Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-08

OMAHA, Jan. ITO the Editor Of The
Bee: The wild roar Of the menacing appeal
to the Internal fiat Of the BE II enacted
curse OF all good government lie again
sweeping over the country in full and dis
cordant chorus. Statutory remedies for In
cidental evils, which are inseparable from all
great expansions in commercial and indus
trial development, are as thick in the air
as a London fog, which they somewhat re-
semble in their binding effect upon the
people. Presidents and eN-presidents, states
men OF all ranks and parties appear to be
hot rivals In their vain attempts to prevent
by legislation over-issue Of stock and the
making Of large money by the great corpo-
%rations. Antitrust laws are exhausting the
genius Of invention by large and small
politicians and amateur Napoleons Of an
ance In vain attempts tn choke down and
hold down American enterprise by means
CT obstruction. II strikes some observers Of
the madness Of the times that when these
roaring philosophers pass laws in restraint
Of corporations that issue more stock than
their public guardians deem necessary, 1t
would be in perfect order to enact one to
abolish the fools that invest in II. The
country needs nothing SO much at this
period of wholly unprecedented prosperity
in the United States as It needs a radical
and effective anti-fool law.
Since the so-called granger laws were en-
acted and promptly repealed or amended
by Wisconsin and other states, for the
regulation OF railway freight rates, the un-
written laws Of business under the influence
and controlling power OF competition have
blessed and enriched our country with the
cheapest rates Of transportation which the
world has ayar Ennurn M hRVyaT pTOOf nf
the fact. which no informed man will oues-
ton, can be found thar is seen in the total
failure OF the interstate law 10
accomplish the main object OF its enact
ment. The essence Of 1t was to so regulate
railway freight rates thai no higher rates
could be charged for a short haul than was
charged for a long haul. l think there can
be no successful contradiction Of the fact
that It has utterly failed, after many years
Of trial, to do more than to vex and harass
business from the beginning. And why?
The ready answer is, simply because no
statute can be devised which can override
the res'stless unwritten laws OF business.
/ was much pleased with an editorial arti-
Gle III The Bee Of last Sunday wherein its
readers were told OF the independent bust
ness In our country which declares to all
men that competition is as fierce now in
all walks Of business. including steers and
steel, as II ever was in any day of our
history. And. by the way, what has be-
come Of that monster, the meat trust +?
Strayed, or stolen? The idea that any six
men or number OF men, including ]. P. Nor
gan and Edward A. Cudahy and his power
full packing associates, can control, put UP
and put down at will, the prices OF either
steel or steers in this country is equally
impossible and absurd.
What this country wants is commercial
freedom from the hindering and artificial
burdens OF tariff taxation and blind fool
craftsmanship. whose real foundation rests
upon governmental paternalism.
GEORGE l. MILLER.