Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1901-12-06

s "a NM sonsr ssif.rsssraint: Much o. the
iariaIation directed at the trusts would have
sscs.snsly Il X. DEALING With
dertaks BY crude and ill-considersd lesisl.-
would YOU s. to incur ths risk Of such far.reach-
inr national disaster that it would b prefer
al. g notnlnr =, =. all !. also
that there are rsai and grave evils. one Ok
the chief being ovsr-capitaIization because
Lutte and practical effort must be made te
correct these evils.
Governmsnt Supervision.
.'It Il NO limitation upon property rights
or freedom OF contract to require tnaL wne1 y
men receive from government the privilege OF
doing BUSINESS under corporate form which
frees them from Individual responslol.y.
and enables them to call into their enterprises
upon absolutely truthful representations ~ TO
the value OF the property In which the capi,
in Interstate commerce should be regulated
IL they are found to exercise o license work-
Ing to the public injury. 1t should pc ; Is
bsttsrment to rid the business world Of
crimes Of cunning rs to rid the entire BODY
polite Of crime. q ,nev rs are created
and safeguarded BY our institutions ana it
IL therefore our right and our duty 70 see
buttons.
Publicity Remedy for Trusts.
1.-THE first essential In determining how to
deal with the great Industrial combinations
is knowledge OF the facts-pubhcity. IN tne
have the right TO inspect and examine the
workings Of the great corporations engaged
in interstate business. Publicity L. the only
further remedies are needed In the way 81
governmental regulation. or taxation. can
Obtained b By process Of law. and in the course
Of administration. The first requisite =
knowledge. full and complete-knowSiedse
Artificial bodies. such as corporations and
Joint stock or other associations. depending
upon any law h 0F ns sn eroner Cow
ornamental supervision, and full and accurate
information as to their operations should DC
1.-THE large corporations. commonly called
trusts. though organized in one state always
do in many states r ao ing very r
Incorporated. There is utter lack OF uniform
ity In the state laws about them; and as no
over their acts, 1t has in practice proved i'm
possible to get adequate regulation through
state action. Therefore, In the interest OF the
terfering with the power of the states In the
matter itself. also assume power OF super
yison and Gvss al r6is IS
cialiy true where the corporation derives q
portion Of It's wealth from the existence OF
some monopolistic element or tendency IN It's
business There would be no hardship In
such superyision banks are subject to it, and
in their case 1t 10 now accepted as simple
mattsr Of course. Indeed, it is probable that
supervision Of corporations by the National
government need not 60 30 far as is now the
~ 40 conserystiye 4 state as Massachusetts,
In order to produce excellent results
II believe that a law can be framed which
else control along the lines above Indicated:
prodting by the experience gained through
the passage and administration Of the Inter
ment of the Congress is that it lacks the
constitutional power to pass such an act,
then q constitutional amen ment should be
submitted to confer the power.
to be known as Secretary .ot Commerce and
at the last session of the Congress. 1t should
be his province to deal with commerce IN It's
broadcast sense including among many other
things whatever concerns labor and all mat
tiers affecting the great business corporations
and our merchant marine.
Restriction on Immigration.
with the sole exception of the farming
interest, no one matter Is OF SUCH vital mo-
ment to our whole people as the welfare OF
,ne are well o. it is absolutely
certain that al ats Won ar be Sea we
lation that on the whole wages are higher
to-day in the United States than ever before
in our history, and far higher than IN any
other country. The standard OF living is also
higher than ever before. Every effort OF leg
islator and administrator SHOULD be bent 70 70
things and Its Improvement wherever posi-,
BILE. Not only must our labor be protected
so far as It is possible from the presence In
this country Of any laborers brought over oy
contract or Of those who. coming coming freely ~
the labor market and drag them to a lower
e eeye in view to re.enact Immediately the law
excluding Chinese laborers and to strength
en- 1t wherever necessary In order to make
80 far ~ practicable under the conditions
OF government work provision s no .;.b De
render the OF she ndns
tries carried on directly or indirectly for the
United States government women and chill
hours Of labor. from night work. and from
work under unsanitary conditions
The most Vital problem WITH IL. w6oie e ens
which has for ono side the betterment Of so
Cities. and for another side the effort to deal
with the tangle Of far-reaching questions
which We group together when we speak OF
BE- accomplished By associations OF unions Of
wage-vorkers. when managed with fore
thoush ana wh eab taey tS
spect for the rights Of others. The display OF
these qualities in such bodies is a duty to the
selves. Finally, there must also In many
cases be action by the government In order der
to safeguard the rights and interests OF all.
Under our Constitution there Is much more
scope for such action by the state and the
municipality than by the Nation. But on
points such as those touched on above the
National government can act
"Our present immigration laws are unsa,-
isfactory. We need every honest and eff
Gent immigrant fitted to become an Ameri-
can citizen, every immi grant who comes here
to stay. who brings here a strong body, a
stout heart good head. and a resolute pur-
pose to do his duty well in every way and TO
bring up his children as law-abiding and
God fearing members of the community. But
there should be comprehensive law enact
ed with the object Of working threefola dim I'm
we should aim to exclude absolutely not only
all persons who are known to be believers IN
anarchistic principles or members OF an
archistic societies, but also all persons VINO
are of low moral tendency or Of unsavory
reputation. This means that we should re-
ouire a more thorough system Of inspection
abroad and more rigid system of examina-
ton at our immigration ports the former be-
ing especially necessary.
s:The second object Of proper immigra-
ton law ought to be to secure by careful
1r,o.a ftf,V,a tact