The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1905-12-07

The message OF President Roose. |
telt, read at the first session Of the
Fifty-nlnth Congress, congrctu!ates
the people on the C ''"ned prosper
ity OF The nation. 2 relation
ship and mutual tnce upon
each other Of CAP. and labor are
pointed out, and ne message con
tinues
Corporations.
AZ Yet, while not merely admitting. but In
listing upon this, It Is also tue that
where there Is no governmental restraint
or supervision some OF the exceptional
men use their energies not IN ways lnat
are for the common good. but IN ways
which tell against this common good.
The fortunes amassed through corporate
organization are now SO large and vest
such power In those that vie them. as
(, "a make IN a. matter OF necessity 70 give
/; 10 the sUvereign---that Is, to the Govern
flent, which represents the people as
whole effective power Of supervis- 4
ion over their corporate use. ~ oruer 70
insure n healthy social and industrial NE
every big corporation should pc held re.
bponsible by, and be accountable TO, some
sovereign strong enough to controt us
conduct. ! am In no sense hostile to cor
poiatons. This Is an age OF combination
and any effort to prevent all. compina-
tion will be not only useless. but IN me
end vicious, because OF the contempt for
law which the failure to enforce law IN
SUITABLY produces. We should, moreover,
recognize In cordial and ample fashion me
Immense good effected by corporate
agencies in a country such as ours, ana
The wealth Of intellect. energy, and ildei-
ity devoted to their service land there
for normally to the service Of the public.
by cir officers and directors: The cor
Trade union has come to stay. Each can
DO and has done great good. Each should
be favored so long as II does GOOD, but
each should be sharply checked where II
acts against law and justice
The. President shows the impossi-
bility Of the individual states deal
Ing successfully with corporation
greed, and the necessity Of comforting
power upon the general government
even to the extent of proper amend.
ment to the constitution. He says:
II has been a misfortune that the
national laws on this subject have hither-
to been OF a negative or prohibitlve rather
that they have in part sought to pro-
hibit what could not be effectively pro-
hlbited. and have in part in their pro-
hlbitions COMPOUNDED what should pc
allowed and what should not be allowed
y lie generally useless to try to prohibit
all restraint on competition. whether this
restraint be reasonable or unreasonable:
and where 1t Is not useless It Is
generally hurtful. Events have shown
that II is not possible adequately to
secure the enforcement Of any law OF this
kind by incessant appeal to the courts.
The Department OF Justice has for the
last four. years. devoted more attention
Z, 10 the enforcement of the anti trust legis-
been accomplished; particularly marked
has been the moral effect OF the prosecu- .
tions; but 1t is increasingly evident that
there will be very insufficient beneficial
result In the way Of economic change.
The successful prosecution Of one deylce
to evade the law Immediately develops
another device to accomplish the same
purpose. What Is needed Is not sweeping
bad, which may tend to restrict. competi,,
tion, but such adequate supervision and
regulation as will prevent any restriction
OF composition from being to. the detri-
ment OF the public-as well as such
supervision and regulation as will pre-,
with restriction OF competition. OF these
abuses perhaps the chief, although by
no means the only one, Is overcapitaiiza :
tion-generally. itself the result Of as,
.aegils. i brings In Its train; for such over
capitalization often means an imitation
that invites business panic; 1t always con,
ceals the true relation OF the profit earned
Ito the actual capital invested. and IL
creates a burden Of interest payments
(which Is fertile cause OF improper re-
huctIon or In limitation OF wages; II
damages the small investor. dscourages
thrift and encourages gambling and spec
IulAtlon; while perhaps worst OF al Is me
ltrickiness and dishonesty which i implies
for harm to morals and worse than any
possible harm TO material interests. ano
the debauchery Of politics and business
by great dishonest corporations Is fal
worse than any actual material evil the,
NO the public. Until the national govern
ment obtains, in some manner whlch tnt
wisdom OF the Congress may suggest
proper control over the big corporation:
over the great majority OF the big cor
poratlons-it will be impossible to dea
adequately with these evils
am we'll aware OF the difficulties o
The legislation that am suggesting, AM
action in securing It. should emphatic
ally protest against improper radical Q
hasty action. The first thing to do
20 deal with the great corporations en-
gagged in the business Of interstate trans
Dec. 6 last, the immediate and mos
pressing need, so far as legislation !
concerned, is the enactment into law o
some scheme to secure to the agents 0
the government such supervision an
regulation Of the rates charged by tn
railroads Of the country engaged In inter
state traffic as shall summary an
effectively prevent the imposition Of un
lust or unreasonable rates. 1t must In
clude putting complete stop. to rebate
In every shape and form. THIS power I
regulate rates, like all similar power
over the business world should be, exeT
cised with moderation, caution. and sell
restraint; but 1t should exist, So that.
can be effectively exercised when tn
need arises
The first consideration to be kept
mind Is that the power should be affirm
alive and should be given to some ad
II given to the present Interstate Con
imerce commission or to a feorganize
Interstate Commerce commission, sue
lcOmmission should be made unequiyocal
Administrative. DO not believe In n
government interfering with private bus
ness more than Is necessary ] do n
believe in the government undertaking
any work. which can with propriety.
|Ieft In private hands. But neither do
believe In the government fiinching fro
overseeing any work when II becom,
evident that abuses are sure to obta
therein unless there Is government
supervisiofI. 1t Is not my province
sSsss Ds scsst SGT S q "a &c a St Es
lgf the Congress to certain existing COZ
IAitions With which 1t Is desirable to dei
ln my Judgment the most important pr
ivizion which such law should conta
ladmiaiatfatiFe body the power 70 decid
'Islnon the case being brought before !
3[hather given rate prescribed by 9 "a
4, !, TOAD H reasonable and tust, and II i
Khen. after full investigation Of the cor
Iplhint TO prescribe the limit OF ra