The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-05-18
Government Should Not Enter
on Policy Of PattiRaHsn
MANUFACTURERS TAKE VOTE
Visitors at Atlanta Take Part In Bar.
becue-Party Will Visit Column
bus, Ca, as Guests of
That City.

Atlanta. Ma. 1.-THE National Manu-
facturers' association today passed a res
olrtion upholding the stand taken by
President Parry against the exercise by
the national government of the rate
making power of the railroads.
An interesting fight on the railroad
rate question has been waged behind
closed doors and in the hotel corridor ever
since the convention began and was not
settled until this evening. Both tho
executive and resolutions committees held
lengthy meetings for the consideration of
the question in which leading members Of
the organization supported the position
of President Parry against the exercise
b. the government of the rate-malxing
! power as taken by him in his annual ad-
dress. E. b. Pike of New Hampshire,
chairman of the standing committee of
the organization ON interstate commerce,
led the fight in behalf of the exercise OF
the rate-malSing power. presenting lengthy
resolutions to that effect. This after
noon the resolutions committee refused
to endorse Mr.. Pixies osition and pre-
sented a resolution to the convention
Which was unanimously adopted with
much applause, the advocates of the
pending legislation before Congress not
pressing their posi.io in the open con-
vention. The resolutions follow:
Enforce Existing Laws.
Resolved, That we favor the active
enforcement by the executive department
OF the general government of all EXIST
| ing laws to prevent the giving or accep-
tance of rebates or special favors (through
whatever devieel to or by favored shin
| ha INF 20
commerce commission 10 apply all the
| remedies at their disposal as provided by
the ornigal Interstate commerce and
tie Ellin's act amending the legislation.
! Resolved, That II the existing laws
fcf the detection aid punishment of the
giving Of acceptance of such rebates are
| insufficient or defective In any resnect
we favor the enactment of such further
legislation as may be necessary adequate
ly to deal with the evil and to secure
this complete prevention.
/ Resolved, Tat in order to carry into
effect the provisions os the foregoing
resolutions, Congress be asked that pro-
vision be made for the necessary exam
nation Of the books of the railroad cor
porations. something after the manner
Of the national bank examinations for
the purpose of detecting and eliminating
special favors, and determinations against
the small and less favored shippers, and
also that provision for adequate punish
ment he provided for improper disclosure
of confidential Information so gained"
Atlanta. May 1.-THE important feat
ures of the second days session of the
National Association of Manufacturers
were the addresses of President Samuel
Spencer of the Southern railway. the ad-
dress of Eugene N. Foss of Massachusetts
on reciprocity, and the report of the COM
mittee on resolutions. which caused a
lively debate and the rejection Of one
part of the report. which called upon the
isthmian canal commission to use Ameri-
can made goods In connection with the
canal construction
Increased attendance and increased in
terest marked the days programme,
which was opened BY Mr.. Foss, whose
prominence an advocate Of reciprocity
with foreign nations has given weight
to his words In a lengthy paper he dis
cussed the subject historically and eco
nomcally. lie followed by President
Samuel Spencer who spoke in part as
follows:
Mr.. Spencer Speaks.
"The act TO regulate commerce, passed
by Congress in 1887, was directed towards
the regulation of certain class of COM
mon carriers. The antitrust act of 1890.
known as the Sherman antitrust law, was
supposed at the time of its passage to
be directed solely against the so-called
Trusts or large corporations or cOInDlna-
tions engaged in Industrial pursuits other
than that Of transportation. The two acts
were intended to deal severally, one with
the function Of transportation conducted
by common carriers by rail; the other
with the manufacture and sale of COM
| modities.
"It has since been determined by judi
cial decree that both acts apply to tho
common carrier with the anomalous and
confusing result that If he carrier obey
| one law he runs the risk of disobeying
the other. The only way he can establish
that uniformity and stability in rates de-
| manded by the one law is TO enter
| into an agreement which may be forbid
den by the other
"The act of 1890 was intended not to
control or regulate. but practically to
suppress the growth of the industrial cor
porations.
Perhaps the most striking feature OF
Industrial conditions since its enactment
has been the continuous and enormous
increase in the number of such corpora
tlons, their almost uninterrupted growth
In wealth and efficiency and their COM
bination into larger units.
Represent Progressive Industry.
| "lnstead of being suppressed. these pow
| erfu agencies for economy and usefulness
| have grown until they practically repre-
sent the progressive industry of the coun-
| try. While the change from individual
| to corporate direction of industry may.
| in some cases, be due to force of circum-
stances, contrary to the preference of the
| Individual. there are few exceptions to
the rule that the change has been the
| result of that Individual choice which Is
| the very essence of industrial and COM
mercial freedom. 1t has been aptly said
that the corporation Is but the individual
! expanded.
! "Whether business be conducted by
! person, firm, or a corporation large Of
| small, II Is the ambition, the enterprise
and the achievement of the individual
that make 1t successful.
"The spirit OF Industrial and CONNER
| cial combination, founded on the funda-
mental laws of economy of production and
| of cheaper distribution. can never sup
| press or diminish the personal activity OF
any citizen. except of one whose natural