Rock Island Argus., 1911-09-15

tra-State traflc VIII, as an inevitable
and logical result, result in the denial
Of the right of the states to regulate
or supervise the conduct of any busi-
ness interstate in It's character If
thereby the conduct of that busi-
ness in interstate commerce is direct
ly affected or burdened
That there are many difficulties in
cident to the present situation, is ap-
parent. To adjust the rates of the
great trans-continental railroad com
panies to the changing conditions in
cident to the change in sentiment and
administration in As states. is indeed a
difficult problem. The whole problem
of railroad rate regulation in this coun-
try is in a confused, complex and un-
satisfactory condition. No yard-stick
has as yet been discovered by which
either to establish rates or to measure
the reasonableness of rates charged
Some people see in the present sit
uation such difficulties that they con-
tend that government ownership and
operation OF railroads is the only prac-
tical solution. / do not believe that
government ownership and operation
of railroads is either a necessary, or
advisable solution. But II will doubt
less be necessary that we should
"cut and dry" many times before we
finally determine upon the correct pol
icy for dealing with this important
and intricate problem. In view of the
markedly different conditions existing
in this and in other countries. the ex-
perience of other nations in dealing
with this question is but of limited
value. We must work out our own
problem for ourselves, but we must al
all times adhere TO the fundamental
principle that a railroad company is a
common carrier and public highway:
that it must be open 10 all upon fair
and equal terms, and that the right
to charge for the trans portation of per
sons or of property is a right to tax,
which, in order to be defensible, must
be reasonably and equally imposed.
Most of the important present day
problems are clearly state questions.
and not national questions The most
important phase of the question of
transportation, l contend, is still
question for the states, rather than for
the national government. The question
OF taxation, or, to speak more exactly,
the reform of the many inequalities.
imperfections and injustices incident
TO our general property tax is primarf-
" state problem. The proper com
pensation of those injured in Industrial
pursuits, is, as this program evidences,
essentially a state problem. The laws
regulating marriage, and divorce: the
conduct OF public service corDorations
and ordinary business affairs: judicial
procedure; laws regulating the hours
CT labor improving the conditions I'm
DER which il is performed, and protect
ing the health and safety of those who
perform il, as we'll as the people as a
whole, are all primarily questions with
which the state must deal if they are
TO be effectively dealt with at all.
! he field is broad one, and the work
is one which has in it the destinies of
a people, because it concerns their /
happiness and their welfare. But this
held will be narrowed and the power
TO discharge this duty to humanity Sc
rioUsly impaired if the right of the .
states to regulate transportation with .
IN their borders shall now be denied" /