Arizona republican., 1904-12-07

But do not feel am disposed to grant unreasonable requests, spend the money of our company unnecessarily or without value received, nor expect the days of mistakes are disappearing, or that cause for complaint will not continually occur; simply to correct such abuses as may be discovered, to better conditions as fast as reasonably may be expected, constantly striving, with varying success, for that improve ment we all desire, to convince you there is a force at work in the right direction, all the time making progress -is the disposition with which I have come among you, asking your good will and encouragement.
 "The day has gone by when a cor poration can be handled successfully in defiance of the public will, even though that will be unreasonable and wrong. A public may be led, but not driven, and I prefer to go with 1t and shape or modify, in a measure, it's opinion, rather than be swept from my bearings, with loss to myself and the interests in my charge.
 Violent prejudice exists toward cor porate activity and capital today, much of it founded in reason, more in appre- hension, and a large measure Is due to the personal traits of arbitrary, un- reasonable incompetent and offensive men in positions of authority. The ac- complishment of results by indirection, the endeavor to thwart the intention, if not the expressed letter of he law Che will of the people), a disregard of the rights of others, a disposition to withhold what is due, to force by main strength or inactivity a result not jus tified, depending upon the weakness of ha 6l1i of nd lie ind to become involved in litigation, has ere ated sentiment harmful in the ex- treme and a disposition to consider anything fair that gives gain to the in dividual at the expense of the com pany.
 "If corporations are to continue to do the worlds work, as they are best fitted to, these qualities in their repre- sentatives that have resulted in the presen prejudice agains them must be relegated to the background. The cor porations must come out into the open and see and be seen. They must take the public into their confidence and ask for what they want, and no more, and be prepared to explain satisfactorily what advantage will accrue to the pub lie if they are given their desires; for they are permitted to exist not that
 
 they may effectively serve those from they derive their power.
 Publicity, and not secrecy will win hereafter, laws must be construed by their intent and not by their letter, otherwise public utilities will be owned anG, operated by the public which ere ated them, even though the service be less efficient and the result less satis- factory from a financial standpoint"
 BUREAU OF CORPORATIONS.
 The bureau of corporations has made careful preliminary investigation of many important corporations. It will make a special report on the beef in- dustry.
 The policy of the bureau is to ac- complish the purposes of it's creation by cooperation, not antagonism; by mak- ing constructive legislation, not de- structive prosecution, the immediate object of it's inquiries; by conservative | investigation of law. and fact, and by refusal to issue incomplete and hence l necessarily inaccurate reports. Its pol l icy being thus one of open inquiry in- to, and not attack upon, businesss, the 1 bureau has been able to gain not only ! the confidence, but better still, the CO., operation of men engaged in legitimate business.
 The bureau offers to the congress the | means of getting at the cost of pro duction of our various great staples of | commerce.
 Of necessity the careful investigation | of special corporations will afford the | commissioner knowledge of certain | business facts. the publication of which | might be an improper infringement of l private rights. The method of making | public the results of these investiga- | tions affords, under the law, a, means l for the protection of private rights. | The congress will have all facts except | such as would give to another corpor- atiOn information which would injure | the legitimate business of a competitor | and destroy the incentive for individ- | ual superiority and thrift.
 The bureau has also made exhaustive | examinations into the legal condition | under which corporate business is car ried on in the various states; into all | judicial deciions on the subject; and | into the various systems of corporate | taxation in use. I call special atten- ton to the report of the chief of the bureau; and I earnestly ask that con- gross carefully consider this report and | of the commissioner on this subject.
 INSURANCE
 The business of insurance vitolly af- fects the great mass of the people of | the United States and is national and | not local in it's application. It involves a multitude of transactions among the | people of the different states and be- twen the American companies and for eign governments. I urge that the con- gross carefully consider whether the | power of the bureau of corporations can not constitUtionally be extended to cover interstate transactions in insur- ance.
 REBATES.
 Above all else, we must strive to keep the highways of commerce open to all on equal terms; and to do this It is necessary to put complete stop to all rebates. Whether theshipper or the railroad is 60 blame makes no diff ference; the rebate must be stopped, che abuses of the private car and pri- Vate terminal-traclS and side-track sys- temS must be stOpped and the IagiSIa-