granted.
but really Granted-than see n pretcnse
OF granting all in some shape, that really
amounts TO nothing.
Caution Is Needed.
1T must be unders TODD. as a matter OF
course. that II this power is granted, 1t Is
TO be exercised with wisdom and caution
and self-restrlctlon. The Interstate Com
merce Commissioner or other Govern
ment official who falls 20 protect rail-
road that was in the right against any
camor n matter how violent. on the
part OF the public would be guilty OF as
gross wrong as II he corruptly rendered
an improper service TO the railroad at
the expense OF the public. Further, when
] say n square deal. mean square
deal. exactly ms much as square deal
for the rich man as for the poor man;
but no more. Let each. and on his mer-
Its. receive what Is due him, and be
Judged according 10 his deserts"
In his address TO railroad employees in
this city. November ii. 1905, the Presi-
dent said;
There has been comparatively little
complaint to me OF the railroads being
MS a whole, too high. The most serious
complaints that have been made TO nle
have been OF Improper discrimination in
railroad rates. For instance, In two re-
cent cases affecting great corporations
the complaints that have been made TO
me have been that they are too low as
regards certain big shippers, the com
plaint in both these cases ls about the
d!Gerentlal. the difference of treatment
OF TWO sets of users OF the railways, the
difference In favor of one set OF shippers |
against anorher set OF shippers.
Will Not Tolerate Injustice.
"If YOU will look at my Raleigh speech /
and my other recent utterances you Will |
spe my principles clearly set forth. / !
have said again and again that / would |
rot tolerate for one moment any injus- |
lice TO a railroad any more than | would |
tolerate any injustice by railroad. l |
have said again and again thaJ,I would /
remove public official who improperly |
yielded 10 any public clamor against a
railroad. no matter how popular that
olamor might be. Just as quickly as ]
would remove d public official who rem
dered an improper service To the railroad
nj the expense OF the public. But | am
convinced that there must be an in
creased regulatory and supervisory power
exercised by the Government over the
railways. Indeed | would like IL eNer-
cIsed TO much greater extent than l
have any idea OF pressing at this mo-
ment. For instance, / would greatly Ike
overcapitallzatlon | am convinced that
the wages fund would be larger ii there
was no fictitious capital upon which
dividends had 10 be paid | need hardly
10 wealth. II you gentlemen mere, In
whom 1 believe so strongly were all
action should be taken against certain
men OF wealth, tlen, no matter whether
did or did not like those same men OF
wealth, would defend them against
them, and in so doing j would really
be acting in your interest. | would be
false to your Interest If ] failed 10 do
the wage worker. But / shall act against
the abuses Of wealth just as against all
other abuses.
Wants Supervisory Power.
"AIl ] want in any rate legislation is
20 give the Government an efficient SUI
pervisory power which shall be exercised
ns scrupulously and prevent injustice 10
the railroads as TO prevent their doing
Injustice to the public. Our endeavor
is 10 see that those big railroad men and
big shippers who are not responsible TO
the demands Of Justice are required 10 do
what their fellows, who are responsible
to the demands OF Justice. would be glad
TO do OF their own accord
In his message To Congress at the be-
ginning OF the first session OF the Fifty
ninth Congress. December /. 1905, the
President said:
'The people of this country continue
10 enjoy great prosperity. Undoubtedly
there will be ehb and flow in such pros
perity, and this ebb and flow viii be
felt more or less by all members OF the |
community. both by the deserving and
the undeserving. panic
part Of the business community would
hurI the whole business community. But |
such stoppaSe OF welfare. though II !
might be. severe, would not be lasting.
Something can be done by leg
slation 10 help the general prosperity; | ,
but no such help Of 8 permanently bene-
6clal character can be given to the less
able and less fortunate. save as the re-
suits OF policy which shall inure to the
advantage OF ell industrious and efficient
people who act decentiy. and this is only
Another way OF saying that any benefit |
which comes 10 the less able and less
more to the more able and more fortu-
nate. II. therefore, the less fortunate
nan is moved by envy OF his more fortu- |
aate brother TO strike at the conditions |
lnder which they have both, though un-
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