The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-12-08

plex character of our governmental
system which, while making the federal
authority supreme within its sphere,
has carefully limited that sphere by
metes and bounds which cannot be
transgressed. The decision of out high
est court on this precise question rem
ders it quite doubtful whether the evils
of trusts and monopolies can be ade-
quately treated through federal action,
unless they Seek directly and purposely
to include in their objects transporta-
ton or intercourse between states or
between the United States and foreign
countries.
ut does not follow, however that this
! is the limit of the remedy that may be
| applied. Even though it may be found
| that federal authority is not broad
| enough to fully reach the case, there
can be no doubt of the power of the
several states to act effectively in the
premises, and there should be no rea-
son TO doubt their willingness to judi
ciOusly exercise such power"
STATE LEGISLATION.
The state legislation to which Pres
| ldent Cleveland looked for relief from
| the evils of trusts has failed to accom-
| pish that object This is probably due
to a great extent to the fact that diff
| ferent states take different views as to
the proper way to discriminate between
those associations which are beneficial
and necessary to business prosperity
| of the country. The great diversity of
treatment in different states arising
! from this cause and the intimate rela-
| tions of all parts of the country to each
other without regarding state lines in
| the conduct of business, have made
the enforcement of state laws difficult.
1t is apparent that uniformity of leg
islation upon this subject in the several
states is much to be desired. 1t is to be
| hoped that such uniformity founded in
a wise and just discrimination between
what is injurious and what is useful
and necessary in business operations
may be obtained and that means may
be found for the congress within the linn
itations of it's constitutional power so
to supplement an effective code of state
legislation as to make complete sys-
tenn of laws throughout the u. S. adj
equate to compel general observance
of the salutary rules to which l have
referred. The whole question is so inn
portant and far reaching that am sure
but every phase of it will have the stud
led deliberation of the congress result
ing in wise and judicious action.
THE NICARAGUA CANAL.
The Nicaragua canal commission,
which had been engaged upon the work
of examination and survey for ship ca
nal route across Nicaragua, having
completed it's labors and made its re-
port, was dissolved on May 81, and on
June 10, a new commission was organ
lied under the terms of the act approved
March 8, 1899, for the purpose of exam
ining the American isthmus with
view If determining the most practica-
BILE and feasible route for ship canal
across the isthmus, with it's probable
cost and other essential details.
This commission under the presi-
dency of Rear Admiral John G. Wal
ker, u. S. navy, (retired) entered
promptly upon the work intrusted to it,
and is now carrying on examinations
in Nicaragua along the route of the
Panama canal and in Darien from the
Atlantic, in the neighborhood of the
Atrato EiYer, to the Bay of Panama, on
the Pacific side. Good progress has
been made, but under the law a COM
prehensiYe and complete investigation
is called for, which will require much
labor and considerable time for it's ac-
complishment. The work will be prose-
cuted as eXpediously as possible and a
report made at the earliest practicable
date.
The great Importance of this work
cannot be too often or too strongly
pressed upon the attention of congress
In my message of a year ago 1 eXpI essed
my views Of the necessity of a canal
which would link the two great oceans
to which l again invite your considera-
ton. The reasons then presented for
early action are even stronger now.
CHINA AND AMERICAN TRADE.
In my message to congress, Dec. 5,
1898, / urged that the recommendation
which had been made to the speaker of
the house of representatives by the
secretary of the treasury on the 14th
of June, 1898, for an appropriation for
a commission to study the commercial
and industrial conditions in the Chinese
empire and report as to the opportuni-
ties for, and obstacles to, the enlarge
ment of markets in China for the law
products and manufacturers of the
u. s., should receive at your hands the
which it's Importance and
timeliness merited, but the congress
failed to take action.
now renew this recommendation as
the importance of the subject has
steadily grown since it was first sub
lost in studying for ourselves the re-
sources for this great field for American
trade and enterprise.
THE PARIS EXPOSITION.
Preparations for the representations
of the industries, arts, and products of
the u. S. at the worlds exposition,
to be- held at Paris. next year, con-
tinue on an elaborate and comprehen-
sive scale; thanks to the generous ap-
provided by congress, and
to the friendly interest the French gov
ernment has shown in furthering it's
typical exhibit of American progress.
There has been allotted to the u. S. a
considerable addition of space, which,
while placing our country among the
first rank Of exhibitors, does not suffice
to meet the increasingly urgent de-
mands or our manufacturers. The
efforts of the commission general are
ably directed toward a strictly repre-
sentative display of all that most
Enthusiastically marks American
achievement in the inventive arts and
most adequately shows the excellence