The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-07-08
THAT RAILROAD COMMISSION.

A''NA FNiGnSSG $SWWtSSISNE
The editor Of The New York Journal
of Commerce is not an enthusiastic
admirer Of the railroad commission bill
enacted by congress. In an editorial
comment on the proposition he had the
following:
The only use that we can see in the
section added to the railroad bill in
conference authorizing the president to
appoint a commission 10 investigate
questions pertaining to the issue of
stocks and bonds by railroad corpora
tions subject to the provisions of the
act to regulate commerce." is that it
served the purpose of placating those
who gave up the provisions of the
house bill for regulating such issues
and satisfying the president, so that
the bill as agreed to in conference
might be got through to enactment
with as little delay as possible. For
accomplishing that purpose $4,000 of
public money may be expended by the
president on an unnecessary investiga-
ton.
The number of persons to be ap-
pointed on the commission is left to the
discretion of the president and he may
fix their compensation. The commits
sion may employ experts to aid in the
work of inquiry and examination and
such clerks, stenographers and other
assistants as may be necessary" and
fix their compensation. But the en-
tire expense for compensation. en-
ployes or otherwise shall not exceed
the sum of $4,000" The president
may call upon the several departments
of the government to detail from time
to time such officials and employees and
furnish such information to the COM
mission" as he may direct. No power
is granted for calling and examining
witnesses or compelling testimony of
any kind, and nothing is said about
any report or any use to be made of
the results of the investigation. Ap-
parently it is only for the enlighten-
ment Of the president.
There are plenty of people who un-
derstand the questions pertaining to
the issue of stocks and bonds by rail-
road corporations. There is no mys-
terry about them, and the question
whether their issue should be subject
10 the control, regulation or super
vision of the Interstate Commerce
commission is simple one. Whether
there should be such control, and If so
to what extent and in what manner.
is the only thing to be decided. and
tnat can only be decided by the leg
lslatlVe power A commission can
only make recommendations, or en-
able the president to make recommen-
dations on that subject. Any facts
that may have a bearing upon it are
wen enough known, and all that a
commission can supply is its own iudg
ment, which may. or may not make a
dinerence with the judgment of 9TH
ers. 1t is not likely to be of material
nelp to legislation. Creating such a
commission is only a means Of getting
rid OF the question for the time being,
and 1t ought not to have been neces-
sary for that.
s9- 1t is time to advocate safe and
sane fishing trips.
sS The glorious Fourth stood for
pugilism instead Of patriotism
'f8' Most people love their enemies
after the undertaken gets them.
EH 1t is not yet too late for the farm
ers to plant fodder corn for forage.
| IA Down in Texas the other day
twenty-five carloads of tomatoes were
shipped to ST. Louis-but the question