St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1912-12-04
PRESS COMMENT
A Great Economic Problem

1. n Or6aC ECONOMIC 1FOD1em
Probably no one man in the en-
tire country has done more to stop
the greed of the railroads and COM
pei them to recognize the rights of
the people than the Hon. Charles
A. Prouty, chairman of the Inter
state Comemrce Commission. Mr..
Prouty is Vermont man
and he is one of the
big men of the country, although not
in the limehght quite as much as
some others. His work on the Com
merce commission has been of i'm
measurable worth to the people,
and he goes on doing things from
day to day with a modesty that is
truly characteristic of greatness.
Few VermOnters realize the ser
vice Mr.. Prouty has rendered his
fellow men. He meets the big rail-
road magnates in battle and the
influences that is brought to bear on
him to change his decisions from
right are tremendous. But he is
not awed by .ne1r greatness-Mr.
Prouty is even greater than Baer,
greater than Mellen, greater than
Gould, greater than Hill, even great
er than the late Hartman. Yet Mr..
Prouty comes from little Vermont
verify, the state is rich in the MEN
it sends out into the world to do
even big things.
Hon. Charles A. Prouty of Yer
mont is big enough to be president.
His broad view of a great economic
question is shown by the following
utterances made before the Nation
al Association of railroad commits
sioners:
There should be no such thing
as a staLe line in the comm ercial
interests of the United States. The
| federal body finally must be given
authority so to regulate traffic as
to protect the interests of all and
| thus prevent the citizens of any enc
state in their eagerness to develop
that state, from obtaining an undue
advantage in rates over those of
other states. To that extent the
federal commission must be supreme
While me railroad is a public ser
want the old theory that it can be
kicked and cuffed at will is limo
cuous. We are dealing today with
the greatest economic problem of the
country. The United States is try
ing an experiment that never has
been worked out successfully by
any country of the world. That ex-
pertinent is the control of railroads
built and operated by private cap
ital, under regulations fixed by the
public. The Interstate Commerce
commission and the state commits |
sioners can make reasonable rates |
and regulate schedules for the oper- |
alton of trains, but can this be done
so as to induce the investment of |
new money necessary for the devel-
opment and extension of the old rail-
ways and the building of new sys-
TENS" -[ Burlington Clipper.
Estimate of the Legislature
We shall have to revise our first |
estimate of the present legislature |
slightly. In the light of the first |
two months of this session, we can |
truthfully say that never has YER |
mont had a more able or progress
sive senate. It's members go at the |
business in the right spirit and put
it through as they would their own |
business. They are working honest |
ly for the best good of all people and |
have made very few mistakes. The |
house still lacks leaders and gets
"balled up" over trivial matters be- |
cause it has no real leaders. Wit
ness the time it took to dispose of
the simple little matter of adjourn |
ment for the Thanksgiving recess. |
A strong majority of the members
wanted to adjourn without pay or
mileage, out the matter was so COM
plicated and mixed up, by a few
members, who wanted to hear their
own voices frequently, that in all,
about two days was wasted over this
matter and then the house passed |
something that a majority did not
want. One of the "obstructionists"
spoke SO times on this one subject
and called for the yeas and nays
no less than three times. If the
legislature fails to accomplish
much, as it now seems probable, it
will be simply for lack of leader
ship.-I Morrisville Messenger.
Political Responsibility
Although it is some months yet |
before the democrats will assume
executive control of the government, |
and the congress come together in
special session, members of that par
ty are already realizing that it makes
a difference whether a party bears |
the responsibility that goes with |
the power of the majority, or is sim
ply of the minority with full oppor-
tunity for adverse criticism. 1t is |
developing that there is scarcely a |
political issue upon which the dem
ocrats do not determinedly differ,
and naturally each faction is schem-
ing for the supremacy. Matters are
rapidly reaching a stage where beau
tiful theories are being abandoned
for the supremacy of personal views
and aims. Immediately following
the election it was stated that for
the purpose of solidifying the par
ty and of giving every interest
feeling of responsibility for admin
istrative success, some prominent
Clark supporter, probably former
Senator Dubois, who managed the
Clark campaign for the presidential
nomination, would be given a place
in wilson's cabinet. There are but a
few places in the cabinet at most,
and such a purpose was naturally
not abonrino To fhoco uyhn hod hoou |