New-York tribune., 1908-04-12
NATION AND RAILWAYS
Vel Knoun Men 4ddress academy
of Political Science.

Philadelphia. April u-Men schooled in the
financing and operation of railroads held the plat
form at to-day's session of the annual meeting Of
the American Academy of Political and Social
Science. which began Witherspoon Hall yester-
day. The Nation and the Railways" one of the
four subjects under the general topic of The Scope
and Limits of Governmental Control over Industry
and Corporate Management was discussed to-day.
Martin A. Knapp, chairman of the Interstate Com
merce Commission. presided at the afternoon ses-
sion and among those who spoke were Robert
Mather. general counsel OF the Rock Island COM
psny; Stuyvesant Fish formerly president of the
Illinois Central Railroad Company. and William A
Glasgow. jr of Philadelphia special counsel OF the
United States Department OF Justice.
The final session was held tonight. when The
State and Nation Units of Control' was the
subject under discussion. Secretary James r. Gar
field presided, and the speakers Federal Judge
{. NJ. Hough. OF New York: Congressman John
Sharp Williams of Mississippi; Congressman Theo
doTe F. Burton. OF Ohio: James /. Slayden, Of
Texas: Henry NJ. Hoyt solicitor general of the
Department of Justice. and TaIcott Williams, of
this city.
Representative Williams spoke on Federal
Usurpations." He said. in part:
In certain sense the federal government IS
not the government OF these United States all
hold together in union tn several soTeTnmemt. Of
the several states and protect them ny union from
eign powers Federal usurpation of power is
recent growth. It was necessary concomtant
o. the rule of the old Federalists.
Mr.. Williams said that what had been actually
accomplished by Legislation regulating or pretend
ing 10 regulate interstate is nothing
pared TO what is proposed" He enumerated a
score or more of measures pending in Congress
looking toward federal control Of public acts and
policies in the various states. such as a child labor
Law, reforestation to preserve stream supply etc.
and, hile concedng the excellence Of the physical
aims, he condemned the measures as being
tempted usurpations Of state rights by the general
government.
Judge Hough said. part
/ regard as automatic these propositions. that
corporations require governmental controI. have
received too little in the past and will get great
neal more IN the future that the desire for such
control grows largely Of the majority belief
thai men accustomed 10 large affairs are some
those less competent in business but more n,Iuer-
ous At The polls wherein the trustee to be gov
ernmentaHy coerCed inIo conduct primarily pleas
ing to the majority. ana, il is charitahv hoped in
cidentally profitable 10 himself: and that this gov
eTnmental control usually be in the hands
either Of Congress or 4 legislature but i'm some
cases is divided between them. So far as the legal
framework Of our country viii permit the effort
OF all thoughtful citizens should be to secufe con
iro or All the lnStrUmentatieS commerce for
tne nation as opposed to any and every smaller
governmental unit.
Representative Burton discussed the state and
nation as units OF control He dwelt upou the
tendency toward the Centra za.io1 Of mower il, tho
national government and closed as follows:
These tendencies are nor without their danger
Inc question OF the boundary line between state
s.o .IdiLola althorlty VIII be determined the
1u1ote Ia seIN DA me states themselves
lndlvlduals exert an influence political affairs if
Iney snow ability and interest 50 state legislatures
sIlu olLlIhIStratlons VIII not fail have their
proper part in the control of political frairs II
ihey, meet the responsibilities Of government with
lLte!ieehce ~ ano patrotis- There need be no fear
o. usurpation on the part of the federal govern
!, IaIe.I us acJVltles viii he extended only when
failed TO meet the situation '