Evening journal., 1902-12-02

what he grows. fnsistence upon the Inn
possible means delay n achieving the pos
stubborn defense alike OF what is good
and what Is bqH IN the existing system
.ne tes9ipss 80 ha ,r,a, airaVs bindness To
the historic truth that wise evolution is
the sure safeguard against revolution,
No more important subject can cone
before the congress than this Of the regu-
lation Of interstate business. This country
cannot afford 10 sit supine on the plea
that under our peculiar system OF govern
inent we arc helpless In the presence OF
the flew eohoitlona and unable to grapple
With them or TO cut out whatever OF evil
has arisen in connection with tpem' Inc
power Of the congress TO regulate inter-
state commerce Is an absolute and TIM
qualified grant and without limitations
other than those prescribed by the consti,
tuition. The congress has constitutional
authority 20 make all laws necessary and
proper for executing this power, and am
satisfied that this power has not been s, ex-
statute books. II Is evident. therefore,
that evils restrictive OF commercial free
dom and entaillne restraint un2n ma natloih iona,
commerce fall within the regulauve pow
er of the congress and that wise and
reasonable law would be necessary ana
proper exercise Of congressional authority
10 the end that such evils should be Grad
icated.
ordinations, which prevent or cripple
Competition fraudulent overcapitalization
and other evils In trust organizations and
practices which injuriously affect inter
state trade can be prevented under the
power Of the congress- to regulate com.
the the $ several S states through reg rssuiations
and requirements operating directly upon
such commerce, the instrumentalities
thereof and those engaged therein.
1 earnestly recommend this subject to the
consideration Of the congress with view
to the passage Of law reasonable in Its
provisions and effective in its operations,
upon which the questions can be finally
edjudicated that now raise doubts as %
tho Necessity Of constitutional amend
ment III IL prove impossible 70 accom-
| plish the purposes above set forth by such
| a law, then aEsuredly we should not
| shrink from amending the constitution 80
| as to secure beyond peradventure the
The congress has not heretofore made
/ any Appropriation for the better enforce
mcnt OF the antitrust law ms IL now
stands. Very much has been done by the
department OF Justice in securing the en-
/ forccmcnt OF this law but much more
could be done II congress would make q
, special appropriation for this purpose, "a
i be expended under the direction OF the
one proposition advocated has been the
i reduction of the tariff as means OF
Il reaching the evils Of the trusts which fall
| Not merely would this be wholly ineffec-
/ tive. but the diversion Of our efforts IN
i such direction would mean the aban-
/ donment Of all intelligent attempt TO dc
/ away with these evils. Many of the lar
| gest corporations. many Of those which
| should certainly be included IN any propei
| scheme OF regulation, would not be ar
| fected IN the slightest degree by a change
| in the tariff. save as such change inter
fered with the general prosperity Of III,
| country The only relation OF the tarin
| 20 big corporations as a whole is that tbs
| tariff makes manufactures profitable ant
| the tariff remedy proposed would be II
| effect simply TO make manufactures un
| profitable. To remove the tariff as
| punitive measure directed against trusts
| would inevitably result in ruin to th'
| weaker competitors who are struggling
| against them. Our aim should be not b,
| unwisc tariff changes to give foreign prod
ucts the advantage over domestic prod
| ucts. but by proper regulation to give do
| nestle competition a fair chance, an.
| this end cannot be reached by any tariff
| changes which would affect unfavorabl,
| all domestic competitors. good and pa'
| alike. The question Of regulation OF IN
trusts stands apart from the question o
tarim revision.
Stability OF economic policy must al
ways be the prime economic need of thi
| country. This stability should not be fOs
sliization. The country has acqulesce'
IN the wisdom Of the protective tarii
principle. IL Is exceedingly undesiraDl
that this system should be destroyed o
that there should be violent and radica
shows that great prosperity In this coun
| try has always come under a protective TAR
under ttful tariff changes az short inter
| walls. Moreover. II the tariff laws as
| whole work well and If business has pros
| pered under them and is prOspering, II j
] Veniences and inequalities in some schec
| ules than TO upset business by too quic
and too radical changes. II Is most ear
nestly TO be wished that we could trea
the tariff from the standpoint solely q
our business needs. 1t is, perhaps, 70
much 10 hope that partisanship may b
ent>rely excluded from consideration Z
the subject, but at least IL can be mad
) secondary TO the business interests Of th
4frs4s hot 20 f1rt
: people as a whole. UnQuestionably thes
D business interests will best be served
together with ixity Of principle as r'
CARDS the tariff we combine a systel
which will permit us from time to time I
make the necessary reapplication of tf
/ principle TO the shifting national need
We must take scrupulous care that III
reapplication shall be made in such a wa
. that IL Will not amount to a dislocation
J our system, the mere threat of which, M
e 10 speak of the performance, would pr
3 duce paralysis in the business energi'
D of the community. The first considers
4 ! tion in making these changes would.
| course. be to preserve the principle whic
, l underlies our whole tariff system-that I
, the principle OF putting American bus
with interests abroad and of always a
2 lowing a sufficient rate of duty TO mo-
than cover the difference between n
s labor cost here and abroad. The well b
c ! ing of the wageworker like the well b
{ | ing OF the tiller Of the soil. should
d treated as an essential in shaping OF
. | be any change which will jeopardize Il
| standard of comfort, the standard
T. | wages, Of the American wageworker.
One way in which the readjustme
g sought can be reached is by reciproci
= treaties IL is greatly to be desired tn
h such treaties may be adopted They e
r be used TO widen our markets and 20 gi
r a greater field for the activities OF o.
r | producers on the one hand, and on q
h other hand TO secure in practical shal
!, the lowering of duties when they are
I. | longer needed for protection among o
: own people or when the minimum of dar
! age done may be disregarded for the sal
y OF the maximum Of good accomplishc
. il IL prove impossible 10 ratify the pen
+ ing treaties and If there seem to be
o warrant for the endeavor TO execute OF
= ers or to amend the pending treaties
n that they can be ratified. then the sar
! end-to secure reciprocity-should be m
!, by direct legislation.
- Wherever the tariff conditions are su
a that a needed change cannot with adva
y tage be made by the application OF L
= fContinupd IN Third pauQl