New-York tribune., 1908-03-07
UPHOLDS LEGISLATORS
TO R4ILRO1DERS
GOUernor Deplores IndiscrimiHate
assaults of 1ny Kind.

I'm the Long Acre Square district last night. was
too busy of course. To stay longer than neceS-
sary to have bite with the Traffic Club at its
third annual dinner at the Hotel Astor,
and to tell the four hundred or so mem
bers a few plain thoughts of his the
subject close and dear TO their hearts OF bow
to regulate common carriers \ "Isah, rsh-
chorus from the Governors own university.
Brown. was waiting for him down the street at
the Hotel KnickerbOcker. from which place he
had to hurry back to the AstOr to say Some
thing 10 the Michiganders who think there is no
campus better than that at Ann Arbor-
POSTS-S OPINION OF GOVERNOR
So the Governor didn't have time to stay and
listen to what he himself termed the wisest
and most sober company that have met dur
ing the year and two months that he has been
I'm office yell out their delight when George y
Post president OF the Standard Coupler Com
pany said a patent attorney would probably
describe the chief executive Of the state some
thing like this:
An Improvement in Public Servants: hu-
man receptacle for knowledge of public AFFAIRS
with dome shaped brain pan. or craniunl. COW
cred with a heavy hirsute fringe that may be
FUSED for hOuseceaning purposes. and Wnen 90
used will not smash the CrOcker-. prlC-d-oi't.,
or other household furniture Enclosed IN ssld
brain pan. cranium- are brain ceiis OF SUN
Cent capacity for receiving, storing ana AZ
smiating valuable information in sane and
safe manner: said brain cells being Kept co"t
ny tho. application of CommOnsense and sin
csrity the contents thereof not liable 20
fermentation from heat thereby avoiding the
gaseous formation which causes many pubic
servants to explode and hll the surrounding at
mosphere with nOxioUs Odors-
.Sun-ray water was the strongest drink that
the four hundred officials of the common car
| rers induIged in at their feast last night
most Of them carry on land-but they only
laughed and applauded heartily when Governor
Hughes praised their improved waterways
But before he had got away with that they
| gave him great demonstration and frequently
| applauded what he had to say himself in the
evenings oral symposium Government reg
ulation; how it may be effected and how far
| it should be carried for national advantage
| After telling the traffic men that the govern
| ment had the right to make such regulation. the
| Governor told his auditors that they must 70
ognize this fact Incidentally he cautioned
against indiscriminate criticism of legislatures
| and legislators. and expressed his belief that in
| the main American lawmakers We're fair repre-
sentatfves of the people. whose final verdict for
| fair play" could always be depended upon
| The chief thing in the matter of regulation Of
| common carriers, whether as TO service. rates
! or financial management, first to find out
| what needed TO be regulated Regarding this
| work Governor Hughes defended the Interstate
Commerce Commission and the Public Service
Commission and pointed out frankly that bodies
| of this character. whose work must necessarily
be without prejudice and only 10 ascertain the
exact status of conditions. must be kept free Of
political domination. The main essential was
he said. to provide the machinery for prop-r
and adequate regulation and then go ahead and
regulate.
THE GOVERNORS ADDRESS
Before taking leave of his hosts the Governor
| assured them that the country would soon
emerge from the temporary difficulties under
| which it has been laborins In discussing the
proper method of regulation Of the common car
| riers Governor Hughes said
| It is almost impossible for me to realize that
| 1 looking into the faces OF men actually
| acquainted with the sinuosities of tariffs.
might say. perhaps without offence that il IA
| natural to pass from the consideration of pool
sellers and boolmakers to poolmakers and
| booksellers
| have had good deal to do with the L.egfs-
| Iature and 1 want to tell yOu my friends. that
| taking the legislators whole they fairly
| representative; and you make a great mistake
| in outcryfug against legislative bodies. because
| you only doing on your side what you d"
not like others to do on their side IL legisla-
| tors are fair game for indiscriminate assaults
| by your orators. railroads are fair game for
! fndiscrmnate assaults by other orators. We
do not want indisCriminate assaults on either
| legislators anybody else; but under the
| ditions under which Legislators work il is 2
| very difficult thing, with the pressure Of many
| matters, conflicting demands. Overburdened
| committees, for intricate problems TO be
anined. Therefore. if there is no other place.
| one must be provided
| one must be provided where these matters
| can be worked out in the light of evidence
| after hearings. when everything is brought
| and focused with reference to some particular
! subject of complaint or grievance. and with
! adequate publicity you may be assured that
! Justice in the long run viii be done. IL was
| with that spirit and intent that the public
| utilities bill was enacted last year 1t was
| with the desire to make such 4 provision in this
| state that the Public Service Commission
| organized. and under its provisions matters re-
| Iating 10 the issue OF securities matters relat-
| ing to rates. matters relating 10 service matters
| relating to any Of these questions TO which
| grievances may be alleged. may be taken befOre
| a body that has no object but to ascertain the
| be adjusted. and | believe in that policy. both
! with reference 10 the Interstate Commerce
| Commission and with reference 10 the Public
| Service Commission IL Is a great mistake 70
| oppose it
| Now. i'll addition. l have said that il should
| be just regulation If you would have Just reg
| ulation politics must be kept out of it. Ii is a
| tremendous blunder for any one in charge OF
| corporate enterprise, when any board or body
| or legislative committee or public official IS
| intrUsted with responsibility regarding It, To
| see " neither he can reach out and in some in
| direct way approach that board or body or com
| mittee Official and get hold OF him and con-
| troll him is a great mistake u Try 10 place
| men that they can BE- used. when 1t Is their
| duty to acJ 10 a representative capacity. Tn
| that way lies agitatiJn and disaster. But.
| the other hand. il is not impossible thIu,
lean people knows that il Is AN entirely possible
thing To raise the standards of aduinI~trsftlea
So that YOU can have boards and bodies and
officers dealing with these matters that ViU dcs,i
with them fairly. with no intent bur L. G"t az
| the truth and mete out justice That t~ to~
line of true effort, contributing on the part -
citizens 10 the establishment Of proper stand
| ards Of administration and efficiency. Is We
look forward in this country 20 The increaSr