The Cairo bulletin., 1908-02-01

opinions therein fled before IL is
possible definitely to decide ia what
way to call the matter to your attea.
ition.
Government Control.
Net only should there be action Of
certain laws affecting 1aa -aarnefs,
there should also be suen action or
laws better to secure control over the
great business concerns engaged ii
interstate commerce, and especially
loyer the great common carriers. Tne
Interstate Commerce Commission
should be empowered to pass upon
ANY rate or practice on its own ini
Itistiye Moreover, it should be pro
vided that whenever the CommissicG /
has reason TO believe that a proposed
advance in rate cught not to he
made without investigation, it shouii
have authority to issue an order pro
Ihibiting the advance pending examin-
alton by the Commission.
| wcuid not be understood as ex
pressing aa opinion that any or even
a majority Of these advances are i'm,
proper. Many Of the rates in this
country have been abaormally low
The operating expenses Of our rail
roads, notably the wages paid raj.
road employees. have greatly increased.
These ana other causes may in any
given case Justify an advance in rates
and ii so the advance should be per
mitted and approved. But there may
be- aud doubtless are. cases where
this is not true; and our law should
be SO framed that the government, as
the representative Of the whole peop.e
can protect tho individual against
unlawful exaeti.sn for tie use Of these
public highways The Interstate
Interstate Commerce Commission
should be provided with the means to
make a physical valuation CT any road
as to which it deems this valuation
necessary. In some form the fedora
government should exericse superyis-
ion over the financial operations OF
our Interstate railroads. In no other
way can justice be done between the
private owners of those properties and
the public which pay their charges
When once an inflated capitalization
has gone upon the market and has
become fixed in value. its existence
must be recognized. AS practical
matter it is then often absolutely
necessary to take account of the thou
sands of innocent stockholders who
have purchased their stock in gocd
faith. The usual result of such inila-
tion is therefore to impose upon tE"
public an unnecessary but eyerlast-
ing tax, while the innocent purchasehs
OF the stock are also harmed and olly
a few spectators are benefited.
think that the federal government
must also assume a certain measure
of control over the physical operation
OF railways in the handling Of inter.
state traffic. The Commission now
has authority to establish through
routes and joint rates. In order %
make this provision effective and in
order to promote in times of neces-
slty the proper movement of traffic,
| think it must also have authority to
the conditions upon which
cars shall be interchanged between
different interstate railways. II is al.
so probable that the Commission
shcnld have authority. in particular
Instances, to determine the schedule
upon which perishable commodities
shall be moved
Resents Criticisms.
Under no circumstances would we
countenance attacks upon law-aidins
property. or do aught but condemn
those who hold up rich men as being
evil men because Of their riches. on
the contrary. cur whole efforts is to
insist upon conduct. and neither
wealth onr property nor any other
class distinction. as being the proper
by which to Judge the ac-
tious of men. For the honest man
of great wealth we have hearty re
gard. inst as we have hearty regard
for the honest politician and honest
newspaper But part Of the movement
TO uphold honesty must be move
ment TO frown on dishonesty. We al
tack oulv the corrupt men Of wealth.
who find in the purchased politician
the most efficient instrument Of cor
ruption and in the purchased news
paper the nest efficient defender OF
corruption. Our main quarrel Is not
with these agents and Representatives
OF the interests They derive taeir
chief power from the great sinister
Offenders who stand behind them
They are but puppets who move a.
the strings are pulled. II is not the
puppets. but the strong ce1ning men
and the mighty forces working f-r ev.i
behind aad through the puppets. wish
whom We have to deal We seek %
control law-defying wealth. IN the
FIRST place 70 prevent its doing dire
ereii to the ReDubue. and in the next
Mace 70 avoid the KindictiFe an
dreadful Tadieaiism which. II left IN