Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1907-12-05
Federal Control of
Railroads Is Favored.

mo small part of the trouble that we
have comes from carrying to an eX-
IRENE the national virtue of self-re-
lance, of independence in initiative
and action. 1t is wise to conserve this
virtue and to provide for it's fullest ex-
ercise, compatible with seeing that lib
erty does not become a liberty to
wrong others. Unfortunately, this is
the kind of liberty that the lack of all
effective regulation inevitably breeds.
The founders of the constitution pro-
vided that the national government
should have complete and sole control
of interstate commerce. There was
then practically no interstate business
save such as was conducted by water
and this the national government at
once proceeded to regulate in thorough
going and effective fashion. Condi-
lions have now so wholly changed that
the interstate commerce by water is in
significant compared with the amount
that goes by land, and almost all big
business concerns are now engaged in
interstate commerce. AS result it
can be but partially and imperfectly
controlled or regulated by the action of
any one of the several states; such ac-
ton inevitably tending to be either too
drastic or else too lax. and in either
case ineffective for purposes of justice
Only the national government can in
thoroughgoing fashion exercise the
needed control. This does not mean
that there should be any extension of
federal authority. for such authority
already exists under the constitution in
amplest and most far-reaching form;
but it does mean that there should be
an extension of federal activity. This
is not advocating Capitalization. 1t is
merely looking facts in the face and
realizing that Capitalization in business
-. i.
ed or undone, and that the public at
large can only protect itself from GER
tain evil effects of this business CEN
tralization by providing better methods
for the exercise of control through the
authority already centralized in the
national government by the constitu.
ton itself. There must be no halt in
the healthy constructive course of ac-
ton which this nation has elected 70
pursue, and has steadily pursued. dur
ing the last six years as shown both in
the legislation of the congress and the
administration of the law by the de.
partment of Justice The most vital
need is in connection with the railroads
AS to these. in my judgment Their,
should now be either national incor
poration act or law licensing raiIwa,
companies to engage in interstate com
merce upon certain conditions The Law
should be so framed as to give to tn,
interstate commerce commission powe
to pass upon the future issue of securi
ties, while ample means should be pro
yided to enable the commission. when
ever in its judgment IL is necessary. I,
make a physical valuation of any rail
road. AS / stated in my message to tn
congress a year ago, railroads Shout,
be given power TO enter into agree
ments. subject to these agreements be
ing made public in minute detail and I
the consent of the Interstate commerce
commission being first obtained INT
the national government assume
proper control of Interstate commerc,
in the exercise of the authority il al
ready possesses. il will be Impossible
either to give TO or to get from tn
railroads full Justice. The railroad
and all other great corporations wi
do well 10 recognize that this contr,
must come; the only question Is as
what governmental body can mos
wisely exercise IL. The courts will de
termine the limits within which I'll
federal authority can exercise II, an
there vii. still remain ample wor
within each state for the railway CON
mission OF that state. and the nations
interstate commerce commission wi