The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1901-12-03
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT SPEAKS
WITH NO UNCERTAIN VOICE IN
HIS MESSAGE To CONGRESS-

erty IN which tho capital Is TO be In
vested, Corporations engaged In in
terHtate commerce should be regu-
lated 70 they are found 10 exercise
q license working 90 the public In
jury. IL should he a. much the aim
OF those who seek for social better
ment 10 rid the business world OF
crimes % cunning az TO rid the cn-
tire body polite OF crimes OF Vio-
lenee. Great corporations exist only
because they are created and safe
guarded by eur institutions. and IL
~ therefore our right and cur duty
to see that they work In harmony
with these institutions.
The FIRST essential In determining
how 60 deal With the great indus
trial combinations is knowledge OF
the facts publicity. In the intor-
eat 81 the public. the government
should have the right TO Inspect and
examine the workings Of the great
corporations engaged IN Interstate
business. Publicity is the only sure
remedy which we can now invoke.
What further remedies are needed
IN the way OF governmental rvEu-
lation. or taxation, can only be de-
termined after publicity has been
obtained. by profess ~ law. and In
the course Of administration. The
first requisite II knowledge. FUN and
complete knowledge which may be
made public 10 the world.
Artificial bodies, such az corpora
ttons and Joint stock or other ASSOC
Citations. depending upon any stat
utory law for their existence or priv
iieges, should be subject 20 proper
governmental supervision. and full
and accurate Information as 60 their
operations ehould be made public
regularly nj reasonable Intervals.
Federal Control Advised.
The large corporation, commonly
called trusts, though organised In
one state. always do business In
many states, often doing very little
business In the state where they are
Incorporated. There II utter lack
about them. and ~ no state has
any exclusive interest In or power
over their acts. u has in practice
proved impossible 10 set adequate
regulation through state action.
Therefore. in the interest 81 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 business. This IN
especially true where the corpora
ton derives a portion OF its wealth
from the sxistence OF somc monopo-
llstic eiem@nt or tendency In isn bnn-
mess There would be no hardship
ln such supervision: banks are sub
-. "A In hAf
now accepted az a simple matter Of
course. indeed. ~ In probable that
supervision Of corporations by the
national government need not SO 90
far as IL now the case with the
supervision exercised over them bf
go conservative a state as Nasss-
chusetts, In ordsr 10 produce excel
lent results.
when the constitution was adept
Ell. at the end 81 tho eighteenth CEN
fury. no human wisdom could FORE
tell che sweeping changes, alike IN
Industrial ard political conditions.
which were 10 take place BY the be-
ginning of the tweniirth century.
At that sime q was accepted as
matter of course that the several
states were the proper Authorities 20
regulate. 40 far as Was then n@ces-
cary. the comparatively insignificant
and strictly localized corporate
Suggests Law for Trusts.
bodies of the dag. The conditions
are now wholly different and wholly
different action IA called for. I he-
lleve that law can be framed
"a hich viii enable the national gov
eminent 70 exercise control along
the lines aDovs Indicated. profting
BY the experience gained through
the passage and administration of
the interstate commerce act II.
however. the Judgment % tbs con-
EreAs ~ that II lacks the constitu.
ttonaI power 20 pass such en- act.
then a constitutional amendment
should be submitted TO confer the
power.
There ahoufd be created cabinet
officer. 10 be known as secretary Of
commerce and industries. az pro-
yided In the bin introduced at tho
last session 81 congress. IL should
be his province 10 DEAL With com
merce In Its broadcast sense. inciud.
Ing among many other things what
e. err concerns labor and all matters
affecting the great business eorpor.
atoms and our merchant marine.
The course proposed n one phase
ef what should be comprehensive
and far-rcaching scheme Of con-
atructlvs sfatssmannhsD for thu pur-
lose Of broadening our markets. Sc
curing our business interests on a
safe basis. ard making firm our new
position IN the international indus
trial world: while acrtiputoualy safe
guarding the rights OF wage worker
and capitalist. % Investor and pri-
vate citizens, 80 a. 20 secure equity
as between man and man Ia this re-
public.
Favcrs Chinese Exclusion.
with the sole exception OF ths
farming interests. no one matter n
OF such vital moment TO cur whol'
people ms the welfare Of the wage
workers II the farmer and the wags
worker are well OF. Il In absolutely
certain that all others Will be wei
of too. IL II therefore a matter foi
hearty congratulation that on TN
whole wages are higher today In TN
United States than ever before In oul
history. and far higher than In AM
other country. The standard Of liv
/ ing IN also higher than ever before
I Every effort of legislator and admin
iatrator should be bent 10 secure TN
]
thinga and rs Improvement whereve
possible. Not only must our labo
be protected by the tariN, but !
should also be protected as far a
possible from the presence In thu
country OF any lnborers brought owe
By contract. or Of those who. com
ing freely. yet represent a Htandar'
Of living 80 depressed that they cal
underaell our men In the labor mar
ket and drag them to a lower Level
regard IL as necessary, with III
end In view. to re-cnact immediatel
the law excluding Chinese laborer
and to strengthen II wherever neces
sary IN order 70 make itS enforce
ment entirely effective.
The national government shout
demand the highest quality OF serv
ice from is employees. and in retur
II should be a good employer
possible legislation should be pass
ID, In connection with the interstnt
commerce law. which viii render Fl
fective the Efforts OF different state
Convict [ ahor Conaidered