New-York tribune., 1908-03-25
FISH ON REGULATION.
E';narcier Also Discusses Rates at
Boston Dinner.
rBy telegraph to The Tribune. /

Boston
opinions the question of railroad regulation and
railroad rates at the fifth annual dinner Of the
Economic Club. Of Boston. at the American House
tonight The subject under discussion was Il nder
What ConditioIs VIII the Railroads OF the oHi'eo
States Best Serve the Public
After covering. step by step the history %
American railroads and the laws and regulations
enacted to govern common carriers. IN the course
of which the speaker severely criticised the Rep
burn law Of 1876 and the powers given to the IN
tersta-e Commerce Commission. Mr. Fish mace te
following suggestions, which he beaeNeo "o"ic
bring about improved conditions;
E,srs.-That for the protection alike OF mos s
who have Invested 1helr srnbN eGne there should
local ownership OF shares ana Ils. oT be ereatest
Seoond-That directors should make Iu1f and emu
frequent reports TO their stockhoIass!i them
courage the latter 10 question she Ind in sd-
vance Of declaring dividends ,s r..,;zs
Third-rhat the stockhoIGerS ,r,on s1 yenture and
that il is their duty alike on moral sIoG;S s; STac
1or ~ se tTnsfees 20 frequent accounting and q
strict accountability for all their acts, ..i,,er
state oornmeroe$ be discontinued. the word
Inter means bes~ee s',perTsion rpSfe man Of raiiToads
should continue. as al present u1oei s'a' "1
"a The state exercising such measure a Of tn- reg
nIaIlon as slr[l ,i,e0 and safe service adequate
TO fhe growing needs Of the public ano retain
7be The larger matters which really .ect ,com M
1neroe amons the several states being reega1do gad
20 federal oontgoi II need De iii'0us" "
As 70 Lac 1ae< r,esTes he taken to expe lite the
Investigation and determination OF an t
s@fecting commerce among the several StIteS =:
nIttin. the administrative work under tle ,iI Go
So1.ro1 % t 70 the judiciary and leaving with
Congress itself all The leglsal'e s the ,,rcsent
law 10 vest one body functions Hhlch ,+;ro our
and judicial branches Of government SeldIa ho
be given oEeI. PureE+ r+ Of one Of the depart
ghSid oe e fbe aet1t Preferably this should
, IT, i,ear5 one man As Commissioner OF
raerce neeupving in respect all companies
engaged in Transportation. whether by Idnd OF w We
ter. much The same place as the Sontroer 'l Ne Ne
should he aided bs such assistants IN Es5i9S G anhor or
ized 10 call upon the other depaTtmen6s ,ie 9n lne
and the Secret Service Bureau. for asslstance a.
all times and in all places To ms conlIIssioI,e
II should be his duty that steps are promptly
taken enforce the law in every particular anu
Eghth-That the judicial functions fdn-aieo hitherto
exercised by the Interstate Commerce Son,,sr ms
son should be relegated TO the courts where tne
pn9PeTy pro erP ises should be appointed would
not favor. believe proposed some Sesb az
Eon. Richard .oiney. The creation Of special
courts in which to Try cases Fea1hs secsnse all
citizens have equal right TO be heard IN 'he
Nnt the sttsnPt by oengTess C Egnr to n dels aS
Es1S Es1oe the the rates be an Of
doubtful consttutionality Al disputed esS
must eventually be passed on by me courts, :.
srongress should therefore leg1slate as 10
resiiz- e1uedite the final decision of such cases
Tenth-And lest be said that have lett out
the vital question Of rates r..
Let it he also provided that rates shdli De IdlI
in themselves. i. above the cost of renGerls
service and below its value. which Nh1le re-
1nunerating the owners. shall not restrict 1raoe.
feyf shaI tend to stimulate its development Such
rates 70 be open and equal 70 all under IKE CIR
cumsfances and subject TO Ieglslsufe rt.is.yn o
spect u them to be so promptly detected am, ana
furnished hat guilty Of the orence Sidll
Re deferred bv fines. and If need he preNenteo d!
srarrIeonrnent from repeating the onence. -
II il this final Tecofnme noa tlon
r-rrains nothing more than the common Ia" NJ mas
elr-s-s provided i 10 carriers charges Inc
-irne * coming indeed. q Is At hand. when we
--iIl do rvell revert 10 the practice OF our
+s-be~s in hssins action the common law
~-Ficb while called the sum Of human wisdom
& f1.r common sense and common honesty, as
rractised By intelligent freemen.