The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1902-12-02


dency to monopoly. which are popularity
known as trusts. The experience Of the
past year has emphasized. i'm my opinion.
the desirability of the steps I then pro
posed. A fundamental requisite of social
efficiency is q hirh standard of Individual
energy and excellence. but this is I'm no
wise Inconsistent with power To act in
combination for aims which cannot SO
well be achieved by The individual acting
alone. A fundamental base of civiliz3-
1iou IFS the invioiability oCproporty. but
this IS in no wise inconsistent with the
right OF society 10 regulate the exercise
OF the artificial powers which it CCnfers
upon the owners Of property, under the
name OF corporate franchises. I'm such q
way as 90 prevent Che misuse OF these
powers. Corporations. ana especially
combinations Of corporations. should Doe
managed under public regulation
National Action Necessary.
Experience has shown thut under our
system OF government the necessary SUI
pervision cannot be obtained by State
action. +: must therefore De achieved by
national action. Our aim is not 90 DO
away with corporations, on the contrary.
these big aggrCgauons are an inevitable
development OF modern iDtug.ri3llsm.
and tho effort 10 destroy them would be-
futile unless accomplished in ways that
would work the utmost misChio. 10 the
entire body polite. We can do nothing
Of s0od i'm the way or regulating and
supervising these corporations until We
FIX clearly In our minds that we arc not
attacking The corporations. but ondoav-
cring TO do away with any evil IN them.
We are not hostile 20 them; We are
merely determined that they shall De so
handled as TO suhserve the public good.
We draw The line against misconduct.
not against wealth. The capitalist who.
alone or In conjunction with his fellows.
performs some great Industrial feat by
which ne wins money is n welldOer not
wrongdoer, provided only he works in
proper and legitimate lines. We wish 20
favcr such a man when he does well.
We wish TO supervise and control his
actions only 10 prevent him from doing
ill Publicity can do no harm 10 thc
honest corporation and We need rot be
overtender about sparinE thg dishonest
corporation.
Safeguard Against Revolution
In curbing and regulating the combina-
tions OF capital which are or may become
injurious to the public we must be care
ful not 20 stop the great enterprises
which have legiJmately reduced the cost
or production. not 10 abandon the place
which our country has won I'm the lead
ership OF the international Industrial
world. not 20 strike down wealth with
the result Of closing factories and mines.
Of turning the wage worker idle in the
streets and leaving the farmer without a
market for what he grows. Ins,stCnce
upon the impossible means delay In
achieving the possible. exactly as. on the
other hand. The stubborn defense alike or
what is good and what is bad i'm the ex-
listing system. tho resolute effort 10 OBJ
struct any attempt az betterment. be
trays blindness TO the historic truth that
wise evolution is the sure safeguard
against revolution
The Power of Congress.
No more important subject can. GONE
before tho Congress than this OF the
regulation Of interstate business This
country cannot afford to sit supine on
the plea that uldcr cur peculiar system
Of government we are helpless in the
presence OF the new conditions. AID u
d bic to grapple with them OF 10 cut our
whatever Of evil has arisen in "olnec-
ton with them. The power Of the Con-
gress to regulate 3. terstate commercs is
an absolute and unqualified grant. and
without limitations other than those
prescribed by the Constitution. The
Congress has constitutional authority 20
make all laws necessary and proper for
executing this power, and I am satisfied
that this power has not been cXhaus,Cd
by any legislation now on the statute
books. il is evident. therefore, hat
evils restrictive of commercial freedom
and eatailing restraint upon national
commerce fan within the regulating
power Of the Congress, and that a wise
and reasonable law would De a neces
sary and proper exercise u Congress
sional authority 90 the end that such
evils should be eradicated.
/ believe that mOnopoGes unjust dis
ordinations. which prevent Of cripple
competition. fraudulent overcspitaliza-
tiUn. and ether evils in trust 0rganiza-
tions and practices which injuriously af-
fect interstate trade can be prevented
under the power OF the Congress to-
regulate commerce with foreign ma
lions and among the several States
through regulations and requirements
operating directly upon such commerce.
the iustTumentalitiCs thereof and those
engaged therein
Constitutional Amendment.
/ earnestly recommend this subject to
the consideration Of the Congress with.
view 20 the passage OF law reason
able IN its provisions 3nd effective in
us operations. upon which the questions
can De finally adjudicated that now
raise doIbts as 20 the necessity or con-
slitutlOn1l amendment II IL proves i'm
possible to accomplish the purposes
above set forth By such q law, Then, as
surcdly we should not shrink from
Imelding the Constitution so as % Sc
cure beyond peraiveature the power
sought.
The Congress has not heretofore made.
any appropriation FOR the better en-
forccnent OF the antitrust law as it 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 81 Congress would
make a special appropriation FOR this
purpose. % De expended under the d.
rcctiou OF the Attorney General
TARIFF REVISION NOT A