The advocate., 1894-10-31

ly statutes providing for the transmission
Of property by descent or by will, or the
creation Of monopolies.
It Is only by virtue of statutory faW
that man is permitted to make disposition
Of his property by will, and 1t is only by
virtue of statutory law that one person is
permitted to inherit property from an
other, and it is by virtue of statute law
that great corporate monopolies have been
built up.
No man has a natural right to dispose
Of property after death, nor has one person
natural right to inherit property from
another. AS Blackstone says, "There is
no foundation in nature or in natural law
why the son should have the right to ex-
clude his fellow creatures from determi-
nate spot Of land because his father had
done so before him, or why the Occupier of
particular field or Of jewel, when lying
on his deathbed and no longer able to
maintain possession, should be able to tell
the rest of the world which Of them should
enjoy it after him.
Under Illinois laws the owner Of real
estate Is permitted to lease it for an indef-
mite period and compel future generations
who occupy the premises to- pay rent to un-
born generations. Leases for 90 years are
quite common in Chicago. 1t is by no
divine law that the occupant of land today
is allowed to compel its occupant 100 years
hence to pay tribute for its use. The
statutes of Illinois have given to the own
or of property the right to dispose Of 1t by
will, not wholly, but to certain extent.
If married, neither the husband nor wife
can give away the homestead or dover
rights of the other, nor can creditors, heirs
or devisees take from the widow her al
loWance
Money Governs Legislation.
The money power has governed legisla-
tion In all civilized countries for genera
tions. 1t matters not what party Is in
power In the national or state govern
ments of our own country, the money
power has exercised a controlling influence
in many instances in the shaping and ad-
ministration of our laws.
If the accumulation OF vast fortunes
goes on another generation with the same
accelerated rapidity as during the present,
the wealth of this country will soon be
consolidated in the hands Of q few corpo-,
rations and individuals to as great an ex-
tent as the landed interests of Great Brit
ain now are.
What is the remedy for this state of
things, which, If permitted to continue,
will make the masses Of the people de-
pendent upon the generosity of the few for
the means to liver So far as concerns cor
porations of public or quasi public char
acter, and none others should exist, the
remedy is simple. They are completely
under the control of the Legislatures,
whence they derive all their powers.
1t Is entirely competent for a legislature
to provide the manner in which the bust
ness Of a corporation shall be conducted.
It may provide that the directors shall
consist Of few or many persons; that a por-
tion Of them shall be taken from the en-
ployees of the corporation, selected by
them, another part from the stockholders
who furnish the capital for carrying on
its business. 1t may provide that the en-
ployees shall first be paid from the rev.
enues of the company certain fixed sum,
graduated according to the character OF
the work performed by each; that fair
rate of interest shall then be paid upon
the capital invested, and the balance be
distributed upon some equitable principle
between the employees and the stockhold-
ers. In case Of loss the stockholders would
have to suffer, since the employee, having
q right to live, must in all cases receive
his daily wages when dependent upon
them for subsistence. This principle re-
ceives judicial sanction from United States
Circuit Judge Caldwell in recent order
entered in case of the Santa Fe railroad
as follows:
''Ordered that the men employed by the
receivers in the operation Of the road and
the conduct of its business shall be paid