The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-06-09
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 1909.
RESPECT FOR THE LAW.

The address delivered at the opening
Of the Seattle exposition by James ].
Hill, the we'll known railroad magnate,
vas an interesting and instructive dis.
s~ertation upon subjects that appeal to
the good common sense Of the Ameri.
can people. His remarks referred
mainly to respect for the law, and the
necessity of maintaining those princi.
Piles of equityaandl justice that con.
tribute to the contentment and happi.
ness of the community.
1.-THE greatestlservice to the nation,
to every stated sndkcity," said MIR.
Ill.," would be the substitution for .
number of years.Iofdlswl enforcement
for law making"
Such q declaration, coming from .
man Of Mr.. Hill's experience with law
enforcement, is entitled to the most
favorable consideration. The speaker
knew what he q talking about. He
vas q competent witness aslto the evil
effects Of permittinRllviolations of the
law, and the benefits that accrue to
the public from rigid enforcement of
statutes that have.beenStoo frequently
disregarded.
Mr.. Hill. aailthe .headnof railroad
and other large corporations, has
been implicstedl inI various attempts
70 defy the flaw. CRelwss the central
figure in the Northern! Securities case,
N attempt to form q railroad trust,
that was declsredlby theicourts to be
"a Observation-Disclosures. Railroad
companies With which Mr.. Hill is
identified have beenl prosecuted, con-
victed and punished for giving re.
bates to favoredlshippers, contrary to
the law relating tos.such matters. 1t
wssirecentlyl decided by the courts
that railways controlled by Mr.. Hill
have been robbing .Spoksne shippers
by charginglunreasonable and exces.
sive rates, :yand!1v arious other in.
stances might be cited in which the
Hill interestsIhave been in disastrous
collision with enforcement of the law.
Having acquired wisdom and pru.
dence FRONT these experiences with the
authorities charged with the admins.
tration of public affairs, MIR. Hill
renders valuable service to his fellow
citizens by informing them that the
enforcementg of the law is a good
thing, and thatswe should have more
Of it. His conclusions in the premises
will be readily accepted 10y the good
citizenship'o fIthe:commonwealth.
Continuing his address, Mr.. Hill
submitted these remarks, expressing
views whichimerit commend alton and
cespect:
"There are flour igreat words that
should be written dupont the four cor.
nerstones OF everyIpublic building in
this land with the sacredness of al
religious rite, "isaid Mr.. Hill. "These
watchwords of theIrepublicI are equal
ity, simplicity, economy land justice.
They are interviewer with every fiber
Of the nationalOfabric. To forget or
deny them will leadl tol every misfor.
tune and every possibility of destruc.
ton that rises now threateningly in
the path of ourlcountry 'slgreatness.
Equality beforelthe law Is an en-
bodied promise Of the United States.
1t is the firstl principle sought to be
established blythe deraliconstitution.
In 90 far as we have been faithful to
it we have not only grown great and
prosperous but lhave commanded the
respect of others because we respected
ourselves"