Omaha daily bee., 1905-08-12

inquire whether it should not seek other
means for carrying into effect the law. I
believe that all corporations engaged In
interstate commerce should be under the
supervision of the national government l
do not believe in taking steps hastily or
rashly, and II may be that all that is neces-
sary in the Immediate future is to pass an
interstate commerce bill comforting upon
some branch of the executive government
the power Of effective action to remedy
the abuses in connection with railway
transportation. But in the end, and In
my judgment at a time not very far on,
that we ought TO, take further action as
regards all corporations doing interstate
business. The enormous increase in inter-
state trade, resulting from the Industrial
development Of the last quarter OF CEN
fury, makes It proper that the federal gov
to carry into effect its national policy as
sumo degree Of administrative control OF
these great corporations.
What Might BE Done.
II may that we shall ind that the only
effective way of exercising this supervision
Is 10 require all cOrpOrau ions engaged In
interstate commerce 70 produce proof
Commerce, that they are not parties 10
any contract or combination or engaged in
any monopoly in interstate trade in yio-
lation of the antitrust law, and that their
conduct on certain other specified points
is proper; and moreover that these cor.
pOratiOns shall agree, with a penalty OF
forfeiture OF their right to engage in such
commerce, 10 furnish any evidence of any
whenever so required by the Department
OF Commerce.
It is the almost universal policy Of the
several states, provided by statute, that
foreign corporations may lawfully conduct
business within their boundaries only when
they produce certificates that they have
complied with the requirements OF their
respective states; in other words, that
CORPORATIONS shall not enjoy the privileges
ernments without first complying with the
policy OF their laws. Now the benefits
trade enjoy under the United States gov
eminent are iuCalculdble; ana in respect Of
such trade the jurisdiction OF the federal
government Is supreme when II chooses
to exercise II.
When, as is now the case. many Of the
great corporations consistently strain the
last resources OF legal technicalty TO
able regulation OF their business. the only
way effectively to meet this attitude on
their part is to give 20 the executive de-
partment OF the government a more direct
and therefore more efficient supervision
! OF their management.
Regulation Must he Equitable.
/ In speaking against the abuses commit
ted by certain very wealthy corporations
! seeking so far as IL can safely be done
/ 70 remedy these abuses, there Is always
danger lest what Is said may be msin-
/ terpreted as an attack upon men Of means
/ generally. Now n can not too often be
/ repeated in a republic like ours that the
| only way by which IL Is possible perma-
nently 70 benefit the condition OF the less
/ able and less fortunate. Is to 20 shape
our policy that all industrious and EN-
| Client people who act decentiy may be
| benefited, and this means. II course that
the benefit will come even more 10 the
more able and mole fortunate. n under
such circumstances, the less fortunate
| man is moved by envy OF his more for
under which they have both. though I'M
I equally, prospered. he may rest assured
| that while the result may be damaging
] 10 the other man, Il will be even more
damaging 70 himself OF course, / am