Mexico weekly ledger., 1905-10-12

State has tbs right to inquire into
the conduct Of these, its creatures;
and this power to investigate neces-
sarily implies the right to make such
an investigation as viii ind out some
thing. Weare not limited to the mere
visiting or the auditor Of d corporation
and having him exhibit his accounts
aud tell us what bis books show It
is true that figures never lie you put
them down right; but the auditors Of
sumo Of these corporations who put
down these figures may be, and some
times are, expert and monumental
liars. | would suggest that the Ma
tional government and the States, re-
spectiyely provide for public expert
accountants to make these examina-
tions whenever examinations are call
ed for
Now let take, just for AlYstra-
tion, the matter Of giving rebates. Do
you suppose that any statement Of an
lauditor Of a railroad company would
show that a rebate had been paid 20
John Jones Of $500 on shipment he
had made? Certainly not, There is
no voucher 10 the auditors Office that
shows any such amount or any
lamount-was paid John Jones as re-
bate. 1t is not done that gag. The
auditor may never know it was paid,
but the man who knows how these
things are done will look over the ac-
counts and he will see that On GER
tain day $500 was given to the general
manager on account Of expenses, OF
that $500 was given to the general at
torney on account of legal expenses,
His voucher stands there to show that
the money went to him. The auditor
OF the company would not know any.
thing about what tile general manager
or the general attorney did with the
: money. This simply illustrates hos
these things may be done. Let tht
state appoint a public examiner, whose
duty it viii he to run these thingi
down and see where the money goes
to see whether there we're unlawful
= Determinations made in that way "a
any other way, AS soon as oae deyicI
for discrimination is discovered anC
punished, the offender will inyen
some other way TO eyade the lawi s.
1t will require examinations from tim
to time to stop these Determinations
The examinations to be Of any yalnI
must be made by experts who ar
familiar with methods of coneealment
and such experts can be obtained from
the employees of the trusts il the Stat
will but fix the tenure and salary 0
the public accountant on libera
basis
4 Now, while the beef trust and th
oil trust aud the coal trust are all ur
4 lawful combinations for the purpos
OF Irving the price Of the commoditle
IN which they respectively deal,
n want to say to you fellow citizens, tina
"A II would be impossible for them I
accomplish their purposes but for th
transportation companies II th
transportation companies will obe
the Law, and treat all alike, and sho
no favoritism or discrimination, min
+ tenths Of the opportunity for the:
trusts 10 do harm Will Be removed.
would be better for the railroads then
selves IL they were compelled to Z
what is right and obey the eomnau
Of the Law " furnish prompt, efIlcIeE
+ and equal service to everybody at q
same price.
The laws OF Missouri provide TIL
+ combinations, pools or trusts may
punished IN one uf two ways, in Il
discretion ofeourt. First, they may
lined; second. their charter may<l
revoked, or In the case Of a forels
corporation, Its right to do business
this state may be revoked.
Now, let me ask you, fellow citizen
f.,,s.r.,-.-.,.. - - 4