The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-12-03

forms some great industrial feat by
which he wins money is a welldoer,
not a wrongdoer, provided only he
works in proper and legitimate lines.
We wish to favor such man when
he does we'll. We wish to supervise
and control his actions only to pre-
vent him from doing i'll. Publicity
can do no harm to the honest corpora
ton; and we need not be overtender
about sparing the dishonest corpora
ton.
In curbing and regulating the
combinations Of capital which are
or may become injurious to the pub
lie we must be careful not to stop
the great enterprises which have
legitimately reduced the cost Of pre-
duction, not to abandon the place
which our country has won in the
leadership Of the international in
dustria1 world, not to strike down
wealth with tho result Of closing
factories and mines, of turning the
wage worker idle in the streets and
leaving the farmer without a market
for what he grows. 1nsistence upon
the impossible means delay in
achieving the possible, exactly as,
on the other hand, the stubborn de-
fense alike of what is good and what
is bad in the existing system, the
resolute effort to obstruct any at
tempt at betterment, betrays blind
ness to the historic truth that wise
evolution is the sure safeguard
against revolution.
No more important subject can come
before the congress than this Of the
regulation of interstate business. This
country can not afford to sit supine on
the plea that under our peculiar sys--
TEN OF government we are helpless in
the presence of the new conditions.
and unable to grapple with them or to
cut out whatever OF evil has arisen in
connection with them. The power OF
the congress to regulate Interstate
commerce is an absolute and unquali-
fed grant, and without limitations
other than those prescribed by the
constitution. The congress has con-
stitutional authority to make all laws
necessary and proper for executing
this power, and I am satisfied that
this power has not been exhausted by
any legislation now OH the statute
books. 1t is evident. therefore, that
evils restrictive of commercial freedom
and entailing restraint upon national
commerce fall within the regulative
power Of the congress. and that q wise
and reasonable law would be a. neces-
sary and proper exercise of congress
sional authority to the end that such
evils should be eradicated
I believe that monopolies. unjust
determinations, which prevent or
cripple competition, fraudulent over
capitalization. and other evils in
trust organizations and practices
which injuriously affect interstate
trade can be prevented under the
power Of the congress to CIRCULATE
commerce with foreign nations and
among the several states" through
regulations and requirements operat-
ing directly upon such commerce,
the instrumentalities thereof, and
those engaged therein.
earnestly recommend this subject
to the consideration OF the congress
with view to the passage of law
reasonable in it's provisions and effec-
tive in it's operations. upon which the
questions can be finally adjudicated
that now raise doubt as to the neces-
sity OF constitutional amendment. IT
it prove impossible to accomplish the
purposes above set forth by such a
law, then, assuredly, we should not
shrink from amending the constitution
so as to secure beyond peradventure
tile power sought.
The congress has not heretofore
made any appropriation for the better
enforcement Of the antitrust law as it
now stands. Very much has been done
by the department of justice in secur-
ing the enforcement of this law. but
much more could be done il congress
would make a special appropriation
for this purpose. to be expended under
the direction of the attorney general.