Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1908-02-01

| dtgnation against them among large
numbers of our citizens viii tend to
| grow SO extreme as to produce a re.
| yolr against the whole use of the PR.
cess OF injunction The ultra-conserv
| atiyeS who object to cutting out the
| abuses will do well to remember that
! II the popular feeling does become
strong many of those upon whom they
RELY to defend them win be the first
| to turn against them Men of prop
erty can not afford to trust to any
thing save the spirit of Justice and
fair play; for those very public men
who, while 1t Is to their interest, de-
feEd all the abuses committed by CAP
ital and pose as the champions of con-
servatism, will, the moment they
think their interest changes, take the
lead in Just such a matter as this and
pander to what they esteem popular
feeling by endeavoring, for instance,
effectively to destroy the power of the
courts in matters of injunction; and
will oven seek to render nugltory the
power to punish for contempt, upon
which power the very existence OF the
orderly administration of justice de-
pends.
II is my purpose as soon as may
be to submit some further reCommen
datIons in reference 10 our laws regu
lating labor conditions within tfeI
sphere OF federal authority. A very
recent decision of the supreme court
of the United States rendered since
this message was written. in the case
Of Adair VS. the United States, seem
ngly Of far reaching importance and
very serious probable consequences,
has modified the previously enter
tanned views on the powers of the
congress in the premises, to such de-
gree as to make necessary careful
consideration to decide In what way
to call the matter TO your attention.
Not only should there be action on
certain laws affecting wage-earners, !
there should also be such action on
laws better to secure control over the
great business concerns engaged in in |
terstate commerce, and especially over
the great common carriers. The in |
terstate commerce commission should |
be empowered to pass upon any rate !
or practice on its own initiative |
Moreover, II should be provided that |
whenever the commission has reason I
to believe that a proposed advance in |
a rate ought not to be made without |
investigation, it should have author !
.ty to issue an order prohibiting the |
advance pending examination by the !
Government Supervision of Rates. !
| would not be understood as ex-
pressing an opinion that any or even
4 majority of these advances are i'm
proper. Many Of the rates in this /
country have been abnormally low, /
The operating expenses of our rail-
'oads, notably the wages paid rail-
road employees, have greatly increased. /
These and other causes may in any |
given case justify an advance in rates,
and II so the advance should be per-
nitted and approved, But there may
De and doubtless are, cases where
his is not true; ana our law should
be so framed that the government, az
he representative Of the whole peo-
Die, can protect the individual against
unlawful eXaCtion for the use of these
public highways. The interstate COM
nerce commission should be provided
With the means TO make a physical
'aluation OF any road as to which it
ieems this valuation necessary. In
ONE form the federal government
hould exercise supervision over the
inancial operations Of our interstate
ailrOads. In no other way can JUS
ice be done between the private own
rs OF those properties and the pub
c which pay their charges. Whom
nee an inflated capitalization has
one upon the market and has be-
ONE fixed in value, its existence must
e recognized As a practical matter
. is then often absolutely necessary
0 take account Of the thousands Of
innocent stockholders who have pur-
hased their stock in good faith. The
sual result of such initiation is there
ore to impose upon the public an un-
ecessary but everlasting tax while
he innocent purchasers of the stock
re also harmed and only few spec
lators are benefited. Sr,h wrongs, {
'hen once accomplish ID, can with diff {
culty be undonc; but they can be {
revented with safety ard with JUS :
ce. When combinations Cf Interstate &
ALWAYS must obtain governmen. {
lnction. when IT is no longer posi- s
lie for an interstate railway to issue s
.ock or bonds. save in the manner
pproved by the federal governrnrps; s
hen that government makes sure c
nat the proceeds Of every stock aud '
ond issue go into the improvement ! I
( the property and not the enrich I
80. 90 -, i,li,,Id,,oI -. COW, {io,t, ,