The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-15

where I live. The dominion OF each OF
these magnates extended perhaps 20 Madi-
son, Peru or Vincennes. Their private cars
and other official equipages have disap-
peared, but In some way we get on and the
plainest citizen rides to San Francisco or
Boston without change in such coach
as the old railroad president never dreamed
or No doubt certain forms OF monopoly
must from time TO time be restrained by
There is much just criticism ot some
methods OF great combinations for deal
ing in refined sugar and in oil But
over against II all stands the fact that
there are perhaps no two articles Of
common use which have fallen so much
In price or which are furnished with
little waste, annoyance and useless ex-
pense. ultimately paid by the consumer,
for advertising and transportation. AS we
sit at our breakfast tables and read sensa-
tionai headlines about sugar we may be
cOnsOled somewhat by the undOubted fact
that more breakfast tables furnished
with white sugar Of fine quality while we
read than on any morning since the world
began.
Nor is there any reason to fear that the
enormous product Of improved machinery
and mammoth factories will soon so supply
all demands that the labOrer will be with
out employment. Nothing increases so rap
idly and so easily as the objects which may
be used and for which money may be spent.
Many of you have had an income Of one
thousand dollars a year and felt sure that
If IL ever became two thousand you would
have no difficulty IN saving a considerable
sum each year. Presently the larger in
COME came and were you not astonished at
the perfect ease with which you could
spend II? How the necessities of life multi
pliedi There is no limit TO what the world
viii use If it can be had cheap. The phrase
necessities or life has so changed its
meaning in a hundred years that some one,
perhaps an Irishman. has declared that he
now cared nothing for the 'necessaries of
life and that IL he could have the luXuries
he would do without the necessaries.
The reveler in calamity need but look
about him and observe the people and their
manner Of life TO discover that there is
something wrong with his extreme theories.
When William III entered London in
triumph after the treaty OF Ryswick he
was greatly impressed by the multitude of
welI-dressed and comfortable people that
greeted him. But how insignificant a spec
taele IL was, when compared with the
mighty concourse enjoying comforts and
luxuries that William himself could not
command. that will crowd the historic
banks of the Thames to witness the cere-
monies attending the coronation Of Ed
ward the Seventh, If a few have gained
wealth. what an enormous Improvement
has been wrought In the condition of the
whole people in these two centuries
CONSTANT Discomfort.
But if there is to be constant progress
there must be constant discomfort. The
ever-present problem is as TO the best
methods of Improvement It is plain that
little can ought 10 be done by legisla-
ton dictated by envy or anger. 1t will al
in a statute any sum as limit for accu-
mutation. There be no agreement as
to what the maximum should be. as each
person desires it fixed little beyond his
own expectations. Nor could any fixed rule
on this subJsf produce anything approach
ing equality of condition. There would still
be a struggle 60 reach the limit in which
many would fail. 1t is also a mistake to
suppose that the evils OF the existing con-
ditions would be sensibly lessened if a
dozen men of great wealth and financial
power could be restrained or removed from
the body polite Their pre-eninence at
tracts notice, their names every
tongue, but lacking them the struggle
would not abate.
IF some bright summer morning your
swarthy guide should allow your light boat
TO drift quietly upon the clear waters of a
lake in the heart of the great Canadian
wilderness, lay aside your 1shing rod lean
over the gunwale and watch attentively
the tragedy of life below. You Will note
the great muscalonge lying laziy near the
bottom and keeping well IN the shadows
OF The rocks or weeds. The size attracts
attention. He feeds when there is oppOr-
tunity and requires no tiny morsel. But
observe the cOmmotion among the multi
tude of minnows in the shoal water and
marx the cause. 1t Is not the great fish,
but a number of half-grown black bass
whose activity is unremitting and whose
appetite Is unappeased.
The scene is in some measure typical Of
the struggles of commercial life. The am
bilious young man who mas million and
wants another can make serious trouble for
his feebler neighbors. And so In turn can
one who has less. and if there is to be re-
lief by elimination or suppression who will
say when it shall stop? There may be laws
that will in some degree modify and delay
the progress of natural and inevitable de-
velOpment and make the transition from
old to new conditions somewhat less dis
turbinS When commerce is worldwide.
laws enacted by the greatest nation en-
counter trouble enough on account of in
fluences and conditions beyond the field OF
their operation, and attempted regulation
by such States as the forty-ive of the
American Union must be at Ieast perplex-
Ing and Ineffective, If not absolutely HARM
full.
PREVENT DISCR ANIMATION
Determinations by ca rriers against per-
sons and localities should be prevented by
the most stringent laws. For revenue pri-
marily and incidentally to discourage in
some degree undue accommodations, reason
able succession and income taxes may per-
haps be justified. Corporations that serve
the public directly should be controlled by
regulating the kind of service and charges
therefor. So long as these subjects are left
to the unrestrained control of boards of di-
rectors all petty eXactions, such as special
taxes and large assessments for breach Of
duty or negligence, avail little. All such
extraordinary expenses are simply added TO
freights and fares. That competition may
be upon favorable terms well from
other considerations each company strives
to have such assessments as small as posi-
bic, but when the inevitable amount is as
certained, the aggregate of all exactions
falls upon the people served. Nor does any
one escape If he neither travels nor ships,
the freight affects the price OF much that
he buys and sells. This burden does not
fall upon the rich chiefly. 1t becomes in
tae last analysis substantially tax per
capita which if levied directly. would be
thought peculiarly oppressive.
Further than this, ii is OF the first i'm
portance that whatever laws exist should
be steadily and uniformly enforced. We
have too many statutes like old guns in an
arsenal that are only brought out in times
of unusual excitement and then mainly
used to make a noise. Such laws are much
worse than none, for they often furnish the
dishonest operator his opportunity and may
render lawful methods commercially i'm
possible.
THE administration of municipal law
r. 7I1lIIIiT y TT