Delaware gazette and state journal., 1902-12-04

leaving the farmer without a market for
what he grows. lnslstence upon the i'm
possible means delay in achieving the Pos
sible exactly as, on the other hand, the
stubborn defense alike OF what Ia good
and what is bad in the existing system.
the resolute effort to dbstruct any at-
tempt at betterment. betrays blindness 10
the historic truth that wise evolution Is
the sure safeguard against revolution.
No more important subject can come
before the congress than this of the regp-
latiou OF interstate business. This country
cannot afford to sit supine on the plea
that under our peculiar system Of govern
ment we are helpless in the presence Of
the new conditions and unab BILE to grapple
With them or TO cut out whatever of evil
has arisen In correction with them. The
power of the congress to regulate inter-
state commerce is an absolute and un-
qualitled grant and without Limitations
tuition. The congress has constitutional
authority to make all laws necessary. and
proper for executing this power, and am
satisfied that this power has not been ex-
hausted by any legislation now on the
statute books 1t Is evident therefore
that evils restrictive of commercial free,
commerce fall within the regulative pow
er of the congress and that a wise and
reasonable reason M , law welld be necessary and
icated.
ordinations, which prevent or cripple
competition, fraudulent overcanitnllzatfon
and ether evils In trust orgn ~ ttnna and
practices which injuriously affect inter-
state trace can be prevented under Tie
ppwer OF the congress TO regulate cc.l-
merce with foreign nations and among
me @ several states through regulations
and requirements operating directly upon
such commerce, the instrumeatalities
thereof and those engaged therein.
earhestiy recommend this subject to the
consideration OF thc congress with a view
TO the passage Of q law reasonable In its
proyisinns and eneetive in its operations,
ldtudieated that now raise doubts as 10
tae necessity Of constitutional amend
melt.. II Il prove impossible, TO accom-
sin law she RsTp'sss sssreS nsSys set by such
shrink from amending the constitution SO
as 70 secure beyond peradventure tho
power sought
The congress has not heretofore made
eny appropriation for the better enforce
Inent OF the antitrust law as ii now
stands. Very much has been done by Inc
department OF Justice in securing the en-
foreement OF this law, but much more
could be done II congress would make a
special appropriation for this PURPOSE to
be expended under the direction OF the
attorney general.
One proposition advocated has been the
feductlon of the tar!n as n means or
reaching the evils of the trusts which fall
wlthin the category l have described.
Net merely would this be. wholly inefec-
I'VE, nut the diversion of our efforts In
such direction would meaz tho aban-
comment OF an intelligent attempt 10 do
dNdS WIN ifFse evils. MANY OF the lar
gest corpora lions. many. Of those which
should certainly be Included IN any proper
scheme OF. regulation. would NOT be af-
fected In the slightest degree by change
tered with the general prosperity OF ihe
country. The only relation of the tarlfg
10 DlS corporations as a whole is that the
tarih makes manufactures profitable. and
the tarif remedy proposed would he in
eileet @ Simply TO make manufactures un-
punitive measure directed against trusts
would inevitably result in ruin to the
weaker competitors who are struggling
against them. Our aim should be not by
unwise tariff changes TO give foreign prod
ucts the advantage ov"r domestic prod
uets. but by prroper regulation to give do
this end cannot be reached by any tariff
changes which would affect unfavorably
all domestic competitors. good and had
alike. The question of regulation of the
trusts stands apart from the question OF
tariff revision.
Stability OF economic policy must al
WAYS be the prime economic need OF this
country. This stability should not be fos-
f,llization q, The country has ncqu!csced
principle. II is exceedingly undesirabie
that this system should be destroyed or
mat there should be violent and radical
shows that great prosperity in this coufi-
try has always come under a protective tar
III ana that the country cannot prosper
under titful tariff changes at short inter-
vals. Moreover. II the tariff laws as a
whole work well and IL business mas pros-
pered under them and is prospering 1t il
Detter TO endura for a time slight incon-
veniences and inequalities In some sched-
ules than 10 upset business By too quick
and too radical changes. It is mos. ear
nestly to be wished that we could treat
the tariff from the standpoint solely of
our business needs. II is, perhaps. too
much TO hope that pnrtisanship may be
entirely excluded from consideration al
the subject, but at least 1t can be made
secondary 70 the business interests Of the
Is, to the interests of our
people as a whole. Unquestionably these
business interests will best be served il
together with fxity of principle as re-
which will permit us from time 10 time to
make the necessary reappllcation OF the
principle to the shifting national needs.
reappllcntion shall he made In such way
that u will not amount to dislocation OF |
our system, the mere threat Of which, not
drce paralysis in the business energies
OF the community. The first considera-
tion in making these changes would. OF
underlics our whole tariff system-that Isl
the principle of putting American busi- |
with interests abroad and OF always al. |
lowing a sufficient rate of duty to more !
than cover the difference between the |
Ing Of the wageworker. like the well be- |
ing of the tiller of the soil should be |
treated as an essential in shaping our
be any change which will jeopardize the |
wages. of the American wageworSer.
One way In which the readjustment |
SOUGHT can be reached is by reciprocity |
treaties. It is greatly to be desired that |
5Ien ,l mst5 t5eaties a, may be adopted They can
a greater field for the activities Of our |
producers on the one hand, and on the |
the lowering OF duties when they are no |
longer needed for protection among our |
own people or when the minimum OF dam |
lEe done may he disregarded for the sake /.
of the maximum OF good accomplished |
II II prove impossible to ratify the pend !
Ing treaties and If there seem TO be no |
ars or TO amend the pending treaties so |
that they can be ratified, then the same |
pnd1to secure reeiprccity-should be met |
Wherever the tariff conditions are such |
that needed change cannot with advan-
tnge be made By the application of the |
reciprocit? idea, then II can he made out |
right by lowering of duties on q given |
product. II possible, such change should |
be made only after the fullest considera- |
lion by practical experts. who should ap- |
pro7ch the subject from a business stand |
point having in view both the particular !
interests affected and the commercial well (
being OF the people as a whole. The ma (
rhinery for providing such careful inves- /
legation can readily be supplied. The ex- /
acutive department has already at its /
disposal methods of collecting facts and !
figures, and II the congress desires addi- |
t'onal consideration to that which will be |
given the subject by its own committees. |
then commission OF business experts can !
he appointed whose duty II should be to |
recommend action by the congress after /
I deliberate and scientific examination of :
The various schedules ns they arc affected /
by the changed and changing conditions !
The unhurried and unbiased report of this !
would show what changes
should be made in the various schedules I
and how far these changes could go with I
put also changing the great prosperity I
which this country Is now enjoying OF !
upsetting its fixed economic policy.
The cases in which the tariff can pro- !
dnce monopoly are so few as to consti-
,nte an inconsidcrable factor in the qiIes-
ton; but, Of course. If in any case 1t be !
found that given rate Of duty does pro-