The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1902-09-05
THE TRUST PROBLEM
NEITHER POLITICAL PARTY CAN
AGREE ON A SOLUTION.
New York journal of Commerce Be-
lieves Legislation is Imperative,
and Presents a Definite Policy
Vague Discussion Unproductive.

Neither the Republicans nor tie
Democrats are agreed upon the solu-
ton of the trust problem. President
Roosevelt favors additional legislation
of the restrictive sort, especially, 1t
is understood, in the direction of
publicity" He has not hesitated to
propose a constitutional amendment
comforting power upon Congress to
reach trusts that are not engaged In
interstate commerce, and men of the
Littlefeld school are in accord with
him. On the other hand, the Cum
minis sort Of Republicans, while favor
ing the publicity remedy, are disposed
to attach more Importance to the in
direct method of attacking the mon
opolistic trusts-that of tariff reduc-
ton on goods competing with trust
manufactured products. This is the
Iowa idea," and it is destined to grow
in popularity.
The Democrats are likewise a
house divided against itself ON the
trust question. Judge Griggs, Mr..
Villas and the "reorganizers" generally
would attack trusts through the tariff
and have little or no faith in regula.
ton and restriction. Mr.. Bryan and
his followers, on the other hand, are
Indifferent to this indirect method and
demand stringent national legislation,
constitutional amendment for the
more effective control of trusts, etc.
These Emergencies will necessarily
affect the political discussion of the
subject.
In the circumstances actually eX-
listing neutral, nonpartisan and care
full programs or outlines of trust leg
islation deserve attention and study.
Our Independent and able contempt
rary, the New York Journal of Com
merce, has Just presented its own
solution of the problem. 1t believes
that definite trust policy is the need
of the hour, and that new legislation
is imperative. To what end or ends
SHOULD new legislation be directed?
Here is the answer
81. Protect competition as the most
effective preventive of monopoly.
90 Reduce the tariff to a moderate
revenue basis, especially on products
dominated by large corporations.
20. Reform state corporation laws
which now permit one state to openly
defeat the laws of another state, do.
ing elsewhere acts unlawful within its
own borders.
"a. Reform legislation permitting
monopolies based upon patents and
public franchises.
"5. Secure reasonable publicity in
the affairs of large corporations.
IS. Secure national laws against
fictional capitalization of corporations.
~. Establish government supervs
ion of real or national monopolies.
IS. Enact such laws as may be nee
essary to protect small rivals from
unjust competition.
80. Compel public officers to
stricter enforcement of existing laws
against restraint of trade.
40. Oppose vigorously all legisla-
ton leaning toward public ownership;
preferring government supervision as
safer and more efficient than socialis-
tic control"
Eight of these planks will be &C.
ceptable to all reasonable, progress
sive and pubic-spirited citizens,
though we are bound to point out that
plank l is indefinite and plank s a
repetition or reaffirmation of the first.
The principle, however, is thoroughly
sound. Let Socialists say what they
please about the failure of competi-
ton. Except in the sphere of natural
monopoly, of the so-callel public
utilities" competition, actual or po-
tential, is still the life of trade" the
effective safeguard of the consumers
interests.
The debatable planks are these:
Reduce the tariff to moderate rev.
enue basis" and establish govern
ment supervision of real or national
monopolies." Tariffreform Demo
Gratis, and those Republicans who be-
lieve that protection has nearly done
it's work and may now be discarded,
in many directions at least, save in
so far as it may result incidentally
liOln iSNCHuC uullCo, Will ouUbCTlDt W
the first, and many of them will also
accept the second of these doubtful"
planks. Protectionists of either party
will naturally object to the first, what
ever they may think Of the second
The government supervision" plank
needs elaboration; it may or may not
be radical, and it may or may not
involve a constitutional amendment
Before asserting or dissenting a bill
of particulars may be required.
But the example of our commercial
contemporary may be commended to
other independent, non-political agen-
cies and bodies. Let us have definite
proposals and outlines. Vague discus
sion or Illumination will not advance
the iscussion.-Chicago Evening
Post.
Roosevelt and the Trusts.