New-York tribune., 1908-02-14
nP. ESOY on ROOSEVELT POLICIES.

MP. KNOY on ROOSEVELT POLICIES.
Those hasty critics who are continually be-
iittIng the achievements of the Roosevelt ad-
ADMINISTRATION and attrbuting TO the President $
policies an injurious effect on business pros
perity and national welfare would do well 10
study the address delivered at Kalamazoo on
Tuesday by Senator Phander c. Knox, OF
Pennsylvania. Mr.. Knox is admittedly one OF
the ablest lawyers in the United States ana one
of the most competent and enlightened men III
public life to-day. As candidate for the ne
publican Presidential nomination he is sup
posed to have the support of the more moderate
and conservative elements IN the party, anu
what he has TO say of the attempts made in the
las. six wears TO extend the regulating power OF
the federal government over the instrumentaii-
ties of interstate commerce cannot be charged
10 n desire To pIay TO the galleries of radical
ism He speaks more as unbiased observer
who Is not disturbed by superficial clamor, but
who measures tendencies and results III thelF
proper historical and philosophical perspective
Mr. Knox took as his subject The People.
the Railroads and the National Authority, ana
reviewed the history of our efforts TO ADJUST
by legislation the relations between the puplle'
the common carriers and the government. He
showed that originally the federal government
had practically relinquished to the states its
the states did nearly all the regulating. The
Supreme Court accepted the theory OF concur
rent authority, and held that so long as Con-
gress remained silent and did not undertake
the regulation of commerce under Its cohstitu-
tonal grant Of power the states were ifee 10
impose regulations. A change came with the
passage of the act of June 15 1866, which de-
clared that railroads carrying persons or prop
erty from one state to another FORMED con-
tnuous lines of transportation. The law was
designed TO remove trammels on interstate
commerce then existing and TO prevent the Gre
alton of such trammels in the future. The Su-
preme Court approved this intention and re-
versed the old rule about the silence OF Con
gress giving latitude of action TO the states
Since 1866 the court has held that the silence OF
Congress is to be construed as legislative dec
laration that there shall be no state reguiduoh.
The railroads profited vastly by TINS chahge OIL
front which relieved them OF many harasslhs
burdens and they cooperated to the utmost III
all efforts to make the federal jurisdiction para
mount and exclusive.
The ia lroads fourished under the new system
and grew overconfdent and autocratic AS Sen
ator Knox puts il, ''out of the abuses ana per-
versions of the augmented powers and prlVi-
"Ieges attending the enormous expansion Oh
railroad operations under generous govern
mental policies grew a public demand Tor
federal regulation. AS the railroads had sought
the federal. power for protection, SO the peopIe
resorted TO the same power for feiei. Inc
Interstate Commerce Commission law was
passed in 1887; but it was nullhed IN great
part by the courts, and up 10 19O2 the senator
from Pennsylvania declares, railroad anu
..otber corporate abuses We're widespread anu
much confusion existed as to the state OF tue
claw concerning them" The most memorable
walt
has been the clarification of the law and the
nroviston of means for remedying those abuses.
Mr. Knox cites the legislation of the oith
CONGRESS- supplemented in later congresses
Inv the Hepburn rate law, the saIetv ap-
pliapce law the employers liability law ana
the law limiting the hours OF labor OF raiiroa"
employes. as constituting record OF ehornlous
pubIic value. 1T did more, he sald 10 coh-
firm the party of Abraham Lincoln III Ihe
affections and confidence OF the people tnah
"any body of substantive law enacted since
his death" As a lawyer and LEGISLATOR tle
Senator passes this Judgment on the chiei "oIh
of the Roosevelt administration;
This administration found deficient and dis
oredita6 body of law under which all sorts OF
commercial and social tyrannies boldly hour
ished. vitaly affecting and undermining our ha
tional Wellbeng When the record OF It's
achievements is closed it Will reveal d colnpac1
body of legislation remedying defects. suppi4lnS
and covering new PHASES ia 'iiS ii''ii
of national authority over interstate intercourse
and its instrumentalities.
The Senator from Pennsylvania cannot agree
with those who deprecate effective federal reg
ulation of the railroads as injurious ana un-
,rbolesome He believes that regulation and
publicity will be of enormous beneht TO the
nuhlc and 10 the railroads apd of the greatest
nossibIe benefit 10 'the real corporate interests
namely. the owners of the railroad shares
.and securities" He also believes that the best
and ablest railway managers are now ready TO
co-onerate With the government in ending the
aluses of rebates oyercapitaZation and eX-
ploitatim by INSIDERS. and that though minor
amendments may be necessary the funda-
mental work. of reformation has been done.
If WAS work which future generations VIII
aupreciate and which will give the Roosevelt
administration a notable status in American
history.
lJyCHJGIN'S NEW CONSTITUTION.
~ I'm OKLA hDmu that