Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-02-01
HUGHES SETS FORTH
HIS POLITICAL VIEWS
Ccontinrcd from First Pags)

Supreme Court Cong ca5 can az:
only within the limits so fixed. and
In acting within those limits. the ques.
ton is not one of power. but the
na'nrc Of The evil ana of the appro-
PIRATE remedy for It's cure
Tie Railroads Question.
do 70. belt 10 ~ governmental
ownership of railroads. But regula-
;ion of in,c 1t.te transportation is
essential to rrctect the people from
unjust discrimination and to secure
safe. adequate and impartial service
upon rca,pnable terms in accordance
W til the obligations Of common car
riers. In order to hive supervision
which is both tho Oush ard just. an
,ulnj to.rl is necessary.
I may assume tina; my attitude with
regard to this matter is so well UNI
dcrS,ood thrcl-i M recommended
tons in relation 70 che enactment of
the public service commission law
in this state that an extended state
mnt is rnuecs ssary.
| approve .i,e recent extension OF
the authority Of the interstate COM
inerce commission by what Is known
as the rats BIZ. aul | believe that
hhc commission should have The most
ample powers for purposes OF inves
| iirrFion ;Lnd supervision. aud for
maling rules ana orders. which will
enable i; to deal to the fullest ev
ient possible. within constitutional
! limits. with interstate transportation
in all its Vases.
THIS is Just policy. The powe"
Of Congress to fix rates for interstate
transportation so us to prevent inl-
proper discrimination and to compel
carriage upon reasonable terms IS
undouh;cd. The sole question is how
| and undnr what ci'cum.f ancaS. il
shall De exercised Bui it is MAJ
lfostly impossible for he legislative
body. on acccu of The conditions
under Which il works. - mako that
innionsh examination of sncalfc cases
Which - 'rslice must prccede aG-
'ion. |. max establish general stan
.la.ds of conduct, but the exigencies Of
particular cases can be msrl only by
the pa!ns'rking consideration OF an
administrative board. The alterna
tive 10 ta:s policy is either the aban-
donment of regulaTon or pd>adic
legislative Intervention under the in
huence Of agitation and almost nee
esserily without proper examination
OF She facts or recognition of the diff
ferent requirements of varied stu
atoms. No one can properly COM
plain because legal machinery Is pro-
vided for the rc1tiiication CT abuses
And the aim stcrlld he to make the
machinery adequate TO the purpose of
providing redress for every grievance
AMI TO insist upon standards of ad-
min'st alton which will secure intel
llgent all patient inquiry. and impair
tlal enforcement q .,ie law.
Trusts and Combinations.
The Sherman antitrust act should
be clarified and made more explicit
'Tso law may be mnde stronger ana
more effective by being made more
definite, Sweeping oondemnations. of
uncertain meaning. do not aid. but
rather embassass the prosecution or
those who ara guilty of pernlaous
practices. Combinations and prac-
tees IN unreasonable restraint OF
'rait, and which menace the freedom
OF inters'ae commerce should he con-
'lemned in precise terms. At tho same
time provision may well be made for
joint agreements under proper cir
ohmstances. as railI'cld rates,
which shcr;id be subject to the ap.
proval of the in;rstae commerce com :
mission. q
Various means have been suggested
eft doubtablc validity and still more
doubtful mtlity-to prevent oppres-
sin thruSa She cnduct large enter
prlSos and secure the enforcement of
me law against illegal attempts 70
monopollze and the various devices
resorted to In an unlawful restraint
Of trade. In my judgment tn, most
eneclive course is explicit definition
OF what is wrong ana adequate pun
ishTent Of the gully. Such laws.
iikc laws in general which ara defin-
tie aid supported by public sentiment,
a:e to a very large extent self execu-
tlng' That Is, they are generally
obeyed
Punishment by Imprisonment.
am not in favor of punishment in
the shape of fines upon corporations
VeXcepi for minor offenstS The bur
Pden of fines imposed upon such cor
Tcrations is either transferred to the
public, or lis borne by the STOCKHOLM
efs, The innocent a. we'll as the gull
tyf Nor am I impressed by the ai.gu-
mfnt that American jurles will gen
er3lly be indisposel to convict where
tho evidence is clear, because the
crime is punished by Imprisonment
Of the offenders. But If the law be
definite and rh.s evidence wa. rants
L th.l -nrn,l, Nathan cs tha- oan. 49,