The Atlanta constitution., 1901-12-09

| 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 regulation, or
! taxation, can only he determined after
publicity has been obtained. by process
of law, and i'm the course of administra-
| tion 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 super
| vision. and full and accurate information
| as to their operations should be made
public regularly at reasonable inter
walls.
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 i'm
possible to get adequate regulation
through state action. Therefore. in the
Interest Ol lilt WnOle people, the nation
should. without interfering with the pow
er of the states In the matter itself. also
assume power of supervision and regula-
tion over all corporations doing an inter-
This is ESPECIALLY TRUE
WHERE THE CORPORATION DE
FROM THE EXISTENCE or SOME
MoNoPoLISTIC ELEMENT OR TEN
DENCY IN IT'S BUSINESS.
There would be no hardship In such
a
IN their case ii is now accepted as a sim
pie matter of course. Indeed, it is prob
able that supervision of corporations by
the national government need not go so
far as is now the case with the super
vision exercised over them by so con-
serVatiVe a state as Massachusetts, in or
der to produce excellent results.
1T was accepted a matter of course
that the several states were the proper
, authorities to regulate. 50 far as was
then necessary. the comparatively insg
nlhcant aud strictly localized corporate
bodies oii on, Of the DAY The conditions are
81 believe that a law can be framed
which will enable the national govern
nent 70 exercise control along the lines
aDoVe ind Gated: proiiting by the eXpe-
flenCe gained through the passage ana
administration Of the Interstate
commerce act. If. however. the judg
ment of the congress is that il lacks the
THEN \ CoNSTiTTTlO ONAL AMEND
MENT SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO
CONFER THE POWER.
There should be eated a cabinet Of
hcer, to be known as secretary Of COM
mcrce and Industries. as provided IN the
bill introduced at the last session of
congress. 1t should be his province to
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 merchant marine.
The course proposed should be for
the purpose Of broadening our markets.
TGf in Fapt pt-tG Il
ing firm our new position in the inter
national industrial word: while scrupu-
lously safeguarding the rights Of wage
worker and capital ST. If investor and
private citizen.