New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-10-04
DENVER VERSUS ROCHESTER.

The Hon. "Fingey" Corners is on record rs
saying that political platforms are OF no coli-
sequence and that live up-to-date party can
get along as easily without principles as WIN
them. Mr.. Connerss theory that the Fotei'
will never read the output Of a party pat
form makers was evidently acted on at lhe IT,
cent Rochester convention The duty of draw
ing up the resolutions at that gathering wac
intrusted TO ex-Judge Alton B. Parker PROB
ably because he had gone TO Denver last July
and had acted there as the New York repre-
sentative on the committee which drew tne
Democratic national platform MT faiheL
might have been expected to try 10 harholil|@
the Rochester resolutions with the Denver reso-
lutions and he gave the delegates TO understand
that he had harmonized them. but lne coie
gates accepting the Corners theory. 90 ho'
seem TO have inquired whether the harmonlza-
ton was suppositittous actual. Mr. Parker
prepared this cordial Endorsement or the WorA
of the Denver platform committee. of which he
was a leading member, making it the first para
graph of the Rochester platform:
The Democracy of New York in state con
ventIon assembled reaffrms and renews it's al
legiance and devotion TO the fundamental Pl! IN
ciples of the Democratic party, and nearby m
dorses the platform adopted and the candldaleS
nominated by the Democratic National ConVen-
ton at Denver, and we pledge 10 po'h our
hearty. earnest and enthusiastic support
vent some issue on which TO attack Governor
Hughes. he made this indirect assault on the
policy Of regulating public service corporations
which has been the salient feature OF Mr.
Hughes's administration:
We denounce the system which has come into
vogue under Republican rule of governing the
state by commission. a system never contenlpiat-
ed by the constitution. and which has gradually
taken from the constitutional officials or the
state the power which should be directly Weld
ed by them and not delegated to irresponsible
appointees. who, in the great majority or cases,
would never have been elected by the people TO
positions of trust and responsibilities.
We declare that the government Of the state
should be restored TO constitutional lines. SO
that only those elected by the people and direct
" responsible to them shall have the power or
expending the public revenue. regulating public
business and controlling within the law the af-
fairs of the citizens of this state We believe
that government of the state by commissions Is
ONLY another evidence of the Republican policy
Of Capitalization and is in direct opposition to
the principle of government by the people
But how does this foolish attack on the COM
mission plan of regulating railroads and other
public service corporations harmonic with the
emphatic approval expressed in the Democratic
national platform of the theory of regulating the
railroads engaged in interstate commerce
through the instrumentaity OF the federal In
terstate Commerce Commission The Denver
resolutions not only indorse the extension Of the
powers Of that commission effected by recent
legislation but demand further expansion of
its authority. Here are some resolutions which
ex7Judge Parker helped to put through the
Denver convention:
We favor the efficient supervision and rate
regulation Of railroads engaged in interstate
commerce: to this end we recommend the valu-
alton of railroads by the Interstate Commerce
Commission: such valuation to take into con-
sfderation the physical value of the property
the original cost and cost of reproduction and
all elements of value that will render the valu-
alton fair and lust We favor such legis-
lation as will increase the power of the Inter
state Commerce Commission, giving to 1t the
initiative with reference to rates and transport
tation charges put into effect by the railroad
companies. and permitting the Interstate Com
merce Commission. on its own initiative, to de-
clare a rate illegal and as being more than
should be charged for such service The pres
ent law relating thereto is inadequate by reason
of the fact that the Interstate Commerce Com
mission is without power to fix or investigate a
rate until complaint has been made to 1t by the
shipper.
we further declare that all agreements of
traffic other associations of railway agents
affecting interstate rates. service or classical
ton shall be unlawful unless filed with and ap
proved by the Interstate Commerce Commission.
We favor the enactment Of a law giving to
the Interstate Commerce Commission the power
to inspect proposed railroad tariff rates or
schedules before they shall take effect and If
they be found to be unreasonable, TO initiate an
adjustment thereof
II the Denver convention was right in ap-
plauding the commission plan of regulating the
railroads. can the Rochester convention be right
in denouncing it: Was ex-Judge Parker nap
ping when he cOntradicted at Rochester what
he affirmed at Denver? Or did he merely think
with Mr.. Corners that the discrepancy wouldn't
really matter?