The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-03-17
GOVERNMENT SHOULD AID
UNDERWOOD SAYS OUR INDUS
TRIAL LEADERS NEED HELP.
In Discussing Railways Aabaman
Says If Federal Regulation Fills 1t
Will Mean Government Ownership.

In a speech on the railroad situa-
tion before the Sphinx club of New
York, Oscar w. Underwood. House
majority leader in the last congress,
and now elected senator from Ala
oama, while discussing big business,
declared that ''it is not enough for
the government to permit these men
to rise from the prostration which
have oVertaken them and their al
fairs. We have reached the point on
our way to social betterment, where
sound progressivism. must recognize
that the proper regulation Of business
requires that it must sometimes be
helped and no. always hindered;
must be sometimes assisted and not
forever stricken; that we must occa-
sionally say you may and not al
ways you shall not"
Adequate provision for capital to
maintain and extend the nations
transportation system. Is the problem
confronting the government in its
| regulation Of railroads. Mr.. Under
| wood asserted. He added that "our
present system Of regulation is break
| ing down, insofar is it has supervis-
, ed the finances Of the railroads with
a view to allowing them properly to
| protect their securities and their
credit may be maintained to aid in
| present and future DEVELOPMENT"
Regulation Of railroads, Mr.. Under
wood said, should take into consid-
Grafton the interests. not only of the
railroads themselves and those direct
ly interested a. shippers, but Of the
entire country. whose commercial!
prosperity is dependent upon ade-
quate shipping facilities.
| "We have undertaken the problem
of government regulation Of rail
roads," he continued. "and the gov
ernment will not turn back. Regula-
tion of practices and rates Is here
and here to stay. But let US stand
for wise and just regulation, and not
for ill-considered and dangerous reg
ulation.
eve must regulate so as to insure
all necessary railroad facilities. both
for the present and for the future
AS the public in the end must pay
the bill, it is primarily interested in
the railroads securing the money
needed for their maintenance and de-
velopment at reasonable rates. and
equally interested in seeing that it Is
wisely expended.
Revolutions never move back.
ward. If government regulation is
unable to cone with the veyed prob
lem that confronts US, the people vii
accept government ownership as the
next step ahead.
at Is, therefore. a matter Of great
importance that we should earnestly
endeavor to reach q fair and reason
able solution Of the problem of regu
lation at as early day as possible ,
| After discussing the difficulties o.
dealing with the railroads through
the varying jurisdictions Of the State
and federal governments, Mr.. Under
wood said:
"It can not be denied that public
control has reduced the rates chars'
ed for transportation and abolished
unjust Determinations given to fav'
ored shippers, but the greater prob
lem remains unsclrei. Can the
money be provided to expand and de,
velop these great public works in &
manner commensurate with the ex.
banding needs of our commerce un'
der the present system Of public con
troll?
"If railway investments can not be
made attractive to capital is not the
nation threatened with an inevitable
breakdown of its transportation sys'