Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-01-16

1
: inatiOn against persons or places, forbid
extortion and seeks to prevent monopolie
and compel the creatures of the law, wh
owe their breath to the people, to be law
obedient and not use their granted power
, to harrass and oppress.
The same article specifically command
the Legislature to enforce its provision
by appropriate legislation. Surely a.
honest effort should be made to give ade
quate effect to SO wise and just a section O
the fundamental law.
A Restraining Power Needed.
This leads me to say that in my judg
meut there is much to bo done in the wa,
OF legislation to prcveu. the power of cor
porationS from becoming too vast or IRE
spOnsible. They are new cement in oul
modern civilization. They have Outgrowl
the most sanguine expectation in theil
development, and have introduced nav
evils as we'll as new benefits into our sys
TEN. Their influence has extended itself
into almost every department of business
and of life. Their motions not only affect
the great centres of money and Of
trade, but the miuuteSt affairs OF
individuals are affected by theil
caprice. Thousands Of labclerS look
to them for encouragement and depend
Ealone upon their determination for the
measure fhire. The prices of the neces
saries of life, too, are often regulated by
their will. All this is an exhibition OF
power not contemplated in their creation,
which had in view solely the public inter
est aud general good. The existence Of
suoh power il any combination o. men il
to be deplorsd, and if possible prevented,
or at least regulated and controlled.
| 1t is idle to lament this condition Of
affairs unless something is done to cor
rect it. 1t is vain for those in authority
| to shut their eyes to the fact that some
| thing must be done to bring into proper
| regulation the corporations of the country
! aud adjust upon some fair AMI reason
able basis the contentious between
these objects of the bounty of the
state and the people. At the proper tims
| may transmit to the Assembly some fur
the. suggestions upon this subject, with
possibly some formulated thou ,hs. Mean
tim. it may be said, that in the etlement
of matters of this kind much depends
upon the temper each party brings
to tie controversy. If pass ion shall
rule then will no good be accom-
plished, but rather evil t, all. Bu'
if Justice shall be tho gude ani her p.il
ciples the criterion, then ths:e can De NJ
doubt OF equitable conclusions aad salts
factory determinations.
Tie people, I am convinced, ask for
nothing unreasonable. If their funda-
mental law is the expression of their de-
mands, it is the sworn duty of the As
sembly aud all ia authority to protect and
defend that charter Of the peoples rights.
Competing telegraph on.p.nies have
1nS~ - -. &C y
TO the public detriment. Citizens of the
commonwealth have recently invoked the
interposition 0: the state auth Jrities t.
prevent the continuance of this fragrant
wrong. 1t is to be hoped tho proc :edings
thus inaugurated will result ia the vind
cation Of the constitution ami establish
the adequacy of it's powers Corporate
lawlessness must be made as amenable to
punishment as persona! lawlessness,
Labor and Capital.
With the augmentation Of corporate
power has arisen also other large accu-
forms Of industry. Our own state, in the
development OF its peculiar sources Of min
eral wealth, is exoep.ipual!y pro niasut in
this respect. These accumulatici., Of cor
porate and other capital invested in business
enterprises employ armies OF workman,
concentrated at single establishments.
From this has arisen contests b:tw ,on
those who pay and those who rec,iy9
wages. In recent years those coutl cts
have been Of frequent occurrence
throuS heut the entire country aud have
Often resulted in violence not only t,
the public peace, but to parsol AMI
property. A continual, though irregular,
struggle is now and has for years been
going in between these two conflicting
elements. Complaints OF injustice are
constantly bein. made by one against
the other, and each in turn apPsal to
the state for remedial legislation.
Such appeals should not be unt.seded,
but shou Id be attsn,iyely listened to and
carefully considered. These questions at
times have threatened to become forHld-
able element in our politics and disturb
ing factor in our elections. This
is not as it should be, and
nothing but evil can result from
the iatsrmiuglius OF such matters. 1t
gives excuse for reckless dsnagogues to
ply their vocation. exposes labor to de-
basement trnm the intrikues of politicians,
and injccts rashpess and passion Into a dis
cussinn which has peculiar need for calm
ness, deliberation a.ld dispassionate rea-
son.
The Dignity %. Labor.
For government to shut it's eyes and
close its ear. to the complaints and pati-
tions Of anybody Of It's citizens is folly.
Suoh a course enrrcctS nothing and settles
nothing. Particularly should heed be given
to the appeals Of 80 large and important a
part of the community as those depending
for subsistence upon tho wages Of toll. ,
Labor is the inain pillar OF the state. As
all honorcd Statesman Of our own country
has said : " Labor is the supciior of capi
tai and deserves much tho highest con.
sideration )" but the consideration givon
to such matters should be deliberate
and searching, and the relief Thorough
and system ATTIC, if it is to be lasting a'.d
e tectual.
cannot but lul,e t!l. b ,iief that our
political system is capable Of providing
somo other rem mody than ths b,yoneb for
the settlement of such disputes. Oar
form of government, l have no doubt, is
com petenJ to deal with this matter fairly
and effectively without Injustice to the
interests of either party to tho
controversy. Upon the wisdom Of ths
legislative department rests in the first
ins lance the responsibility f,c pcop,r
solution OF this question.
Wherein :'le Legislature Has Been Dsreltct
The Assembly has also failed to enforce
by appropriate Legislation a number of
other provisions Of the constitution, and
pass laws, the enactment Of which is en-