Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1902-12-03

come before the congress than this
OF the regulation of interstate busi-
ness. This country cannot afford to
sit supine on the plea that under our
peculiar system of government we
are helpless in the presence of the
new conditions, and unable to grapple
with them or to cut out whatever of
evil has arisen in connection with
them. The power Of the congress to
regulate interstate commerce is an
absolute and unqualified grant, and
without limitations other than those
prescribed by the constitution.
The congress has constitutional au-
thority to make all laws necessary
and proper for executing this power,
and ! am satisfied that this power has
not been exhausted by any legislation
now on the statute books. IL is evil
dent, therefore, that the evils restrict
i've of commercial freedom and en-
failing restraint upon national COM
merce fall within the regulative pow
er of the congress, and that a wise
and reasonable law would be a neces-
sery and proper exercise of congress
sional authority to the end that such
evils should be eradicated.
| believe that monopolies, unjust
determinations, which prevent, or
cripple competition, fraudulent over.
capitalization. and other evils in trust
/ organizations and practices which in
juriously affect interstate trade can
be prevented under the power of con-
gress to regulate commerce with for
eign nations and among the several
states" through regulations and re-
quirements operating directly upon
such commerce, the instrumentaIities
thereof. and those engaged therein.
earnestly recommend this subject
to the consideration of the congress
with a view no the passage of a law
reasonable in its provisions and ef-
fective in its operations. upon which
the questions can finally be adjudicat-
ed that now arouse doubts as to the
necessity of constitutional amend
ment. II it prove impossible to ac-
complish the purposes above set forth
by such a law, then, assuredly, we
I 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 betber
enforcement of the antitrust law as
II now stands. Very much has been
done by the department of justice In
securing the enforcement of this law,
but much more could be done IL con-
gress would make special appropria-
ton for this purpose, to be expended
under the dires1ion OF the attorney
general.
Removal OF Tariff.
Ou proposition advocated has been
the reduction of the tariff as a means
of reaching the evils of the trusts
which fall within the category I have
described. Not merely would this be
wholly ineffective. 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 cor
porations. many of those which should
certainly be included in any proper
] SttIllt vi Woulu uOl Dt dl-
fected in the slightest degree by a
change in the tariff, save as such
change interferred with the general
prosperity of the country.
The only relation of the tariff to
big corporations as a whole is that
the tariff makes manufactures profit.
able. and the tariff remedy propose
wound be in effect simply to make
manufactures Improbable. To re.
move the tariff as a punitive measure
directed against trusts would newt.
ably result in ruin TO the weaker com.
petitors who are struggling against
them. Our aim should not be by un.
wise tariff changes to give foreign
products the advantage over domestic
products, but by proper regulation to
give domestic competition a fair
chance; and this end cannot be reach.
ed by any tariff changes which would
affect unfavorably all domestic com.
petitors, good and bad alike. The
question OF regulation of the trusts
stands apart from the question OF
tariff revision.
Stability OF economic policy must
always be the prime economic need
| OF this country. This stability should