The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-09-16

to cheaper prices. because If it could
dominate the market by underselling COM
pettors in an open held without favor
IL would not need the governments la
vor The interference OF the government
would be an injury and not benent to It,
An industry or a combination OF capital
or anything you choose TO call 1t, that
dominates a market through q restricted
competition that delivers the consumer to
it ON its own terms, necessarily depends
upon narrow output and large pronts, ex-
torted, not from the eXcellency OF It's SER
vice. hut from the hepiessne3s OF those
with whom it deals.
Now there are three ways In which ina
governmet interferes With trade or indi
Viduais in this country One is by patent
laws. The other means by which the gov
eminent interieres is by tariff. Now be-
lieve that every person can concede
whether he believes in high tariff or i:ee
trade, that so far as trusts are concerned
the tariff operates TO favor them in this
country and in this way only; 1t operates
to restrict competition in the production
of any article TO those engaged in 1t in
this country. But If trust or combna-
ticn is to be formed. maniiestly it aids the
enterprise where tho field of competition
is originally limited, II you rely upon
the combination TO suppress cnmpetitlon,
nanifesty it is easier u make a comb /
nation between the producers in one coun
try than in all countries aud TO that ca
tent the tariff fsvorg fApplause.) Now, |
1t is well to say. so as to avoid what might |
be called the field OF political controversy.
that the protectionists claim that the eX
clusion of foreign competition in somol
way or other develops a domestic COMPETE |
ton, much more benefcept. ! DO not UNI
derstand his logic, but think that il fair
statement Of the tariff question here, so We
VIII pass from IL.
There is still a third and serious ques-
ton with which ] think We can deal and
which ] believe is vastly more extensive
in its results than this tariff in favor OF
trusts And / 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. !
mo person can enjoy a favor at the
hands of any company enjoying public .
franchise except at the expense of another
The government can not at ono and at
the same time be Il fountain OF generosl-
ty and justice.
Government can lot create anything.
1t has nothing of its own to bestow. II
it undertakes TO benefit one individual the
thing IL gives to him 1t must take from an-
other. II It do favor II must have VIC
tim. And that government only ~ Just and
benefcent which has neither fayorites nor
victims II one person attains rates tina.
are excessively favorable, IL his goods are
transported at loss why other men using
that same facility must make good the
loss. If goods are transported from Chi
cago 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 / believe. Some gentle
men have suggested municipal ownership.
concede the principle OF it. The only ex-
cuse for empowering private corporation
to discharge a public function is the ex-
cuse that the service VIII be more eff
cient. The question then OF municipal
ownership is Il mere question OF expedien-
cy. ] won't debate 1t here. for this reason
that II 1t be remedy 1t Is such remote
one that a discussion Of 1t would be
discussion of the interests of our children,
rather than ourselves.
Outside the question OF ethics and JUS
tice involved in municipal ownership. you
have questions OF constitutional law %
study and ON the whole consider the sug-
gestion OF constitutional convention TO
frame a new constitution for the United
States Is somewhat remote. fApplause.D
The remedy then Is simply To define a
serious one aud provide for pub
licity and you need NOT enforce the PEN
ATTY. an OHers Oh a corporation granting
a special favor to any person who has a
right to use that possession on equal terms
with everybody elss, ought to be held
guilty OF serious felony. (Applause.)
No fines. no Judicial rebnkes. no denun-
citation from platforms, no legislative en-
actments declaring things are reprchen !
sbIe will touch the subject. but specific
enactment that special rate granted TO
any one not enjoyed by the others is J
felony, and proper means to punish II will
10 something toward checking It.
with statute authorizing and max
Ing it the right OF every shipper OF every
person using a public franchise TO have
disclosed to him at any time every con- I
ract and agreement made with any other
perBon. you viii find there viii be little
iifnculty about avoiding the endorsements.
lie penal statute for II will not be trans |
ressed. We want simple statute OF
publicity. and / believe that will check {
he special fayors
while am on the subject think 1t I