Evening star., 1901-12-03

should be regulated II they are found to
exercise license working to the public in
jury. It 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 insti-
tutions; and 1t is therefore our right and
our duty to see that they work in harmony
with these Institutions
Treatment of Trusts.
The first essential in determining how to
deal with the great Industrial combinations
is knowledge OF the facts-publicity. In
the interest Of the public, the Government
should have the right to inspect and ex-
anime the workings Of the great corpora
tions engaged In interstate business. Pub
licity is the only sure remedy which we
are needed in the way of governmental reg
ulation, or taxation, can only be determined
after publicity has been obtained, by pro-
cess Of law. and in the course OF admins
tration. 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. depending
upon any statutory law for their existence
or privileges, should be subject to proper
governmental supervision. and full and ac-
curate information as to their operations
should be made public regularly at reason
able 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 exclusive interest
in or power over their acts, it has in prac-
ttce proved impossible to get adequate reg
ulation 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 as
sumo power Of supervision and regulation
over all corporations doing an interstate
business. This 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
it Is now accepted as simple matter OF
course. Indeed, 1t Is probable that super
vision of corporations by the National Gov
ernment need not go so far as Is now the
case with the supervision exercised over
them by so conservative State as Massa-
chusetts, in order to produce excellent re-
suits.
When the Constitution was adopted, at
the end Of the eighteenth century, no
human wisdom could foreteI 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 a 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 action
is called for. 1 believe that law can be
framed which will enable the National Gov
ernment to exercise control along the lines
above indicated; prof1ting by the experience
gained through the passage and admins
tration of the Interstate-Co Act. If,
however, the judgment of the Congress is
that 1t lacks the constitutional power to
pass such an act. then a constitutional
amendment should be submitted to confer
the power.
A New Cabinet Officer.
There should be created Cabinet officer,
to be known as Secretary Of Commerce and
Industries, as provided in the bill intro
duced at the last session Of the Congress
1t should be his province to deal with COM
merce in its broadest sense; including
among many other things whatever con-
Germs labor and all matters affecting the
great business corporations and our mer-
chant marine.
The course proposed is one phase of what
should be a comprehensive and far-reachIng
scheme of constructive craftsmanship for
the purpose of broadening our markets,
securing our business interests on safe
basis, and making firm our new position in
the International industrial world; while
scrupulously safeguarding the rights of
wage-worker and capitalist, of investor
and private citizen, so as to secure equity
as between man and man in this Republic
With the sole exception Of the farming in
terest, no one matter is Of such vital moment
to our whole people as the welfare Of the
wage-workers. II the farmer and the wage
worker are we'll of, It is absolutely certain
that all others will be well of, too. It is
therefore matter for hearty congratula-
ton 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 secure the permanency Of this condition
OF things and its improvement wherever
possible. Not only must our labor be pro-
tected by the tariff. but 1t should also be
protected SO far as 1t is possible from the
presence in this country Of any laborers
brought over by contract. or OF those who
coming freely, yet represent a standard Of
living 50 depressed that they can underseu
our men in the labor market and drag them
to lower level. regard It as necessary
with this end in view. to re-enact imme-
diately the law excluding Chinese laborers
and to strengthen it wherever necessary in
order to make its enforcement entirely ef-
fective.
The National Government should demand
the highest quality Of service from It's en-
plcyes; and in return it should be a good
employer. If possible legislation should be
passed, in connection with the Interstate
Commerce Law, which will render effective
the efforts of different States to do away
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