The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-12-04

limits controlled, ana IN my judgment tnlS
conviction is right
1t is no limitation upon property rights
or freedom of contract to require that
when uaen receive from government the
privilege Of doing business under corpo-
rate form which frees them from individ-
ual responsibility and enables them to call
into their enterprises the capital of the
public they shall do so upon absolutely
truthful representations as to the value OF
the property in which the capital is to be
invested. Corporations engaged in inter
state commerce should be regulated if
they are found to exercise a license work
ing to the public injury. 1t should be as
much the aim of those who seek for social
betterment to rid the business world of
crimes of cunning as to rid the entire
body polite of crimes of violence. Great
corporations exist only because they are
created and safeguarded by our institu-
lions. and it is therefore our right and
our duty to see that they work in harmo-
ny with these institutions
Publicity Needed.
The first essential in determining how to
deal with the great industrial combina-
tons is knowledge OF the facts-publicity.
In the interest of the public the govern
ment 5ho,.ld have the right to aspect and
examine the workings of the great corpo-
-ations engaged in interstate business
/
we can now invoke. What further rene
dies are needed in the way of govern
mental regulation or taxation can only be
determined after publicity has been OBJ
tanned by process of law and in the course
of administration The first requisite is
knowledge, full and complete-knowledGe
which may be made public to the world.
Artificial bodies, such as corporations
| and Joint stock or other associations de-
! pending upon any statutory law for their
existence or privileges, should be subject
! to proper governmental supervision, and
| full and accurate information as to their
operations should be made public regular
ly at reasonable intervals
The large corporations, commonly called
trusts, though organized in one state, al
ways do business in many states. often
doing very little business in the state
where they are Incorporated. There is
utter lack Of uniformity IN the state laws
about them and as no state has any eX-
elusive interest In or power over their
acts it has in practice proved Impossible
to get adequate regula ton through state
action. Therefore in the interest Of the
whole people the nation should, without
interfering with the power of the states
in the matter itself, also assume power OF
supervision and regulation over all corpo-
rations doing an interstate business. Ihls
is especially true where the corporation
derives a portion Of its wealth from the
existence Of some monopolistic element or
tendency in its business. There would be
no hardship in such supervision. Banks
are subject to it, and in their case 1t is
now accepted as a simple matter OF
course. Indeed it is probable that super
vision of corporations by the national gov
eminent need not go so far as is now the
case with the supervision exercised over
them by so conservative a state as Mas
in nd n produce
results.
Would Frame a Federal Law.
When the constitution was adopted, at
the end of the eighteenth century. no hu-
man wisdom could foreten the sweeping
changes, alike in Industrial and political
conditions, which were to take place by
the beginning of the twentieth century.
At that time it was accepted as matter
of course that the several states were the
proper authorities to regulate so far as
was then necessary the comparatively in
significant and strictly localized corporate
bodies of the day. The conditions are now
wholly different, and wholly different ac-
ton is called for l believe that a law
can be framed which will enable the ma
tiensI government to exercise control
along the lines above indicated proftins
by the experience gained through the pas
sage and administration of the interstate
commerce act. If, however, the judgment
of the congress is that it lacks the constl-
tutional power to pass such an act, then
a constitutional amendment should be
submitted to confer the power.
There should be created cabinet OIL
Ger, to be known as secretary of COM
merce and industries as provided in the
bill introduced at the last session of the
congress. 1t should be his province to
deal with commerce in its broadcast sense
including, among many other things
Lob oil fer
affecting the great business corporations
and our merchant marine.
The course proposed Is one phase or
what should be a comprehensive ana taf-
reaching scheme of constructive states
manship for the purpose of broadening
our markets securing our business inter-
ests on a safe basis and making firm our
new position in the international indus
trial world, while scrupulously safeguard
ing the rights of wageworker and capt.
talist, of investor and private citizen, so
as to secure equity as between man and
man in this republic.
Chinese Exclusion.
With the sole exception of the farming
interest, no one matter Is of such vital
moment to our whole people as the well
fare of the wageworkers. If the farmer
and the wageworker are well off, it is alb
solutely certain that all others will be
we'll Off too 1t Is therefore matter for
hea rty congratulatien that on the whole
wages are higher today 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 legislator
and administrator should be bent to Sc
cure the permanency of this condition of
things and improvement wherever pos
sible. Not only must our labor be protect
ed by the tariff, but it should also be pro-
IL fu Gil fTnT fhta
presence in this country of any laborers
brought over by contract or of those who,
coming freely, yet represent a standard
of living so depressed that they can I'M
derseI our men in the labor market and
drag them to a lower level. I regard it as
| necessary. with this end in view, to re-
enact Immediately the law excluding Chi
nese laborers and to strengthen it
| wherever necessary in order to make its
| enforcement entirely effective
The national government should demand
! the highest quality of service from its
! employees and in return 1t should be
good employer. If possible, legislation
/ should be passed in connection with the
| interstate commerce law which will rem
/ der effective the efforts of different states
/ TO do away with the competition of con-
| vict contract labor in the open labor mar
| ket So far as practicable under the con-
/ ditions of government work provision
( should be made TO render the enforcement
of the eight hour law easy and certain.
( In all industries carried on directly or in
/ directly for the United States government
/ women and children should be protected
! from excessive hours Of labor. from night
! work and from work under unsanitary
/ conditions. The government should pro-
vide I'm its contracts that all work should
be done under fair conditions and, in
| addition 10 setting a high standard, should
| uphold it by proper inspection. extending
/ if necessary to the subcontractors. The