The age-herald., 1899-09-16
TarIr Restricts Competition

Tarin Restricts Competition
 "It operates to restrict competition in the production of any article, to those en- gagged in it in this country. But if a trust or combination is to be formed, manifestly It aids the enterprise where the field of competition is originally limited. If you rely upon the combination to suppress com petition manifestly 1t is easier to make a combination between the producers in one country than in all countries and to that extent the tariff favors (Applause.)
 Now, it is well to say, so as to avoid what might be called the field of political controversy that the proteetionist claims that the exclusion of competition in some way or other develops a domestic competi- tion, much keener much more beneficent. l do not understand his logic, but I think it is a fair statement of his principles. But we cannot hope to do much towards the adjustment of the tariff question here, so we will pass from it.
 '"There is still third and serious ques- ton with which l think we can deal and which l believe is vastly more extensive in it's results than this tariff in favor of trusts; and I refer to those favors which are extended to certain industries or great corporations enjoying government fran chises, which are none the less govern ment agencies because their stock is owned by private individuals.
 No Fountain of Generosity and Justice
 ''No person can enjoy a favor at the hands of any company enjoying a public franchise except at the expense of another. The government cannot at one and the same time be the fountain of generosity and justice.
 Governments cannot create anything; it has nothing of its own to bestow. If 1t undertakes to enrich one individual, the thing that it gives to him it must take from another If do favor it must have a victim; and that government only is just and beneficent which has neither favorites nor victims. If one person attains rates that are excessively favorable, if his goods are transported at a loss, why, other men using that same facility must make good the loss If goods are transported from Chicago to New York for anybody for less than they cost why, that must be made up by the commerce of hundreds of others who pay too much What is the remedy?
 "A simple one, I believe Some gentle men have suggested municipal ownership.
 "I coneede the principle of it. The only excuse for empowering private corpora tion to discharge a public function Is the excuse that the service will be more ef- ficient The question, then, of municipal ownership is mere question of eXpedien- cy. I won't debate it here for this reason that if it be a remedy, it Is such a remote one that a discussion of it would be a dis cussion of the interests of our children rather than ourselves.
 Outside of the question of ethics and combination involved in the ownership, you have questions of constitutional law to study, and on the whole l consider the suggestion of a constitutional convention 10 frame new constitution for the United States is somewhat remote. tApplause)
 Must Define a Penalty
 "The remedy, then, is simply to define practical penalty, a serious one, and then provide for publicity, and you need not enforce the penalty An officer of cor poration granting special favor to any person who has right to use that posses sion on equal terms with everybody else ought to be held guilty of a serious fei- ony. CApplause)
 "No fines, no judicial rebukes. no de- nuncia tions from platforms, no legislative enactments declaring things are reprehen- sive will touch the subject, but a specific enactment that special rate granted to any one not enjoyed by the other is fel- ony and proper means to punish It VIII do something towards checking it.
 With a statute authorizing and making it the right of every shipper, of every per son using a public franchise to have dis closed to him at any time every contract and agreement made with any other per- sons you will find there will be little diff1- culty about avoiding the enforcement of the penal statute for 1t will not be trans gressed. We want simple statute of pub licity and believe that will check the special favors.
 wise to advert to what many call phenom- ena-that is a public dislike and distrust. or hatred of corporations. Ladies and gentlemen, l do not share that hatred or
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