Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1908-07-29

| state railways for the unlawful enrich
ing of directors and for the purpose
of concentrating control of railways
in one management. all quickened the
conscience of the people, and brought
on normal awakening among them
that BODIED well for the future of the
country.
What Roosevelt Has Done.
The man who formulated the eX-
preston of the popular conscience and
who led the movement for practical
reform was Theodore Roosevelt He
laid down the doctrine that the rich
violator of the law should be as
amenable to restraint and punishment
as the offender without wealth and
without influence and he proceeded
by recommending legislation and di-
recting executive action TO make that
principle good i'm actual performance.
He secured the passage of the social
ed rate bill, designed more effectively
to restrain excessive and fix reason
able rates. and to punish secret re
bates and determinations which had
been general i'm the practice of the
railroads, and which had done much
to enable unlawful trusts TO drive out
Of business their competitors II Sc
cured much closer supervision of rail-
way transactions and brought within
the operation OF the same statute eX-
press companies, sleeping car COM
panies, fast freight and refrigerator
lines, terminal railroads ana pipe
lines, and forbade in future the com
hin nf no tra a nd
shipping business under one control in
order to avoid undue discrimination
In this work Mr.. Roosevelt has had
the support and sympathy of the re
publican party, and its chief hope ofl
success. in the present controversy
must rest on the confidence which the |
people of the country have In the sim |
cerity of the party's declaration in its |
platform, that it intends to continue |
the policies.
Necessary to Devise Some Means Of /
Permanently Securing Progress
Made
Mr. Roosevelt has set high the
standard of business morality and /
obedience to law. The railroad rate
bill was more useful possibly in the
immediate moral effect Of its passage
than even in the legal effect of its
very useful provisions. From its en-
lctment dates the voluntary abandon
nent of the practice Of rebates and
determinations by the railroad and
'eturn of their managers to obedience
10 law in the fixing of tariffs. The pure
'ood and meat inspection laws and
he prosecutions directed by the presi-
lent under the antitrust law have
rad similar moral effect in tho gem
,ral business community
But we should be blind to the ordi-
iary working of human nature If We
lid not recognize that the moral
set by President Roosevelt
viii not continue to be observed by
hose whom cupidity and desire for 3
inancial power may tempt, unless the
equisitc machinery is introduced into Z
he law which shall in its practical q
peration maintain these standards
nd secure the country against de {
'arture from them. J
ihiCr Function of Next administration
10 Clinch What Has Been Done
The chief function Of the next ad
in my judgment, Is dis I
met from and "A progressive develop :
1cnt OF that which has been perform 9
1 by President Roosevelt. The chief Z
dnction of the next administration Is .
. complete and perfect the mschin- }
~ by which these standards may be
by which the lawbreakers
ray be promptly restrained and pun q
he'd. but which shall operate @ith =
efficient accuracy and dispatch 20 in O.
'rfere with legitimate business as lit I
e as possible. Such machinery is b
ot now adequate Under the present q
ate bill. and under all It's amend 3
rents. the burden of the interstate n
ommerCe commission i'm supervising
"a regulating the operation Of the /
lilroads Of this country has grown so
cavy that n Is utterly impossible for
,at tribunal 20 hear and dispose. in
ny reasonable time. OF the many Il
smplaints. queries and ISSUES that are
ought before 10 FOR decision II q
ught % be- relieved OF its iurisdic- g
on as an executive. directing body =
1d its functions should be limited o. u
be- quasi judicial Investigation of =
.mplaints hv individuals and by a
trartment of the government charg- =
/ with the executive business - su ],
eIyising the operation OF railways.