The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-10-22
TARlFFSAND TRUSTS.

propounded four interesting questions
to forty-four professors OF ecorrnnics and
allied subjects in colleges a1kl univer-
stiles east OF Chicago.
Question number one was as follows:
do you think that the powert; Of Con-
gress under the Constitution for con-
troll ng or restraining Industrial corpora
tons have been exhausted in tn e social
&c Sherman antitrust act?"
In answer to that question there were
eight Affirmative and twenty Eve mega
tive answers. The majority OF those
answering Favored Federal rega1lation OF
corporations. and. II necessary. consti-
tuuonal amendments to colu.er this
power upon Congress. although most OF
them are OF opinion that Coma ress has
not exercised all its powers In the en-
act:rent Of the Sherman law.
In answer to question numb er two
ARE YOU In favor Of amendments to the
Constitution to give Congress ddtional
power to control corporations twenty
three replied In the afnTma tive and
nineteen In the negative.
..Do you favor the reduction .or repeal
h : Z u ] e :
Of import duties on articles whose pro-
duction in the United States is controlled
by nonopolies?" was the thiro question.
In answer to this there were forty-one
affirmative replies and only t,so In the
negative.
That is most interesting as showing
the true spirit OF tar:n refor n among
the scho airs Of the land who have given
the subject Of economics the!r- careful
attention.
The Times is not opposed to corpora
lions. we peieve that they ai,e neces-
sary. and we believe that they would
exist even if the tariff should !se entire
~ abolished and the country be, put on
an absolutely free trade bass. But
that does not alter the fact thee. the So
right whatever to aid from, the. govern
mcnt in carrying on their affa trs. Our
motto is no findrance and no haslD from
the government to corporations or to
individuals IN the conduct of t.,e1r pri-
rate business. Let the governr &ent hold
hands on. Let Vt give all fair and
equal chance TO succeed and then let
the flttest survive. But for the govern
ment to put protective tariff ta.1:, some
times prohibitive tax. upon the, neces-
sar1es of life, and enable the gE mt COR
pora tons to charge their own urlces to
consumers in this country is mon
s,roue and utterly unjust able and IN
constitutional exercise OF the powers OF
government. The government has no
right to exercise the taxing power save
and alone for the purpose of raiedng rev.
enue and when that power is eSH.rted in
behalf Of any man or set of men, I'M
dividual or in combination it q commits
an unrardonapie sin acainst tfae body
polite. We are rAssp1l:!ised that these
professors of economies should be OPP
posed to a protective tariff tax. f7or they
know that it Is not only unjust, lsut that
II IS opposed TO the fundamental prtn-
cinles of political economy A fair field
and no favors should be the MOTTO OF
the government.
In reply to the fourth question:. as to
whether or not the professors favored
the appointment OF the Iar1n t;omn1s-
sion to prepare changes OF the tariff for
the cons deration Of Congress. twenty
tour SAID yes and fifteen said no. It
viii be seen that almost two-t'ttrds of
them favor an appointment of another
Tariff Commission, not merely for its
direct influence on legislation. tslt also
Tor the value or the next on tart s. prob
out Some OF them. however. ara utter
ly opposed TO the plan and say that it
is numbug and only trick 10 ls,tuddle
the public
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THE STRIKE is ENDECA.