The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1911-09-21
HADLEY DEFENDS
RIGHTS OF STATES

STAKES TO regulate CT supervise the
conduct of any business interstate
in its character If thereby the con.
duct of that business in interstate
commerce is directly affected or
burdened.
That there are many difficulties
incident to the present situation. is
apparent. TO adjust the rates Of
the great trans continental railroad
companies to the changing condi-
tons Incident to the changes in
sentiment and administration in
forty-eight states, is indeed a diff
cult problem. The whole problem
of railroad rate regulation in this
country is in a confused, complex
and unsatisfactory condition. No
yard stick has as vet been discov-
cred by which either to establish
rates or to measure the reasonable
ness of rates charged.
Some people see in the present
situation such difficulties that they
dontend that government ownership
and operation of railroads is the
only practical solution. do not
believe that government ownership
and operation of railroads is either
a necessary or advisable solution.
But it will doubtless be necessary
that we should cut and dry many
times before we finally determine
upon the correct policy for dealing
with this important and intricate
problem. IN view Of the marked
different conditions existing in this
ana 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
at all times adhere to the funda-
mental principle that a railroad
company is common carrier and
public highway; that It must be
open to all upon fair and equal
terms, and that the right to charge
for the transportation OF persons or
of property is right to tax, which,
in order to be defenkible, must !
be reasonably and equally i'm
posed.
Most of the important present
day problems are clearly state ques-
lions, and not national questions.
The most important phase Of the
question OF transportation, CON
tend, is still question for the
states, rather than for the NATIONAL
government The question of taxa
ton, or, to speak more exactly, theI
reform of the many inequalities. i'm
projections and injustices incident
to our general property tax is pri-
marily state problem. The proper
compensation of those injured In
Industrial pursuits, is, as this pro-
gram evidences, essentially a state
problem. The laws regulating mar
riage and divorce; the conduct oil
public service corporations and or
binary business affairs; judicial pro-
cedure; laws regulating the hours
Of labor, improving the conditions
under which it is performed, and
protecting the health and safety of
those who perform 1t, as well as the
people as a whole, are all primarily
questions with which the state must
deal II they are to be effectively
dealt with at all. The field is a
broad one, and the work is one
which has in 1t the destinies of a
people, because it concerns their
happiness and their welfare. But
this field will be narrowed and the
power to discharge this duty to hui
manity seriously impaired If the
right of the states to regulate trans
portation within their borders shall
now be denied"