Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-21
DR.. BUTLER ON BIG PROBLEMS
President of Columbia Talks ON Mon
etRry Reform, Trusts and
Transportation.

KANSAS CITY, Nov. 2O.-Dr. Nicholas
Murray Butler, president of Columbia uni
versity, speaking here tonight at the annual
dinner of the Kansas City Commercial club,
declared that the great questions of bank
ing and currency and Of the regulation of
the transportation systems of the country
and Of trusts were not properly a matter
for partisan exploitation or for party diff
ferences.
These questions, he said. could not be
solved either by rhetoric or impasslon, but
only by intelligent, solicitious study and
reflection.
ut is the highest duty OF the patriotic
and intelligent business interests of the
United States" said DR.. Butler, now that
there is an interval between political can
vases and campaigns. to apply themselves
with all the power OF their great Influence
TO the task Of settling these questions in
which politics and business border so
closely upon eaclt other. in ways that will
coEduce to the moral and material up
BUILDING of our people. as well as to their
happiness and prosperity"
Dr.. Butler, Senator Albert ]. Beveridgs
OF Indiana and Polk Miller OF Virginia were
the guests of honor at the annual dinner
of the Commercial club. held in commemor-
alton Of the signing Of the John Jay COM
merclsl treaty.
The dinner was held at the Baltimore
hotel. Plates were laid for 800 guests,
among whom, aside from those mentioned,
vas Ex-Governor David r. Francis Of St.
Louis.
DIR. Buffers subject was Business and
Politics" and he spoke, in part, RS follows:
There is now sitting a monetary commits.
sion clothed with the authority of law 70
make careful and extensive inquiry into
the banking and currency question, and "a
formulate a report for action by the con-
gress. This commission has gone about
It's work in the wisest possible way. With
undertaken TO study. with an open mind
the practices and experiences Il OtEel
civilized peoples. This is the method Of
v'iscom and of sanity.
The second important problem which
faces us Is that which relates TO the trans
portation systems OF the country. That ",
have been on the right track IN the main
in the legislation which has created stat:
railway commissions and the Interstat.
Commerce commission, seems to me In
dubitable. We have, however, fallen IA
short of success IN our legislation relatin:
10 railways. and We cannot afford TO post
pone much longer the correction Of thu
errors and plumbers which have been made
Tn supreme court Of the United state
itself has said that railroads are tn
private property of their owners, that whil
from the public character OF the Work u
which they are engaged the public has IN
power 20 prescribe rules for securing faith
full and efficient service and equity be
tween shippers and communities. yet I'm n
proper sense Is the public a general man
ageN' The supreme court has also sal
that when the owner of property devote
IL to a use in which the public has al
interest he In effect grants 10 the publ.
an Interest In such use and must 10 IN
extent OF that interest submit 20 be con
tTolled by the public, for the common good
as long as he maintains the use" Thes
two principles, laid down BY the highes
Judicial authority in the land. indicate tn