The Globe-republican., 1902-12-11

possible. exactly as on the other hand, |
good and what is bad in the existing sys- |
tenn, the resolute effort to- obstruct any |
attempt at betterment, betrays blind |
ness to the historic truth that wise evolu- |
ton is the sure safeguard against revo- |
luton |
Importance of the Subject.
No more important subject come |
before the Congress than this of the
country cannot afford to sit supine on
the plea that under our peculiar system
presence of the new conditions. and un-
able to grapple with them or to cut out
whatever of evil has arisen in connec-
gress to regulate intergtate commerce ne is
an absolute and unqualified grant, and
without limitations other than those pre-
gress has constitutional authority to
make all laws necessary and proper for
executing eS ing this power and I am satisfied
by any 1egisla ton the statute
restrictive of commercial freedom entail
ing restraint upon national commerce fall
within the reguiative power of the Con-
gress, and that a wise and reasonable
law would be necessary and proper ex-
end that such evils should be eradicated.
Evils Can Be Done Away With.
I believe that monopo1ies. unjust dis
competition. fraudulent overcapitaiiza-
tion, and other evils in trust organiza-
rec. interstate trade, can be prevented
under the power of the Congress to '.regu-
among the several states through regu-
IatIons and requirements operating di-
Fectly upon such commerce, the 1nstru-
nentalftfes thereof, and those engaged
therein.
the consideration of the Congress- with
view to the passage of a law reasonable
ations, upon which the questions can be
finally adjudicated that raise doubts
amendment If it prove impossible to ac-
conplish the purposes above set forth by
not shrink from amending the constitu-
tlon as TO secure beyond peradventure the
power sought.
The Tariff Question.
One proposition advocated has been the
reduction of the tariff as means of
fall within the category I have describ-
ed Not merely would this be wholly
ineffective, but the diversion of our eff
forts in such direction would mean the
abandonment of all intelligent attempt
TO DO away with these evils Many of
the largest corporations, many of those
which should certainly 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 pros
| OF the tariff to big corporations
whole is that the tariff makes rnanufac-
lures profitable, and the tariff remedy
proposed would be in effect simply to
| make manufa ctures Improbable To re-
move the tariff a punitive measure di-
| rected against trusts would inevitably re-
| suit in ruin to the weaker competitors
| who are struggling against them. Our
| aim should be not by unwise tariff
changes to give foreign products the
| advantage over domestic products but by
| proper regulation to give domestic com
| petition fair chance; and this end can
| not be reached by any tariff changes
| which would affect unfavorabIy all do
| nlestic competitors, good and bad alike.
| The question of regulation of the trusts
| stands apart from the question of tariff
| revision
FitfuI Tariff Changes Decried.
! Stability of economic policy must al
| ways be the prime economic need of this
Mi IiTi
| fossilization- The country has acquiesced
in the wisdom of the protective tariff
| that this system should be destroyed or
that there should be violent and radical
shows that great prosperity in this coun-
try has always come under a protective
per under fitful tariff changes a shor
intervals Morever. If the tariff law.
has prospered under them and is pros
pering. it is better to endure for tins
some schedules than to upset business
by too quick and too radical changes I
| could treat the tarin from the stand
point solely of business needs 1t IS
ship may be entirely excluded from con
: sideration of the subject. but at leas
| ness interests of the country-that is. t
the interests OF our people whole
| will best be served if together wit
hxity of principle as regards the tarii
|
| US from time to time to make the neces
sary reapplication OF the principle to tn
!: | shifting national needs. We must tax
| scrupuIous that the reapplica ito
| shall made in SUCH q way that it wi
| not amount to dislocation OF sy:
| tenn. the mere threat of which (not
speak of the performance1 would pro
duce paralysis in the business energie
of the community. The first considers
L ton in making these changes would,
| course, be to preserve the principle wtic
: underlIes our whole tariff system-that i
e | the principle of putting American bus
Il | ness interests at least q full eQua
h | ity with interests abroad, and of alway
y | allowing a sufficient rate OF duty to moi
n | than cover the difference between the l.
# bor cost here and abroad The well-b
o | ing of the wage-worker, like the wei
II being of the tiller of the soil. shou
g be treated essential in shaping ol
d whole economic policy. There must new
,r | be any change which Will jeopardize Il
l. standard of comfort, the standards
le wages of the American wsge-worker.