Putnam patriot., 1910-09-16

evils sought To be remedied by pro- posed legislation. It is evident, now ever, that a good many distinct legisia- tive purposes are to be met oy one complex statute. It would be very unusual, if so comprehensive statute were beyond benefit from prolonged and careful criticism,
 RATE REGUGAfIoN.
 It Is i'm possible to adequately discuss within the compass of single letter the efficiency and propriety of the remedies suggested for the various real or possible evils which are described in that letter. 1 should like in this com ment to contine myself to few words, regarding the proposed means of Tegu. lating railroad service ana raiiroau rates.
 I agree that railroads can properly be held strictly to the performance of duties to the public. But l do not think that this Is because they are ow ned by corporations, or because they enjoy lin common with every mann- l faeturer N ho wishes to develop water powert, the right to condemn land-a right which generally means privilege of paying for the land needed several times what II is worth.
 1 firmly believe that every man who 1 furnishes goods or services to the gen | eral public Is in a true sense public I servant, and that he owes IL to the l public to deal fairly, to make his | prices reasonable, and to give for these prices as useful goods and services as 1 the prices paid will warrant.
 The great leading ease in which the supreme court of the United States 1 first definitely sustained legislative in- 1 tefferance with the rates charged In a given business, related to the rates c1arged by Chicago grain elevators.
 The owners of these elevators were not necessarily corporations, and enjoyed no special privileges. The decision ot the court was based on the principle i that throughout English and Ameri i history our fat hers have asserted a i fundamental right ef thelr government ! to prevent eStoftion by those who per. ] form services for the general public.
 PROGRAMMES of PRoGREs9tvRs.
 Those who have attentiNeiy read the political speeches recently made in the west must haze noted that the pro gfamme of the aretafmef>" or pro greSstSese Is not icoutined te dealing with railroads, telephone and lighting companies, ttexpressly embraces ali corporations. aud ali "impofiant
 businesses which deal in the sneees- safies of life. -
 The iiea is in the air that the pres. ent high cost of living Is due in some ! measure to unreasonable prices charged the general public in many lines of business. Moreover, I hear even we'll informed people of moderate views .tf who buy the necessaries of life in small quantities often suffer seriously from false weighing and measuring, from adalteraiions of quality in food and clothing, and from extortiorate prices.
 do not personally know how much foundation there k for the beliefs which l have described. But If people generally entertain these beliefs, l re- gard il as certain that there will be an attempt Io regulate hy law The unfair ness and extortion complained of. IL will never seem sufficient relief If the law saves the resident of small town live cents on his railroad fare 10 the city, and still leaves him subject to an eNtortionste oyefchafge amounting 10 several or many times that sum for what he buys when he gets there.
 Again, have heard u said that in the tenement districts of American cities the cost of ice in summer is in- creased in many cases hy false weigh. ing and extortionate charges. If this Is true, s legislative remedy will soon be demanded. Cheap ice in hot cities Is an element of healthy and comfort able living, far more impsstant Ia the general public than the possible iop- ping on of some slight amount from railroad rates.
 My purpose in thus calling attention 10 the programme of the "progressives ts merely in order to suggest that If wrong principles are now followed in dealing with the possibilities of over- charging by railroad, telephone and lighting companies, the same princi. pies are likely la be soon applied in . much wider business field.
 My own attitude toward the present progressive programme. whether corfined in tls application 10 . iew