Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1903-12-11
TIE COUNTRY IS PROSPEROUS.
SUGGESTIONS Touching Upon Our
Public Policy-The Departments
Tn. .thmian Canal and Treaty
with panama-Olher ristters.
Introduction.

Introduction.
T, III. Senate and House Of Represen-
uliyes.
The country is to be congratulated
M the amount Of substantial achieve
npnt which has marked the past year
b,,b as regards our foreign and as re-
cards cur domestic policy.
Corporations.
With a nation as with a man the
most important things are those of the
household and therefore the country
!. especially to be cong. atulated on
vbat has been accomplished in the di-
rsc.iop Of providing for the exercise Of
slperrision over the great corporations
and combinations of corporations Gu
gagged in interstate commerce. The
congress has created the Department
Of Commerce and Labor, including the
Bureau Of Corporations, with for the
first time authority to secure proper
publicity of such proceedings OF these
great corporations as the public has
The right 10 know. 1t has provided for
the expeiiting Of suits for the enforce
ueDt Of the Federal antitrust law; and
by another law it has secured equal
treatment 10 all producers in the trans
portaton OF their goods, thus taking a
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 real advance in the direction
Of doing all that is possible for the So
luton Of the questions vitality affecting
capitalists and wage workers. The act
creating the Department was approved
Oh February Il, 1903, and two days
later the head of the Department was
nominated and confirmed by the Seh-
ate. Since then the work of organila-
ton has been pushed as rapidly as the
initial appropriations permitted, and
with due regard to thOroughness and
the broad purposes which the Depart
ment is designed to serve. After the
transfer Of the various bureaus and
branches TO the Department at the be-
ginning Of the current fiscal year, as
provided for in the act. the personnel
comprised 1880 employees in Washing
ton and 1886 in the country at large.
The scope of the Departments duty
and authority embraces the commercial
and Industrial interests of. the Nation.
1t Is not designed to restrict or control
the fullest liberty of legitimate bust
ness action, but to secure exact and au-
thentic information which will aid The
Executive in enforcing existing laws
and which will enable the Congress to
enact additional legislation, If any
should be found necessary, in order to
prevent the few from obtaining privi-
leges at the expense of diminished OBJ
p0Ttunities for the many.
Bureau Of Corporations.
The preliminary work of the Bureau
Of Corporations in the Department has
SHOWN the wisdom of its creation
Publicity in corporate affairs will tend
TO do away with ignorance. and will
afford facts upon which intelligent ac-
Ton may be taken. Systematic, intel
Hgent Investigation is already develop
M facts the knowledge of which is es-
seItlal to right understanding of the
needs and duties of the business world
Inc corporation which is honestly anc
lairy organized, whose managers in
lle conduct OF its business recognize
lhelF obligation TO deal sQuarely with
'helr stockholders. their competitors
and the public, has nothing to feal
rom such supervision. The purpose
u this Bureau is not to embarrass Of
assalI legitimate business, but to aid in
bringing about better industrial con-
ditl0n-a condition under which there
snail be obedience to law and recogni
uoh OF public obligation by all corpora
uohs, great or small. The Department
commerce and Labor will be no
olly the clearing house for information
iesaFdlng the business transactions o
ue Nation but the executive arm o.
.He government to aid in strengthen
aug our domestic and foreign markets
81 peT1eCung our transportation facl
lueS' IN building up our merchan
marine, in preventing the entrance O.
Undesirable immigrants in improving
numerical and industrial conditions
anu IN bringing together on common
hlouId those necessary partners in in
CCStrlal progress-capital and labor
Iohiiherce between the nations il
steadily growing in volume. and thu
,elilehey Of the times is toward close
uaue relations. Constant watchful
ness Is needed to secure to Americans
ele chance to participate to the hes
advantage i'll foreign trade; and W,
many confidently expect that the new
apartment will justify The expectation
Ns creators by the exercise of thi
"1'rhIuiness, as we'll as by the bust
neSsliKe administration of such law
teia'lng to our internal affairs as ar
"'fusted TO its care.
n, Capital and Labor
n Inc consistent policy of the Nationa
IO'eFllment, so far as it has the powe
70 mold 10 check the inscription
man whether employer or employee
W.. 10 refuse to weaken individual mi
1auVe or to hamper or cramp the in
yy wv development of the country
we recognize that this is an era of fed
maloh and combination, in whicl
s.edt capitalistie corporations and la
W. unions have become factors of tire
ueaoous Importance in all industrial
so onlers' Hearty recognition is given til
ba,Ieaching, benefcent work whic
n nas been accomplished through bot
operations and unions, and the lin
sSt between different corporations, as be
S 5"sen unions, is drawn as 1t is betwee
S %aereht individuals; that is, it /
avn on conduct, the effort being t