Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1901-12-06

depending upon any statutory law for
their existence or privileges should be
subject to proper governmental super
vision, and full and accurate informa-
ton 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 incorpo-
rated. There is utter lack of uniform
ity 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 impossible to get ade-
quate regulation through state action.
Therefore, in the interest of the whole
people, the nation should, without in
terfering 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.
Amend Constitution If Necessary.
When the constitution was adopted,
at the end of the eighteenth century,
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 a matter of course
that the several states were the proper
authorities to regulate. so far as was
then necessary. the comparatively in
poratc bodies of the day. The condi-
tons are now wholly different, and
wholly different action is called for.
| believe that law can be framed
which will enable the national 20 rern-
ment to exercise control along the lines
above indicated, protiting by the eXpe-
ricnce gained through the passage and
administration of the Interstate com
mcrcc act. If, however. the Judgment
of the congress is that it lacks the CON
sttutional power to pass such an act.
then constitutional amendment
should be submitted to confer the
power.
There should be created a cabinet of
ficer, to be known as secretary of
commerce and industries, as provided
in the bll introduced at the last SEES
sion of the congress. 1t should be his
province 10 deal with commerce in its
broadest sense, including among many
other things whatever concerns labor
and all matters affecting the great
business corporations and our mer.
chant maine.
Labor.
The president declares that he re-
CARDS 1t necessary to rc-onact the Chi
nese exclusion law. In regard to labor
he says that the government should
provide in its contracts that all work
should be done under fair" conditions
and that all night work should he for
hidden for women and children as well
as excessive overtime. He continues:
Very great good has been and will he
accomplished by associations or unions
of wagcworkerS when managed with
forcthOught and when they combine in
siStence upon their own rights with
law abiding respect for the rights of
i'll such bodies is Il duty to the nation
no less than to the associations them
selves. Finally, there must also in
many cases be action by the govern
ment in order to safeguard the rights
and interests of all. Under our cOnSti-
tuition there is much more scope for
such action 10y the state and the munic-
NV tt1t nt,
points such as those touched on above
the national government can act.
lie asserts that the immigration laws
are unsatisfactory and that Il law
should be enacted to keep out not ouly
anarchists, but persons of low moral
tendency or of unsavory reputation
and those who are below a certain
our industrial field as competitors with
American labor.
The Tariff and Reciprocity.
The president declares that nothing
could be more unwise than to disturb
the business interests of the country by
any general tariff change at this time
lie adds:
Yet it is not only possible, but emf
ncntly desirable, to combine with the
stability Of our economic system sup
Elementary system of reciprocal bene-
fit and obligation with other nations
Such reciprocity is an incident and re-
suit of the firm establishment and
preservation of our present economic
policy. 1t was specially provided for
in the present tariff law.
Reciprocity must be treated as the
handmaiden of protection. Our first
duty is to see that the protection grant
ed by the tariff in every case where il
is needed is maintained, and that reel
procity be sought for so far as it can
safely be done without injury to our
home industries. Just how far this is
must be determined according to the
individual case, remembering always
that every application of our tariff pol
icy to meet our shifting national needs
must be conditioned upon the cardinal
i