The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-04

Government should have the right to in- spect and examine the workings of the great corporations engaged in interstate
 business. Publicity is the only sure re- edy which we can now invoke. What fur ther 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 companies or other asso- citations, depending upon any statutory law for their existence or privileges, should be subject to proper governmental supervision, and full and accurate in- formation 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, it has in practice proved impossible 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 cor porations doing an interstate business. This is especially true where the corpora tion derives a portion of its wealth from the existence of some monopolistic ele- ment or tendency in it's business. There h. In cin banks are subject to it, and in their case 1t Is now accepted as a simple matter of course. Indeed, it is probable that su- pervision of corporations by the National Government need not go so far as is now the case with the supervision exercised over them by so conservative State as Massachusetts, in order to produce ex- cellent results.
 When the Constitution was adopted, at the end of the eighteenth century, no human wisdom could foreteli 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 conn parativeIy insignificant and strictly lo- calized 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 in- dicated; profiting by the experience gain ed through the passage and administra- ton of the Interstate Commerce Act. If, however, the judgment of the Congress Is that it lacks the constitutional power to pass such an act. then constitutional amendment should be submitted to confer the power.
 There should be created Cabinet of- ficer, to be known as Secretary of Com merce and Industries, as provided in the bill introduced at the last session of the Congress It should be his province to deal with commerce in its breadest sense; including among many other things what ever concerns labor and all matters af- fecting the great business corporations and our merchant marine.
 The course proposed is one phase Of what should be a 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 firm our new position in the international tn- dustrial world: while scrupulously 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.
 The Wage-Earners.
 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 wage-worker are well off, 1t Is atn hot al nth will he well off too. It Is therefore matter for hearty congratulation that on the whole wages are higher today in the United States than ever before in our history, and far higher than ever before. Every effort of legislator and administrator should be bent to secure the permanency of this condition of things and its inn provement wherever possible. Not only must our labor be protected by the tar if, but it 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 so de- pressed that they can undersell our men in the labor market and drag them to lower level. I regard 1t as necessary, with this end in view, to re-enact imme- diately the law excluding Chinese labor CTS and to strengthen it wherever neces- sary in order to make its enforcement en- tirely effective.
 The National Government should de- mand the highest quality of service from its employees; and in return 1t should be a good employer If possible legislation should be passed. in connection with the Interstate Commerce Law, which will rem der effective the efforts of different States to do away with the competition Of con vict contract labor in the open labor mar ket. So far as practicable under the con ditions of Government work, provision should be made to render the enforcement of the eight-hour law easy and certain. In all industries carried on directly or indirectly for the United States Govern ment women and children should be pro- tected from excessive hours Of labor, from night work, and from work under unsanitary conditions. The Government should provide in it's contracts that all work should be done under "falr' condi- tions, and in addition to setting a nigh should uphold 1t by proper in spection, extending if necessary to the The Government should forbid all night work for women and as well as excessive overtime. For the District of Columbia good fac tory law should be passed and' as powerful indirect aid to such laws pro vision should be made 10 turn the inhab- | tied alleys. the existence of which is a | reproach to our Capital City, into minor streets. where the inhab tants can live un- | der conditions favorable to health and l
 American wage-workcrs work with their heads as well as their hands. Moreover they take keen pride in what they are doing; so that, indcp ndcnt or the re-