The Holly chieftain., 1903-12-11

tutlGeS.
With nation as with man the most
important things are those of the house
hold. and therefore the country is espe
ksially to be congratulated on what has
NbeHn accomplished in the direction of pro-
vidin4 for the exercise of supervision
over the great corporations and combna-
lions of corporations engaged in inter
state commerce. The Congress has ere
ated the Department of Commerce and
Labor, including the Bureau OF Corpora
tons with for the first time authority 10
secure proper publicity of such proceed
lngs of these great corporations as the
public has the right TO know. 1t has pro-
Nided for the expeditng of suits for the
enforcement of the Federal antitrust
law; and by another law it has secured
equal treatment TO all producers i'll the
transportation of their goods thus taking
long stride forward in making effective
the work of the Interstate Commerce
Commission.
Department Of Commerce and Labor.
The establishment of the Department
of Commerce and Labor with the Bureau
of Corporations hereunder. marks II real
advance in the direction of doing all that
is possible for the solution of the questions
vitally affecting capitalists and wage
workers.
Functions of New Department.
The preliminary work of the Bureau
of Corporations in the department has
shown the wisdom of its creation. Pub
lcty in corporate affairs will tend 10 do
away with ignorance. and will afford
facts upon which intelligent action may
be taken. Systematic, intelligent inves-
tiGation is already developing facts the
Agwledge of which is essential to a right
Understanding of the needs and duties Of
/the business world. The corporal ton
which is honestly and fairly organized
whose managers In the conduct of its
business recognize their obiga ton to deaf
s1uarely with their stockholders. their
competitors, and the public. has nothing
to fear from such supervision The pur-
pose OF this bureau is not 10 embarrass
N9r asSail legitimate business. but to aid
Nm bringing about better industrial con-
hk iona condition under which there
shall be obedience to law and recognition
of public obligation by all corpora tions.
great small The Department of Com
merce and Labor will be not only the
clearing house for information regarding
the business transactions of the nation
but the executive arm of the government
to aid in Strengthening our domestic and
foreign markets, in perfecting our trans
portation facilities, in building up our
merchant marine, in preventing the en-
trance of undesirable immigrant in i'm
proving commercial and industrial cond-
tions. and in bringing together on COM
mon ground those necessary partners in
industrial progress-capital and labor.
Commerce between the nations is stead
fly growing in volume, and the tendency
of the times is toward closer trade ,rela-
tions Constant watchfulness is needed
to secure to Americans the chance to par
ticipate to the best advantage In foreign
trade; and we may confidently expect
that the new department will justify the
expectation of its creators by the exer-
else of this watchfulness as well as by
the businesslikc administration of such
laws relating to our internal affairs
are intrusted to its care
Capital and Labor.
The consistent policy of the national
government. so far as 1t has the power,
is to hold in check the INSCRIPTIONS man
whether employer or employe: but to re-
kkse to weaken individual initiative or
no hamper or cramp the industrial deveI-
opment of the country We recognize
that this Is an era of freedom and COM
bination, in which great capitalistic cor
porations and labor unions have become
factors of tremendous Importance in all
industrial centers. Hearty recognition is
given the far-reaching beneticent work
which has been accomplished through
T>32th corporations and unions, and the
line as between different. corporations.
between different unions, is drawn as
1t is between different individuals; that
is, it is drawn on conduct, the effort be-
ing to treat both organized capital and
organized labor alike; asking nothing
save the interest of each shall be brought
into harmony with the interest of the
general public, and that the conduct of
each shall conform to the Fundamental
rules of obedience to law, of individual
freedom. and of justice and fair dealing
towards all Whenever either cornora.
ton, labor union, or individual disre
garcs the law or acts in a spirit OF arli
trary and tyrannous interference with
the rights of others. whether corpora.
tons individuals, then where the
Federal Government has jurisdiction, 1t
will see to 1t that the misconduct Is
stopped. paying not the slightest heed to
the position or power of the corporation,
the union or the individual. but only to
one vital fact-that is, the question wheth-
er not the conduct of the individual
or aggregate of individuals is in ac-
cordance with the law of the land Every
man must be guaranteed his liberty and
his right to do as he likes with his prop
erty or his lalVr. long as he does not
infringe the rights of others. No man Is
above the law and no man is below it;
nor do we ask any mans permission when
kAe require him to obey it. Obedience TO
18the law Is demanded as 4 right; not asked
- favor.
Receipts and Expenditures.
From all sources, exclusive OF the pos
tai service, the receipts of the govern
ment for the last fiscal year aggregated
$3.50. 1896 674. The expenditures for the
same period were S50T. .u1s. .0G7 the surplus