e us doubly
careful to husband our national resources, as each of us husbands his
private resources, by scrupulous avoidance of anything like wasteful or
reckless expenditure. Only by avoidance of spending money on what is
needless or unjustifiable can we legitimately keep our income to the
point required to meet our needs that are genuine.

In 1887 a measure was enacted for the regulation of interstate railways,
commonly known as the Interstate Commerce Act. The cardinal provisions
of that act were that railway rates should be just and reasonable and
that all shippers, localities, and commodities should be accorded equal
treatment. A commission was created and endowed with what were supposed
to be the necessary powers to execute the provisions of this act.

That law was largely an experiment. Experience has shewn the wisdom of
its purposes, but has also shown, possibly that some of its requirements
are wrong, certainly that the means devised for the enforcement of its
provisions are defective. Those who complain of the management of the
railways allege that established rates are not maintained; that rebates
and similar devices are habitually resorted to; that these preferences
are usually in favor of the large shipper; that they drive out of
business the smaller competitor; that while many rates are too low, many
others are excessive; and that gross preferences are made, affecting
both localities and commodities. Upon the other hand, the railways
assert that the law by its very terms tends to produce many of these
illegal practices by depriving carriers of that right of concerted
action which they claim is necessary to establish and maintain
non-discriminating rates.

The act should be amended. The railway is a public servant. Its rates
should be just to and open to all shippers alike. The Government should
see to it that within its jurisdiction this is so and should provide a
speedy, inexpensive, and effective remedy to that end. At the same time
it must not be forgotten that our railways are the arteries through
which the commercial lifeblood of this Nation flows. Nothing could be
more foolish than the enactment of legislation which would unnecessarily
interfere with the development and operation of these commercial
agencies. The subject is one of great importance and calls for the
earnest attention of the Congress.

The Department of Agriculture during the past fifteen years has steadily
broadened its work on ec