Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-09
TBE coNsTITUrIoN avn

The CONSTITUTION " TRUSTS.
The suggestion OF President Roose-
welt that Il may become necessary to
amend the constitution in order to give
the general government sufficient power
to regulate and control the great com
binations Of course does not commend
itself TO the democrats. Their policy
in regard to the combinations being n
Of destruction, they cannot approve of
any plan that contemplates regulation.
They see in the antitrust agitation OPP
~portunity to strike a blow at the pro-
tective policy and they want to improve
1t, regardless of consequences to the
business and prosperity Of the country.
Representative Livingston of Georgia,
who is prominent in democratic coun-
about a constitutional amendment to
give congress power to regulate trusts is
worse han useless, because in his judg-
ment such an amendment could never be
ratified by three-fourths of the states.
Possibly not, but an argument of that
sort is by no means conclusive. Per
haps there are states a majority of
whose people do not desire government
regulation and control of the trusts, but
this cannot be determined until the
question has been properly submitted to
the people. However improbable 1t is
still possible that a great majority of the
people even of New Jersey could be in
duced to support a constitutional amend
ment such as the president has sug-
gested. At all events, there is no war
rant for assuming that an amendment
could never be ratified by three-fourths
of the states. If congress should de-
termine that 1t has not sufficient power
already to deal with the combinations
as 1t is desirable they should be dealt
with, then a constitutional amendment
should be proposed, so that the people
might have an opportunity to express
themselves on the question.
One objection made to proposing a
constitutional amendment is that it
would have a damaging effect upon
business and prosperity. Yet those who
urge this objection favor attacking the
combinations through the tariff, which
certainly would be far more serious for
business and prosperity. Taking the
tariff duties Off of goods manufactured
by the trusts would hit the individual
manufacturers quite as hard and prob
ably a good deal harder than it would
fhn annhfnotiond A1 Cnn1roser,on
Littlefeld says, If the reduction or re-
peal of duties did not embarrass the
business of independent competitors
then 1t would have no effect upon the
trust, and to invoke such legislation
would be idle. In one case II would
be imperative and in the other the eff
feet would be the reverse Of that de-
sired, demonstrating that under no con-
dition is the revision of the tariff a
remedy.
There are many who believe that the
constitution now gives congress ample
authority and power to control and reg
ulate the great combinations engaged
in interstate business. The question is
one for the decision Of congress and
there is promise that it will receive
consideration at the next session. If it
shall be determined that congress does
not possess the desired power then a
constitutional amendment should be
proposed giving the necessary authority.
Only in this way can the intelligent
and sober judgment of the country on
the question of governmental regulation
and control of the trusts be obtained.