New-York tribune., 1902-12-03
PRICE THREE CENTS.
MESSAGE In CONGRESS.
PRESIDENTS TRUST VIEWS
AROUSE KEEN INTEREST.
CONSERVATIVE TONE GENERALLY COM
DEN, LODGE AND MLAURIN-
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUaE.I


washington. Dec 2.-The features Of PTesi-
dent RooseYelt's Message to Crngress which
gave rise the most comment to-day were
those relating to trusts and tn taFtu his
conservative treatment OF the trust problem
was generally commended as showing that there
was no reason 10 fear that the administration
would favor any measure which could possibly
have injurious effect on the business OF the
country. In connection with this conservative
tone of the Presidents Message the comments
of Senator John F Dryden Of New-Iersey- on
this subject. are Of Importance account Of
his large experience IN corporation matters. and
because he is a representative in the Senate OF
the State in which most OF the great corpora
tions have been chartered.
SENATOR DRYDEN's VIEWS.
The subject OF such gnituie and Of
such far reaching importance. and one upon
which any action by Congress may affect So
many interests that vital to the prosperity
Of the country" Mr.. Dryden said tonight. that
nothing should be done without the most careful
consideration. In the first place, it should be
asCertained what the evils in the present system
n1e. and in the second place. il should hA aa-
certaned what are the remedies for the evils
think that this would be much better than
TO make haste 10 provide a remedy and then
try 20 find some evil that the remedy could be
made to fit The shortness of the present ses-
sion will probably make il Impossible 10 do
much It is very easy to generaliZe, and there
has been a great deal of generalization as TO
the evils Of large corporations and as TO the
remedies which should be applied. but there Is
not YET any clearly defined and generally ae-
cepted opinion as to the nature of the evils or OF
the remedies to be applied That this condi-
ton exists even among those who are most
Jealous for immediate action is shown by the
perfect snowstorm of bills proposing widely DIFF
farent plans of legislation on this subject now
being introduced in Congress
IF we study the question historically from the
time when our ancestors emerged from state
of feudalisn. 1 think viii find that We have
little to complain Of in present conditions. No
legislator of the present day would think for
a. moment of voting for charters granting ex-
elusive and 1r1onopolisfie privileges such as were
formerly granted. not only by the English Par
lament but by 6uF ewn Congress and by our
State LEGISLATURES, The very men who founded
the Constitution Of the United States granted
charters, such, for instance as that oE the
United States Bank. which absolutely excluded
conlpetition The State OF Virginia gave 70 a
CORPORATION the exclusive right 10 navigate the
waters of that State and Hew-Yerk granted
similar n,onopoIy ss Fulton and livingston
IN our own State New-JersAy.- -AasxasAsF
Hamilton drew charter for manufacturing
ileges that a member Of the New-Jersey Legts-
lature charged Hamilton with having drawn
a charter which would give the COM
pany an absolute monopoly of manufact-
uring not only in New-Jersey, but in the
United states No such monopolies are granted
now. The charter of the United States Steel
Corporation gives II exclusive right IL has
competitors and will continue to have them.
It's stock is sold in the open market and any
S1nf e nl. and
become a partner in it's profits do not know
that it is an evil if great corporation is able
10 manufacture so economically as TO be able 70
sell cheaply 10 our own people and 10 foreign
nations II must be beneficial 70 the entire
country if our manufacturers are able to go
into the markets Of the world and bring the
money of other nations here for distributor
among our wage earners and farmers. the men
on whom the prosperity of the country has al
vavs rested and must continue 70 rest We are
now in state of transition, and il Is inevitable
that tbe changes going on should hurt some
individuals lust as the transition from stage
coaches to railroads hurt individuals. but We
should be careful lest in trying to remedy some
evil which has not vet been clearly dehned We
NAV iniure the industries of the country ara
those dependent upon them as ilNeS'oiS anu
wage earners-
A STRONG MESSAGE. SAYS Mr. LODGE
THE message is strong and interesting one"
said Senator Lodge. of Massachusetts "It
strikes me that the part devoted TO the trust
question will excite great deal of comment
! agree with the President in believing that
Congress should give early consideration 10
Hesitation for the regulation of the trusts 1t
strikes me that II is feasible and practlcapIe
70 rass laws before the end of this session that
Will carry out the Presidents ideas TO a large
extent.
president Roosevelts message IS an uDusd-
aI1I forcef1I and entertaining paper, said Sena-
tor McI.aurin OF South Carolina Its literary
merit is of a high order He has gone as far
a. nractica BILE with the trust issue. It is
GifHcyIIt matter for a man 10 make up his mind
for the regulation of the trusts. ana puts IL up
strongIx- on record in favor Of new legislation
for the regulation OF the trusts. and puts II up
TO- congress 10 devise the laws. II seems to
me that is about far as he ought TO go
fFor full text Of President Roosevelt's Message
see fourth pageD
T. J. HILL AGAINST BAD TRUSTS