The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1902-12-12
TRUSTS AND THE TARIFF DEALT WITH
Ftfu Changes of Import Duties Menace to the Business
Interests of the Country Reciprocity Treaties
Desirable = Monetary Legislation -Rela-
lions of Labor and Capital

, possible. exactly as, on the other hand,
the stubborn defense alike of what Is
good and what is bad in the existing sys-
tenn. the resolute effort to obstruct any
attempt at betterment, betrays blind
ness to the historic truth that wise evolu-
ton is the sure safeguard against revo-
luton.
Importance of the Subject.
No more important subject can come
before the Congress than this of the
regulation of interstate business. The
country cannot 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 to cut out
whatever of evil has arisen in connec-
ton with them. The power of the Con-
gress to regulate interstate commerce is
an absolute and unqualified grant. and
without limitations other than those pre-
scribed by the constitution. The Con-
| gress has constitutional authority to
make all laws necessary and proper for
| executing this power, and l 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 freedom entail
| ing restraint upon national commerce fall
WllillH INC IeBuldtlNc puWeT VI tilc SOH-
| gress, and that wise and reasonable
| law would be necessary and proper ex
| ercise Of congressional authority to. the
| end that such evils should be eradicated,
Evils Can Be Done Away With.
1 believe that monopolies, unjust dis
| ordinations, which prevent or cripple
competition, fraudulent overcapitaliZa-
| ton, 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 "regu-
| late commerce with foreign nations and
| among the several states" through reg,l-
lations and requirements operating di-
| rectly upon such commerce. the instru-
mentalities thereof, and those engaged
| therein.
| l earnestly recommend this subject to
| the consideration of the Congress with a
| view to the passage of law reasonable
In Its provisions and effective in it's oper-
ations, upon which the questions can be
finally adjudcated that now raise doubts
| az to the necessity Of constitutional
| amendment. II 1t prove impossible to ac-
| complish the purposes above set forth by
such law. then, assuredly, we should
not shrink from amending the constitu-
| ton as to secure beyond peradventure the
| power sought.
The Tariff Question.
One proposition advocated has been the
| reduction OF the tariff as means of
| reaching the evils of the trusts which
fall within the category I have describ-
| ed. Not merely would this be wholly
Ineffective but the diversion of our eff
forts in such direction would mean the
abandonment OF all intelligent attempt
| to do away with these evils. Many of
| the largest corporations, many of those
| should ho Had in
any proper scheme of regulation, would
| not be affected in the slightest degree
| by change In the tariff, save as such
change interfered with the general pros
| perity of the country. The only relation
Of the tariff to big corporations as a
| whole Is that the tariff makes manufac-
| lures profitable, and the tariff remedy
| proposed would be in effect simply to
| make manufactures Improbable. To re-
move the tariff as a punitive measure di-
rected against trusts would inevitably re-
| suit in ruin TO the weaker competitors
| who are struggling against them. Our
| aim should be not by unwise tariff
| changes to give foreign products the
| advantage 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.
Fitful Tariff Changes Decried.
Stability of economic policy must al
| ways be the prime economic need of this
country. This stability should not be
fosslization. The country has acquiesced
in the wisdom of the protective tariff
principle. 1t is exceedingly undesirable
.N..- l. l..
that there should be violent and radical
changes therein. Our past experience
shows that great prosperity in this coun-
try has always come under a protective
| tariff; and that the country cannot pros
per under ftful tariff changes at short
intervals. Moreover, II the tariff laws
as a whole work well, and IL business
has prospered under them and is pros
pering, 1t is better to endure for time
slight inconvenience and inequalities in
some schedules than to upset business
by too quick and too radical changes. II
is most earnestly to be wished that We
could treat the tariff from the stand
point solely Of our business needs. 1t is
perhaps, too much to hope that partisan
ship may be entirely excluded from con.
sideration OF the subject, but at least
it can be made secondary to the bust
ness interests OF the country-that Is, e
Il
Unquestionably these business interest,
will best be served IL together will
hxity of principle as regards the tariff
we combine a system which will permit
us from time to time to make the neces
sary reapplication Of the principle to thu
shifting national needs. We must TAX
scrupulous care that the reapplicatioI
shall be made In such a way that 1t viii
not amount to dislocation Of our sys
TEN, the mere threat OF which mot q
speak of the performance) would pro
duce paralysis in the business energie
Of the community. The first considera
ton in making these changes would, o
course, be to preserve the principle whicl
underlles our whole tariff system-that is
the principle OF putting American bust
ness interests at least on a full equal
ity with interests abroad. and OF Away
allowing a Sufficient rate OF duty to NOR
than cover the difference between the Ia
I Dor cost here and abroad The well-be
ing OF the wage-worker. like the well
I being OF the tiller OF the soil. shout
: be treated as an essential In shaping on
whole economic policy. There must neve
+ be any change which viii 1eopardiEe tn
b standard Of comfort, the standard Q
, wages Of the American wage-worker.
A