The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1907-07-01

is taking place in all the states and
territories where state legislation, by
reducing state rates, is establishing
the rate on interstate commerce;
while our national commissioners at
Washington, although authorized by
specific act of congress, charged with
the duty, and the only body author
lied by law to make such regulations.
seem powerless to prevent the dis
turbances of the interstate rates.
Such cases, which can be multi
piled indefinitely, point to a conclu-
sion that the federal regulation over
rates should be widely extended. |
am far from being an enemy of the
rights of any state In the union, but
do not understand that these rights
give the state right to regulate
rates or to make regulations to gov
ern the movement of traffic states.
Such an application of the federal
power over corporations authorized
to engage in handling interstate traf-
fic, either by federal authority or
by direct supervision, should not take
away any of the power of the states
over purely interstate traffic. If the
Interstate Commerce commissioners
should establish a standard of rates
over the entire country, after using
all the information at command
and the machinery of the government
to adjust and establish scale of
rates that are fair and equitable, it Is
not right that the power of the vari-
Gus states, by their separate acts, can
break down the entire fabric of rates
SO fixed by power granted by con-
gress. There is, however, no doubt
that the state can regulate the traffic
of railroad, telephone, telegraph, wa
ter, gas, or other like companies,
which are exclusively state institu-
tions.
For instance, a railroad from Chi
cago to East St. Louis which does not
engage in handling interstate traffic,
is subject to jurisdiction of the state
of Illinois alone. When, however, it
engages in interstate traffic by inter-
changing with other roads extending
beyond the state of Illinois, it there
by becomes interstate, and the situa-
ton under the law is entirely
changed. 1t has become the subject
to the whole body of the federal law
relating to interstate common car
riers, and has removed itself from all
state laws governing. the same sub
iect. Thereafter the state of Illinois
may not, under the guise of local
law, reduce its interstate rates, but
such over resides only in the federal
government.
The Importance of the Commission.
The scope of the interstate COM
MERGE commission should be suffic-
iently broad, and, at time not far
distant, full enforcement should be
had. 1t will in time become neces-
sity that the proper fulfillment of the
functions of the government, in deal
ing with this most important ques-
ton, affecting, as it does, every in
dustry, man, woman and child in the
land, will require the creation OF
new cabinet officer, whose depart
ment will be charged with RESPONSE
bility in matters pertaining to rail
roads and navigation; who, through
his position in the cabinet, will en-
able the cabinet to keep in touch with
all matters involving the movement
of the commerce of the nation, both
domestic and foreign.
AS the laws multiply, the labor of
enforcing them, of Judging affairs UNI
der them, of making rulings and in
vestigating charges, must also multi
ply. The commission, too, must
grow strong, or the whole system of
administration will he ineffective.
believe that / have touched upon
the vital points that are at issue. In
dealing with them have but one pol
icy. That is, that the people and
the railroad shall get together and
confer upon matters that arise be-
tween them, and that the government
shall be the instrument that shall en-
force the agreement that the people
shall make between themselves.
| do not believe that railroads
should enter into politics, and look
confidently for the time when rail-
roads will not be forced to go to a
state or federal capital to save them
selves from dangerous legislation.
That time will come when the people
and the railroads bring to the settle
ment of their difficulties the same
common sense that they bring to the
settlement of their private disagree
ments.
Employees and Investors Associated.
The one and one-half million en-
ployees of the railroads and the
stockholders are closely associated
and their interests are identical. You
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