The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-07
THE PRESIDENTs MESSAGE.

THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Those critics of President Taft who
have pictured him as the chief pail.
bearer with the funeral procession that
has been carrying out the Roosevelt
policies on a stretcher Will probably
sit up and take notice a bit when they
read his special message, presented to
congress today, in which he discusses
the matters pertaining to the govern
mental control and regulation Of rail-
roads and the other large Industrial
corporations which have been dubbed
trusts but few of which it is con-
coded on all sides are not inimical
monopolies.
1t is small matter for wonder that the
railroad presidents who conferred with
the president the other day came from
the conference room with long faces.
Not that there is anything In the sug-
gestions of President Taft for the
strengthening OF the laws under which
the interstate commerce commission
works that will prove detrimental to
the railroad. interests. but because the
railroad presidents as a rule are pretty
strenuousIy opposed on general prin-
ciples'' to a public regulation of rail-
road activities in any particularly eff
fective way. That is just the kind of a
regulation that President Taft suggests,
and in its details it goes much further
than any of the suggestions made by
Colonel Roosevelt during the seven
years that he occupied the presidential
chair. Mr.. Roosevelt was strong on
theories that railroads and trusts
should be regulated, but he was short
on practical suggestions for their regu-
lation. die was the preacher that
showed the necessity for many reforms
Evidently Mr.. Taft, with congress with
him as it has be reported that it is,
will put these preachings in practice.
1t is becoming more apparent every
day that Mr.. Roosevelt was not far of
when he declared that Mr.. Taft was
better fitted than he was to work out
the problems Of government that he
had given voice to.
In discussing the matters pertaining
to the regulation of the railroads, Mr..
Taft calls attention to the fact that
the interstate commerce commission
has not been able to accomplish much
under the present Hepburn rate law
because all Of it's decisions and orders
of any moment have been tied up by
the railroads in the courts. To rem
edy this evil he would have a special
United States Court of Commerce"
created by the designation of FIVE
judges of the circuit court. This new
court would be given exclusive power
over practically all of the cases which
are decided by the interstate COM
merce commission. Such a court would
work for a speedy settlement of these
cases and for uniformity of decision
in the premises. The president would
have the orders and judgments of this
court made final, subject only to re-
view by the supreme court of the
United States. with the provision that
the operation of the decree appealed
from shall not be stayed unless the
supreme court shall so order. He
thinks also that all OF the legal work
of the interstate commerce commits
sion could he handled better IN
der the direction of the federal de-
partment of Justice, through a deputy
attorney general He believes in what
is known as the pooling of rates by
railways subject to the approval of
the commerce commission. He insists
that carriers must quote legal rates to
shippers on request or be subject to a
fine for their failure to do so OF to
give defective information. Nor does
he see any good reason why the COM
merce commission should only act
with respect to an alleged excessive
rate or unduly discriminatory prac-
tice of which complaint is made. He
thinks It should be authorized to act
on its own initiative in such matters.
Particular stress is laid by the presi-
cent On the present conditions which
prohibit the commerce commissioners
from investigating an increase in rates
until after it shall have become effec-
tive He points out that the carrier can
stay a reduction of a rate ordered by
the commerce commission and he thinks
that body ought to be able to play the
same game. He would have the COM
mission given authority to investi-
gate proposed increases and make an
order postponing the effective date of
such Increase until after the investi-
cation viii have been completed. The
railroads will consider this suggestion
blow below the belt for they will
IL sist, rs the president points out, that
] this procedure would take away from
| the railroad owners the management
Of their properties but the president
Doesn't think it is quite as bad as all
that. Then again he thinks that ship
pers ought to be permitted to direct
/ the route of their shipments. He would
| prohibit the railroads in the future from
acquiring an interest of any kind in the
| capital stock or purchase or lease of
any competing railroad. He would limit
capital stock and bond issues unless
their full value in cash or other pro-
/ perty is put INTO them and he would
| give the interstate commerce commits
sion the power to approve of the stock
4 and bond issues of the future He
,1.o,,1d alrr have the nranrnln,zn,-s, liz hill