Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-12-04
MESSAGE READ TO
CONGRESS TUESDAY

honest corporation.
Curb, But Don't Destroy.
In curbing and regulating the combina-
lions OF capital which are or may become
injurious to the public we must be care
full not to stop the great enterprises which
have legitimately reduced the cost Of pro-
duction. not to abandon the place which
our country has won in the leadership OF
the international Industrial world, not TO
strike down wealth with the result OF
closing factories and mines, OF turning
the wage-worker idle in the street and
leaving the farmer without market for
what he grows. Insistence upon the i'm
possible means delay in achieving the pos
sible. exactly as. on the other hand, the
stubborn defense alike of what is good and
what is bad in the existing system, the
resolute effort to obstruct any attempt at
betterment, betrays blindness to the his
toric truth that wise evolution is the sure
safeguard against revolution.
No more important subject can come
before congress than this of the regula-
ton Of interstate buainess. This country
can not AFFORD to sit supine on the plea
that under our peculiar 81 stem Of gov
eminent we are helpless in the presence
of the new conditions. and unable to Crap
ple with them or to cut out whatever of
evil has arisen in connection with them.
The power of the congress to regulate in
terstate commerce is an absolute and I'M
qualified grant, and without limitations
other than those prescribed by the consu-
tuition. The congress has constitutional
authority to make all laws necessary and
proper for executing this power, and am
satisfied that this power has been ex-
hausted by any legislation now on the
statute books. 1t is evident. therefore,
that evils restrictive OF commercial free
dom and entailing restraint upon national
commerce fall within the regulative power
Of the congress. and that a wise and rea-
sonable law would be a necessary and
proper exercise Of congressional authori-
ty TO the end that such evils should be
eradicated.
I believe that monopolies. unjust dis
examinations, which prevent or cripple
competition, fraudulent overcapitalization.
and other evils in trust organizations and
practices which injuriously AFFECT inter-
state trade can be prevented under the
power Of congress to regulate commerce
with foreign nations and among the sew
eral states" through regulations and re-
Quirements operating directly upon such
| commerce, the instrumentalities thereof,
and those engaged therin.
Constitutional Amendment.
earnestly recommend this subject to
/ the consideration of the congress with a
view TO the passage of a law reasonable
in its provisions and effective in its opera
tiOns. upon which the questions can be
/ finally adjudicated that now raise doubts
amendment. II il prove impossible to ac-
cCmplish the purposes above set forth by
such law, then, assuredly, we should
not shrink from amending the constitution
so as to secure beyond peradventure the
power sought
The congress has not heretofore made
any appropriation for the better enforce
ment OF the antitrust law as 1t stands.
Very much has been done by the depart
,ment of Justice I'm securing the enforce
ment Of this law but more could be done
IL congress would make a special appro-
priation for this purpose. to be expended
under the direction Of the attorney gen.
eral.
One proposition advocated has been the
reduction of the tariff as a means of
reaching the evils Of the trusts which
| fall within the category have described.
Not merely would this be wholly ineffect-
/ i've. but the diversion of our efforts in such
a direction would mean the abandonment
of all intelligent attempt to do away with
these evils. Many of the largest corpora
| tons, many or those which should GER
/ tainly be included in any proper scheme
/ OF regulation, would not be affected in the
/ slightest degree by a change in the tariff
/ save as such change interfered with the
| general prosperity of the country The
only relation Of the tariff to big corpora
tons as a whole is that the tariff makes
/ manufactures profitable, and the tariff
remedy proposed would be in effect sim
ply to make manufactures Improbable.
/ To remove the tariff as a punitive meas
ure directed against trusts would newt
ably result in ruin to the weaker COM
| pettors who are struggling against them.
/ Our aim should be not by unwise tariff
/ changes to give foreign products the adj
I nj =
proper regulation to give domestic COM
petition fair chance; and this end can
i not be reached by any tariff changes
/ which would affect unfavorably all do
i nestle competitors. good and bad alike
/ The question of regulation Of the trusts
stands apart from the question of tariff
revision.
Protective Tariff Defended.
Stability Of economic policy must always
be the prime economic need of this coun-
try. This stability should not be fossil
ization. The country has acquiesced in
Il the wisdom Of the protective tariff prin-
i ciple 1t is exceedingly undesirable that
TINS system should be destroyed or that
/ there should be violent and radical
change therein. Our past experience shows
that great prosperity in this country has
always come under a protective tariff,
| and that the country cannot prosper I'M
4
walls. Moreover. IL the tariff laws as
1 whole work we'll IL Is better to endure
for time slight inconveniences and in
i equalities in some schedules than to up
set business by too quick and too radical
/ changes. IL is most earnestly to be wish
ed that We could treat the tariff from
the standpoint solely of our business
needs. 1t is, perhaps, too much TO hope
that partisanship may be entirely ex-
clude from consideration of the subject,
but at least it can be made secondary to
| the business interests Of the country
that is, to the interests of our people as
a whole. PROFESSIONALLY these business
interests will best be served II together
with fixity Of principle as regards the
! tariff we combine a system which will
permit us from time to time to make the
necessary reapplicatiOn Of the principle
10 the shifting national needs. We must
take scrupulous care that the reapplica-
ton shall be made in such a way that II
Will not amount to a dislocation of our
| system. the mere threat of which mot
/ 10 speak OF the performance would pro-
duce paralysis in the business energies
i OF the community. The first consideration
in making these changes would, OF course,
be TO preserve the principle which under
/ lies mr. Whole tariff svsfen,-fhat q the