The Glenwood post., 1905-12-09


Fifty-ninth Congress, congratulates
the people on the continued prosper
ity Of the nation. The close relation
ship and mutual dependence upon
each other of capital and labor are
pointed out, and the message con-
unues:
Corporations.
Yet while not merely admitting but In
where there is no governmental restraint
Aor supervision some of the exceptional
men use their energies not in ways that
are for the common good. but in ways
which tell against this common good.
The fortunes amassed through corporate
organization are now large and vest
such power in those that WELD them. as
TO make II a matter of necessity to give
to the sovereisn-that is. to the Govern
ment. which represents the people
Wholesome effecti'e. power OF supervis-
insure a healthy social and Industrial life,
every big corporation should be held re-
r sovereign strong enough to control its
sonduct lam in no sense hostile to cor
~poratlons. This is an age of combination.
tion win be not only useless. but in the
end vicious, because of the contempt for
evitably produces. We should, moreover.
Tecognize in cordial and ample fashion the
agencies in country sulh as ours. and
the wealth OF intellect, energy and fidel-
to to their 9sa ssfScs sfEEe Of Ss pas
by their officers and directors. The
Saas n6n has bss to STAY Just tne
40 and has done great good. Each should
be favored SO long as it does good But
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:
It has been a misfortune that the
national laws on this subject have hither-
to S been Of a, NEGATIVE OF, or prohibitive rather
hibit what could not be efreetiveiy pro-
hibitions confounded what " should p be
allowed and what should not be allowed.
all restraint on competition, whether this
restraint be reasonable or unreasonable:
senerS Tsers suru is 9a usfsSs saSe shows #
that it is not possible. adequately to
The Department of Justice has for the
last four years devoted more attention
to the enforcement of the antitrust legis-
iation than to anything else Much has
been Rs OF hs
tions; but it is increasingly evident that
there will be very insufficient beneficial
TO eyade the law Immediately develops
another device to accomplish the same
purpose; What is needed is not sweeping
Ra35hin,hti,on .nh,nh OF every arrangement, good or
"tion,, but such adequate supervision and
Iesnlation as Will prevent any restriction
ment OF the ,public--as well as. such
supervision and regulation as will pre-,
vent other abuses In no way connected
with restriction of competition
The frst consideration to be kept In
mind Is that the power should be affirm
ministrativo body created by the Congress.
given to the present Interstate Com,
or TO He
commission should be made unequivocally
administrative. ! do not believe in the
government interfering with private bust
ness more than is necessary. ! do not
believe In the government undertaking
left in private hands. But neither do i
believe In the government tiinching from
/ overseeing any, work when it becomes
evident that abuses are sure to obtain
therein unless there is governmental
Indicate the exact terms of the law which
should be enacted: but call the attention
Sons S ShcS IT IS desabe 6 Sea
In my Judgment the most important pro
vision which such law should contain
Is that comforting upon some competent
administrative body the power to decide,
upon the case being brought, before H.
soad is and 3ust and q II ia i is
found to be unreasonable and unjust.
plaint. to prescribe the limit of rate
beyond which it shall not be lawful to go
commonly called-this decision to go into
effect within a reasonable time, and 10
review by the courts. II sometimes hap
pens at present. not that rate is too
gh & but that favored yors shipper is given
sion would have the right to fix this
already ,ho established minimum rate as
by the commission to cure railroad com
minimum rates. call your attention to
!,he fact tha. my proposal is not to give
a rate already iixed or originated by The the
CATION. a heavy penalty should be .ex-
froM any corporation which fails
regard This power to establish maximum
rate as being essential to any scheme of
resulatom The rst sees meeessty oi is to se
Is and tS.1s IS Is granted to the
ing the subject at All m>''e ~ " N"
disclaims any spirit OF hostility to
the railroads, pointing out the bene-
fits to be derived by the fair-dealing
roads in the even-handed administra-
ton of justice. In this both the hon.
est railroad man and the honest ship
per alike would be benefited. Ending
the subject, the President lays:
The question of transportation lies at
the root OF all industrial success. and the
revolution in transportation whicn has
taken place during the last half century
has been the most important factor in the
growth OF the new Industrial conditions.
Most emphatically we do not wish to see
J., vr,nV, rfu tai yaft nI fha
ward for his talents. Still less do we wish
TO see him penalized: but we do desire TO
sec the system of railroad transportation
So handled that the strong man shall be
RI EN- no advantage over the weak man.
~ wish to insure as fair treatment for
Dthe small town as for the big city, for the
. small shipper as for the big shipper In
the old days the highway OF commerce.
whether by water or by road on land.
was open to all; It belonged to the public
and the trafnc along It was free. at
present the railway is this highway. and
Va nnsf do nlir hest to zee fhat II Il kenf