Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-12-04

legitimate lines. we WISH TO FAVOR Sucn
A man when he does we'll. We wish to
prevent him from doing i'll. Publicity
can do no harm to the honest corpora
ton; and we need not be overtender
about sparing the dishonest corporation.
Cafe Should Be Exercised.
In curbing and regulating the cOmbina-
tons of capital which are or may become
Injurious to the public we must be careful
not to stop the great enterprises which
have legitimately reduced the cost OF pro-
duction, not to abandon the place which
our country has won in the leadership of
the international Industrial world, not to
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 market for
what he grows.
Insistence upon the impossible means
delay in achieving the possible. exactly
as. on the other hand, the stubborn de-
tense alike OF what is good and what Is
bad in the existing system, the resolute
effort to obstruct any attempt at better
ment, betrays blindness to the historic
truth that wise evolution Is the sure safe
guard against revolution
No more important subject can come
before the Congress than this of the
regulation of interstate business. This
country can not afford to sit supine on
the plea that under our peculiar system
of government we are helpless in the
presence OF the new conditions, and I'M
able to grapple with them or ito cut out
whatever of evil has arisen in connection
with them. The power of the Congress
to regulate interstate commerce is an
absolute and unqualified grant, and with
out limitations other than those pre-
scribed by the Constitution.
The Congress has constitutional author
ity to make all laws necessary and prop
err for executing this power, and | am
satisfied that this power has not been
exhausted by any legislation now on the
statute books. 1t is evident, therefore,
that evils restrictive of commercial free
dom and entailing restraint upon national
commerce fall within the regulative pow
err OF the Congress, and that wise and
reasonable law would be a necessary and
proper exercise of Congressional author
ity to the end that such evils should be
eradicated.
Special Appropriation.
l believe that monopolies. unjust dis
which prevent or cripple
fraudulent overcapitaliza-
tion, and other evils in trust organiza-
lions and practices which injuriOusly af-
feet interstate trade can be prevented
under the power of the Congress to
regulate commerce with foreign nations
and among the several States" through
regulations and requirements operating
upon such commerce, the instru-
thereof, and those engaged
therein.
l earnestly recommend this subject to
the consideration OF the Congress with
a view to the passage of a law reasonable
in it's provisions and effective in it's
operations, upon which the questions can
be finally adjudicated that now raise
doubts as to the necessity of constitu-
tional amendment If it prove impossible
to accomplish the purposes above set
forth by such law, then, assuredly. we
should not shrink from amending the
Constitution SO as to secure beyond per-
adventure the power sought.
The Congress has not heretofore made
any appropriation for the better enforce
ment 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 If Congress would
make a special appropriation for this
to be expended under the d.
rection of the Attorney General.
Tariff Reduction Opposed.
One proposition advocated has been the
d
reaching the evils OF the trusts which
fall within the category have described.
Not merely would this be wholly ineffec-
tive, but the diversion of our efforts in
such a direction would mean the aban-
donment 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 prop
err scheme Of regulation, would not be
a fnd in fhn oil tyHt hxr
change in the tariff, save as such change
interfered with the general prosperity OF
the country.
The only relation of the tariff to big
corporations as a whole Is that the tariff
makes manufactures profitable, and the
tariff remedy proposed would be In effect
simply to make manufactures unprofit-
able. To remove the tariff as punitive
measure directed against trusts would
result in the ruin to the weak
err competitors who are struggling against
them.
Our aim should be not by unwise tariff
changes to give foreign products the ad-
vantage over domestic products. but by
proper regulation to give domestic COM
petition a fair chance: and this end can
not be reached by any tariff changes
which would affect unfavOrably all do
nestle competitors. good and bad alike.
The question of regulation OF the trusts
stands apart from the question of tariff
revision.
Stability of economic policy must al
ways be the prime economic need of this
This stability should not be
fossilization. The country has acquiesced
in the wisdom of the protective tariff
principle. 1t is exceedingly undesirable
that this system should be destroyed or
that there should be violent and radical
changes therein.
Reciprocity Treaties.
One way in which the readjust meut
sought can be reached is by reciprocity
treaties. 1t is greatly to be desired that
such treaties may be adopted. They can
be used to widen our markets and to
give greater field for the activities of
our producers on the one hand. and on
the other hand to secure in practical
shape the lowering of duties when they
are no longer needed for protection
among our own people, or when the
minimum of damage done may be disre-
garded for the sake of the maximum of
good accomplished. If it prove impossi-
BILE TO ratify the pending treaties. and If
there seem to be no warrant for the en-
deavor to execute others. or to amend
the pending treaties so that they can be
ratified. then the same end--to secure
reciprocity be met by direct
legislation.
Whenever the tariff conditions are such