The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-29

law and the meat inspection law in ti B. interest of the health of the pulpit clean business methods and great ulti- mate benefit to the trades themselves.
 He recommended the passage of a la v which the republican convention has
 since specifically approved. restrict ing the future issue of stocks and bonds by interstate railways to such S may be authorized by federal ar thority. He demonstrated to the peo- pie by what he said, by what he recon mended to Congress and by what did, the sincerity of his efforts to com mand respect for the law. to secure equality of all before the law and to save the country from the dangers If a plutoeratic government, toward which we were fast tending. In this work MT. Roosevelt has had the support and sympathy of the republican party. and it's chief hope of success in the present controversy must rest on the confidence which the people of tin country have in the sincerity of the party's declaration in it's platform, that it intends to continue his policies.
 Necessary To Devise Some Means of
 Permanently Securing the Progress
 Made.
 MT. Roosevelt has set high the stand ard of business morality and obedience to law. The railroad rate bill was more useful possibly in the immediate moral effect of it's passage than even in the legal effect of it's vrey useful provis- ions. From it's enactment dates the vol untary abandonment of the practice of rebates and determinations by the rail- roads and the return by their managers to obedience to law in the fixing of tar ifs. The pure food and meat inspection laws and the prosecutions directed by the President under the antitrust law have had a similar moral effect in the general business community and have made it now the common practice for the great industrial corporations to con- suit the law with a view in keeping with in it's provisions. It has also had the effect of protecting and encouraging small and competitive companies so that they have been enabled to do a profitable bus mess
 But we should be blind to the ordi- nary working of human nature, if we did not recognize that the moral stand ards set by President Roosevelt will not continue to be observed by those whom cupidity and a desire for financial power may tempt, unless the requisite nldchin- cry is introduced into the law which shall in it's practical operations maintain these standards and secure the country against a departure from them.
 Chief Function of Next Administration
 To clinch What Has Been Done. .t
 The chief function of the administra- ton in my judgment is distinct from and a progressive development which has been performed by President Roosevelt.
 The chief function of the next admin is to complete and perfect the al,t, Nv xrrhfr frh at may be maintained by which the law breakers may be promptly restrained and punished but which shall operate with sufficient accuracy and dispatch to in terfere with legitimate business as little as possible. Such machinery is now ade- quate. Under the present rate bill and under all its amendments the burden Of the interstate commerce commission in and regulating the operation of railroads of this country has grown so heavy that it is utterly impossible for that tribunal to dispose, in any reason able time of the many complaints, queries and issues that are brought before 1t for decision. It ought to be relieved of its Jurisdiction as an executive, di- recting body and its function should De limited to the quasi-1udicial investiga- ton of complaints by individuals and by a department of the government charged WlIn the e&tCutiN6 DuSiiS7o Oh ing the operation of railways
 There should be a classified ton of that very small percentage of industrial cor porations having power and opportunity to effect illegal restraints of trade ana monopolies. and legislation either induc- ing or compelling them to subject them- selves to regstrary and to proper pub licity regulations and supervision of the of commerce and labor Constructive Work of Next Adminis-
 tration To Organize Subordinate and
 AnclIary Machinery To Maintain
 Standards on One Hand and Not To
 Interfere With Business on the Other
 Hand.
 The field covered by the industrial com bnations and by the railroads Is so very extensive that the interests of the pub lie and the interest of the business con- cern cannot be properly subserved ex- cept by reorganization of bureaus in the department of commerce and labor, or agriculture and the department of justice and a change in the jurisdiction of interstate commerce commission. It does not assist matters to ascribe to prescribe new duties for the interstate commerce commission which it Is prac- tically impossible for it to perform or to denounce now offenses with drastic punishment, unless subordinate and an- cillary legislation shall be passed mak- ing possible the quick enforcement in the great variety of cases which are con- stantly arising, of the principles laid down by MT. Roosevelt, and with re- spect to which only typical instances of prosecution with the present machinery are possible. Such legislation should and would greatly promote legitimate business by enabling those anxious to obey the federal statutes to know just what are the bounds of their lawful ac- tion The practical constructive and diff ficult work therefore, of those who fol- low MT Roosevelt is to devise the ways and means by which the high level of business integrity and obedience to- law which he has established may be main tained and departures from it restrained without undue interference with legiti- mate business
 Railway Traffic Agreements Apprcved
 By Commission Should Be Valid.
 It is agreeable to note in this regard, that the republican platform expressly and the democratic platform impliedly, approve an amendment to the interstate commerce law, by which interstate rail- roads may make useful traffic agree ments if approved by the commission. This has been strongly recommended by President Roosevelt and will make for the benefit of the business.
 Physical Valuation of Railways.
 Some of the suggestions of the dem- ocratic platform relate really to this subordinate and ancillary machinery to which I have referred. Take for instance the so-called physical valuation of rail