The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-06-12
In Speech to Club Says Re.
striction of Commerce is
Fatal Mistake.
DEFENDS TIE RAILROADS
Sentiments Concerning Traffic and Rates
Loudly Applauded by Members
of tn, Association.

interstate commerce commission
be given rate-making power it
would have absolute dominion
over the commerce of the coun-
try and over all interests depend
ing upon commerce. 1t is to be
feared that evils would result
from the granting and exercise
of such power compared with
which the existing or alleged ex.
listing evils are as nothing"
In these words James ]. Hill,
president of the Great Northern
railroad, addressing $50 members
of the Illinois Manufacturers as
ISOLATION and their guests 81 the
banquet hall in the Auditorium
hotel last night, argued against
the granting of great power to
the commission that exercises
jurisdiction over traffic among
the states. He declared that
rates depended upon conditions
existing between the railroads
and other carriers and the char
acter of the products transported
and that the rate charged those
whose products are transported
should depend upon these condi.
tons. He said that railroads did
not charge more thar a fair and
reasonable rate for carrying pro-
ducts. and that, considering the
vast sums involved in the con-
struction and operation of the
roads, they should be allowed the
right to eern an amount sufficient
to meet their interest and divi-
dend obligations
1T is for the public interest,""
he said, 'that the amount to be
earned should be derived from
large volume of traffic at a low
rate rather than a small volume
traffic at a high rate.
Trusts, as aggregations of cap
ital, were warmly defended by
Mr.. Hill. He pointed out that
large amounts of capital were un-
dertakings are carried out. and
said that this capital could more
readily be furnished by cooperate
ownership than in any other way.
He did not defend, however, en-
terprises formed for the purpose
simply of specializing in securi-
ties. On this point he said:
There are a few individuals
in the country who might furnish
$50, 100000 or S1OO,OOO,OOO with
which to carry on any particular
branch of business, but there is
no certainty that they would fur
nish one dollar. A man with
that amount of money does not
need all the trouble aud annoy
ance attending large business
of any kind, so that it is necessa-
ry that his work shall be done
through corporate effort, and no
harm is likely to come to the
country growing out of the mag
nitude of the business.
HAS the enormous business of
the Krupp company in Germany
injured the German nation, or
any of its people? On the con-
trary, the nation and the people
are proud of the name of Crupp.
Can any one in this country point
out an injury inflicted on the peo-
pie which can be traced to the
magnitude of the Carnegie com
pany? The only serious objec-
ton to trusts has been the meth.
cd of creating them-not for the
purpose of manufacturing any
particular commodity, in the first
place, but for the purpose of sell
ing shares of printed securities
which represent nothing more
than good will and prospective
profit to the promoters.
IF it is the desire of the gen
eral government through con
gress to prevent the growth Of
such corporations, it has always
seemed to me that a simple rem.
edy was within It's reach. Under
the constitutional provision al.
lowing congress to regulate com.
merce between the states, al
companies desiring to transact
outside of the state in which they
are incorporated should be hello
to uniform provision of Fedora
1au. thov should satisfy a com.