The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-12-04

| seek lCT social D6LIernne0L TO ria 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 safe
guarded by our institutions; and it is
therefore our right and our duty to- see
that they work in harmony with these
institutions.
The first essential in determining how
to deal with the great industrial combi
nations is knowledge Of the facts--pub-
licity. In the interest of the public, the
Government should have the right to in
sTect and examine the workings of the
great corporations engaged in interstate
business. Publicity is the only sure rem
edy which we can now invoke. What
further remedies are needed in the way
of governmental regulation, or taxation
can only be determined after publicity
has been obtained by process of law,
and in the course of administration. The
first requisite is knowledge, full and com
plete--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 sub
ject TO proper governmental supervision,
and full and accurate information as to
their operations should be made public
regularly at reasonable intervals.
The large corporations, commonly
called trusts, though organized in one
State, always 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
exclusive interest in or power over their
acts, 1T has in practice proved impossi-
BILE to get adequate regulation 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 corporations doing an interstate bust
| ness. This is especially true where the
| corporations derive a portion of it's
wealth from the existence of some mo-
nopolistic element or tendency in it's
business. There would be no hardship
| in such supervision; banks are subject
| to it, and in their case it is now accept
| ed as simple matter of course. In
deed, it is probable that supervision of
| corporations by the National Govern
ment need not go SO far as is now the
case with the supervision exercised over
them by SO conservative State as Mass
achusetts, in order to produce excellent
results.
When the Constitution was adopted, at
the end of the eighteenth century, no
human wisdom could foretell the sweep
ing changes, alike in industrial and po-
litical conditions, which were to take
place by the beginning of the twentieth
century. AT that time it was accepted as
a matter of course that the several States
were the proper authorities to regulate,
SO far as was then necessary, the COM
paratively insignificant and strictly local
lied corporate bodies of the day. The
conditions are now wholly different and
wholly different action is called for.
believe that a law can be framed which
will enable the National Government to
exercise control along the lines above
indicated profiting by the experience
gained through the passage and admin
istration of the Interstate Commerce Act.
If, however, the judgment of the Con-
gress is that it lacks the constitutional
power to pass such an act, then a con-
stitutional amendment should be submit
ted to confer the power.
New Cabinet Officer.
There should be created Cabinet Off
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 it's broadcast
sense; including among many other things
whatever concerns labor and all matters
oft ha huc
and our merchant marine.
The course proposed is one phase Of
what should be comprehensive and far
reaching scheme of constructive states
manship for the purpose Of broadening
our markets, securing our business inter
ests on a safe basis, and making irm our
new position in the international indus
trial world while scrupuously safe
guarding the rights of wage worker and
capitalist, Of investor and private citi-
zen, so as to secure equity as between
man and man in this Republic.
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 wage workers. If the farmer
and the wagc-worker are well off, it is
absolutely certain that all others will be
well VII W. IL Is lueIclOIC IL ildttCt lUl
hearty congratulation 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 it's improvement wherever
possible. No only must our labor be
protected by the tariff but it should alos
be protected so far as it is possible from
the presence in this country of any labor
ers brought over by contract, or of those
who, coming freely, yet represent IA
standard of living so depressed that they
can undersell our men in the labor mar
ket and drag them to a lower level /
regard it as necessary, with this end in
view, to re-enact Immediately the law
excluding Chinese laborers and to
strengthen it wherever necessary in or
order to make it's enforcement entirely
effective
The National Government should de-
mand the highest quality of service from
Its employees; and in return it should
be good employer. If possible legisla
ton should be passed in connection with