Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-07-28

their managers to obedience to law in the fixing of tariffs. 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 consult the law with view of keeping within it's provisions. It has also had the effect of protecting and encouraging smaller competitive companies so that they have been enabled to do profitable business.
 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 desire for finan- cial power may tempt, unless the requisite machinery is introduced into the law which shall in its practical op- eration maintain these standards and secure the country against a depar- ture from them.
 Chief Function of Next Administration
 .o clineh What Has Been Done.
 The chief function of the next Ad- ministration, in my judgment. is dis tinct from. and progressive develop ment of that which has been perform ed by President Roosevelt The chief function of the next Administration is to complete and perfect the machinery by which these standards may be maintained, by which the lawbreakers may be promptly restrained and pun ished. but which shall operate with sufficient accuracy and dispatch to in- terfere with legitimate business as lit tie as possible. Such machinery is not now adequate. Under the present rate bill, and under all it's amendments, the burden of the Interstate Commerce Commission in supervising and regu- lating the operation of the railroads Of this country has grown so heavy that 1t is utterly impossible for that tribunal to hear and dispose. in any reasonable time, of the many complaints, queries and issues that are brought before it for decision. It ought to be relieved of | its jurisdiction as an executive, direct ing body, and its functions should be limited to the quasi-judicial inyestiga- ton of complaints by individuals and by a department of the government charged with the executive business of supervising the operation of railways.
 There should be a classification of that very small percentage of indus trial corporations having power and opportunity to effect illegal restraints of trade and monopolies. and legisla- ton either inducing or compelling them to subject themselves to registry and to proper publicity regulations and su- pervision of the Department of Com merce and Labor.
 Constructive Work of Next Adminis-
 tration to Organize Subordinate ard
 Aneillary Machinery to Maintain
 Standards on One Hand, and Not to
 Interfere With Business on the
 Other.
 The field covered by the industrial combinations and by the railroads is so very extensive that the interests of the public and the interests of the businesses concerned cannot be proper. ly subserved except by reorganization of bureaus in the Department of Com merce and Labor, of Agriculture. and the Department of Justice. and a change in the jurisdiction of the In terState Commerce Commission. Il does not assist matters to prescribe new duties for the Interstate Com merce Commission which it is practi caIly impossible for it to perform. oi to denounce new offenses with drastic punishment unless subordinate ant ancillary legislation shall be passed making possible the quick enforcement
 in the great variety of cases whicl are constantly arising, of the princi
 pIes laid down by Mir. Roosevelt an'
 with respect to which only typical in
 stances of prosecution with the pres
 ent machinery are possible. Such les
 islation should and would greatly pro
 mote legitimate business by enablini
 those anxious to obey the Federal stat
 utes to know just what are the bound
 of their lawful action. The practice
 constructive and difficult work. there
 fore, of those who follow MT. Roose
 welt is to devise the ways and mean
 by which the high level of business ir
 tegrity and obedience to law which h
 has established may be maintaine and departures from 1t restrained with out undue interference with legitimat business.
 Railway Traffic Agreements Approve
 by Commission Should Be Valid. It is agreeable to note in this regar that the Republican platform expres
 ly and the Democratic platform in
 pliedly approve an amendment to th Interstate Commerce law. by whic
 interstate railroads may make usefl traffic agreements if approved by tf } Commission. This has been strong
 recommended by President Rooseve 1 and will make for the benefit of Il . business.
 Physical Valuation of Railways. Some of the suggestions of the Dem cratic platform relate really to th : subordinate and ancillary machinei to which I have referred. Take f 2 instance the s0-caIled physical valu ton of railways" It is clear that Il ? sum of all rates or receipts of raj 2 way, less proper expenses. should