Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1902-10-15

be REQUIRED to do business in every state
and locality upon precisely the same terms
and conditions There should be no dis
crimmation In prices: no preferences in
seryHce. Such corporations serving the
PUBLIC as carriers and in similar capacities
should be compelled to keep the avenues
the same terms and to observe the law
as to its iniunctions against sitting COM
petition. Moreover, corporations upon
which the people depend for the neces-
their business as to regularly and rea-
sonably to supply the public needs.
Affairs Should Be Made Public.
They should be subject to visitorial su-
peryisiOn and full and accurate informa-
ton as to their operations should be made
regularly at reasonable intervals. Secrecy
In the conduct and results of operation
is unfair to the non-managing stockhold-
erS, and should, as well as for reasons of
state, be prohibited by law.
II these serious evils were eradicated
and higher measure OF administrative
responsibility required in corporate officers
ing the reasonable. apprehension that the
unchecked aggression of the trusts will
result in practical monopoly of the i'm
portant business of the country.
If it be true that a state can authorize
or permit a monopoly of production with
in its borders because it has the power
over production as Sucn. although ii in
directly affects interstate commerce. may
not the United States regulate interstate
commerce over which it has exclusive con-
troll, even though it indirectly affects pro-
duction, over which, as such, it has no
control?
If congress under its power to regulate
interstate commerce may utterly destroy
a combination and forfeit its property in
interstate transit, as the Sherman act
provides, because ii retains such COM
merce, it seems reasonable to say that ii
can in the exercise OF the same power
deny 10 4 combination whose life it can
not reach the privilege of engaging in in
terstate commerce except upon such terms
as congress may prescribe to protect that
commerce from restraint Such a regula-
ton would operate directly upon COM
merce and only Indirectly upon the in
ton.
If the Sherman act exhausts the power
or congress over monopolieS. the Ameri-
can people find themselves hopeleSsly inn
potent, facing a situation fraught with the
most alarming possibilities. with which
neither the federal nor state governments
can deal.
While states may regulate the produc-
tion and sale of articles within their own
borders, at these borders their authority
ceases.
jefferson, in his letter of March Is. 1889,
TO Madison. says of the constitution:
This instrument forms us into one state
as TO certain objects. and gives US leg
islatixe and executive body for those OBJ
jectS."
Attitude CT the Supreme Court.
One hundred years later the supreme
court of the United states declared that
in the matter OF Interstate commerce the
United States are bnt one ~r'- -fr. and
are and must be S.,hjeCt to ODe system of
regulations, and rt 10 a multitude OF
systems"
These ere illuminating and vital state
nentS OF the ~ Siual purpose n found
Ing this govern. ut. u pto.iGe Tor M
tional control "a intercourse. NJ OF the
extent of the national nawer over il
These statements We're, made respectively.
by that great leader OF tie constructive
period who was most jealous for the re-
served rights of the states against the
encroachmcnt- OF the new national SOW
ereiglty, and by one Of the wisest judges
who have interpreted the constitutions
purpose and meaning In the light Of
such statements, then, can It he possible
that the people of the United States. feel