The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-11-09

Y OW THAT election is over
~ and the public mind is in
4 condition to consider a SUBJ
ject of campaign contrO-
versy iudicially. it is in order to in
large combinations in business which
at times act in restraint of trade may
be checked without destruction of the
good that is in them. This question
was not eXtinguished by the overthrow
of Organism, but will remain to en-
gage the thoughts of our best public
lists.
An idea of value was recently SUE.
gested by James +. Dill, the New Yor!,
lawyer, whose eminence as an author
ity on corporation law is of interna-
tional proportions. He sees no hope
of Securing uniformity of state legisla-
ton in protection of business and pub
lie interests, and claims with justice
that the trend Is in the opposite direc
tion-toward state warfare, with each
state pitted against the others to get
as many corporations as it can, ANA
to protect it's own corporations at all
hazards. What power, then, is there
to place the necessary check upon the
states" This is Mr.. Dill's reply:
THE true remedy is not to be found
In an attempt on the part of congress;
to control existing state corpora ions.
The remedy Is to create Il new class Of
national corporations under the con-
troll of the national government. bu.
suject, as are the national banks to-
day, to the police regulations and tax
ing powers of the various states. Con-
gress should not take away from
states the right to create organiza-
tions. The national banking act left
In existence state banks, but the trend
of public opinion has forced the great
banks, with few exceptions, under
the national law. A national law
permitting national Organization,
subjecting the corporation to n nation
al inspection, compelling stated re-
ports, as in the case of national banks,
Will, of itself, remedy many evils
which today are properly the subject
of complaint
THE demand for publicity will be
met and we shall find, under such a
national law. that publicity, like mr-
nicipal street lighting. will encourage
business and prevent crime. National
supervision along the lines of the ma
tional banking act would encourage
the.good and prevent the evil. To the
suggestion that state corporations
would still continue to exist, | have
only TO point to the fact that public
opinion has largely forced out the
state banks and created the nationa,
banks. If new legislation is necessary,
legislation could be along the lines of
the national banking legislation,w which
puts tax on circulation by state
banks, and thus has deprived the state
banks, at least in one respect, of the
ability 10 stand on the same footing
as the national banks. The situation
brings us sharply to the question of
state rights rs against federal govern.
ment, but l am strongly of the belief
that the people will eventually see that
the safety 9f the corporation and the
safety OF the individual, whether he
be an investor in the stock OF tie COM
pany or whether he be engaged in a
rival business, requires that a nation
al corporation should be controlled,
regulated and inspected under and by
, national government"
The Republican party is in principle
and by precedent already committed
to this general line of remedy. But