The sun., 1897-01-18

what large subject even for legislative
committee. One would suppose that the
gentlemen in the Legislature who are so
anxious to strike at the denominations OF
monopoly and to cut the claws OF the
trusts, would welcome an opportunity to
have their favorite bogies exhibited to the
whole State and the rest OF the world
Trusts, monopolies, and combinations,
"Gorson, and hydras and chimeras dire"
should be disclosed il there is any way OF
making them disclose themselves; and after
the people shudder, the Legislature should
pass law for their abolition and 20 to sup
per with the consciousness of duty done.
And it will be the duty Of the trusts and 80
on to consider themselves abolished.
Yet Senator CANTOR and some other in
trepid persons who have carried to Albany
a large stock Of bills for the discontinue OF
the insolence OF capital and the immediate
downfall OF corporations guilty OF making
money, have not fallen upon the neck of the
great little detective statesman OF Nyack.
They say that his plan would take too much
time; and it may as we'll be admitted at once
that trusts and the present economic sys-
tenn cannot be thoroughly investigated in
less than five or six weeks. Trusts alone
might consume rs much as q month. The
denigrators Of Mr.. LExow's plan say also
that IL 1t is adopted. this Legislature cannot
IDEAL with the trusts" This objection Is
not fatal, for IL is reasonable to suppose that
there will be other Legislatures, and what
will there be for them to do II this one
smashes the trusts for all timer
The enemies OF trusts ought not to insist
upon mere point Of etiquette. I'm
doubtedly they are correct technically.
Trusts ought to be hanged first and tried
afterward. That is n method OF procedure
which conduces to that unbiased and sin
cere Judgment which is noticeable in most
trust-smashers, especially II they do their
smashing in Albany, Washington, or a
newspaper Office. II should be assumed in
the preamble OF all legislation in restraint
OF trusts that they are the sum OF all vii
laines. Mr.. LExow is clearly irregular in
proposing to investigate an axiom OF the
trustsmashers, and yet they should for
give him, for his resolution will produce
fruitful results, II it is adopted. Not since
Mr.. HENRY w. BLAIR, then n Sena-
tor in Congress from New Hampshire,
brought subsection OF his Committee on
Education and Labor here in 1888
and summoned host OF eminent evolvers
OF ideas to give their testimony, have eco
pomics, political and social science and
alienism received additions so interesting as
are sure to be made IL this Lexow COM
mittee for the investigation OF trusts and
the present economic system once gets to
work. There will be cloud OF witnesses,
and most Of them will be Of the cloudest,
but the testimony taken will contribute no
little to the health and happiness OF man.
kind, and especially Of that not innumerous
part OF the same now apoplectic with plans
for the improvement or destruction Of the
present economic system. 1t is natural that
thinkers who can draw up in ten minutes
a bill that will make capitalists and
perhaps grammarians writhe, should
chafe n little at the delay involved in
an investigation. But an investigation
OF so trivial a matter as the present eco
nomic system ought not to take so very
long; and think Of the treasures OF scientific
thought, the store Of wisdom and elo-
quence it would bring forth II the ven
Grated shade OF a great, neglected economist
and reformer, DANIEL PRATT, could ope the
ponderous and marble jaws OF his word
laboratory, he would urge the appointment
OF a committee which Is sure to collect so
much matter Of kind that he would have
regarded as valuable.