Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1905-12-09


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
inues:
Corporations.
Yet. while not merely admitting. but in
sisting upon this, it is also true that
where there is governmental restraint
or supervision some of the exceptional
are for the common good. but in ways
which tell against this common good
organization are now so large and vest
such power in those that WELD them. a.
to the sOVereign--that is. to the Govern
ment, which represents the people as Il
wholesome effective power OF SuperVlS-
ion over their corporate use. In order 10
insure a healthy social and industrial me-
every big corporation should be held re
sponsible by, and be accountable to- some
sovereign strong enough to control ITS
porations. This is age of combinat ton
and any effort to prevent all combina
ton will be not only useless. but in the the
law which the failure to enforce law in
evftably produces. We should, moreover.
recognize in cordial and ample fashion the
immense good effected by corporate
agencies in a country such as ours. and
the wealth of intellect. energy. and fidei
ity devoted to their service and there
fore normally to the service OF the public
by their officers and directors. The cor
pOratOn has come TO stay. just as the
trade union has come to stay. Each can
do and has done great good. Each should
be favored so long as it 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 a proper amend
ment to the constitution. He says:
It has been a misfortune that the
national laws on this subject. have hithcr-
to been of a mega tive OF prohibitive rather
than affirmative kind. and still more
hibit what could not he effectively pro
hfnftsd. and have in part in their pro.
hihitions COMPOUNDED what should be
allowed and what should not be allowed
1t is generally useless TO try to prohibit
all restraint on competition. whether This
restraint be reasonable or unreasonabie:
generally huriful. Events have shown
that is not possible adequately /"
secure the enforcement of any law of this
kind by mcessant appeal TO the courts
the department OF Justice has Tor me
last four years devoted more attention
to the enforcement of the anti trust icgis-
lation than to anything else Much has
been accomplished; particularly marked
has been the moral effect of the prosecu-
tons: but il is increasingly evident that
there will be very insufficient beneficial
result In the way of economic change
another device to accomplish the same
purpose. What is needed is not sweeping
prohibition of every arrangement. good or
bad. which may tend to restrict competi.
ton, but such adequate supervision and
regulation as will prevent any restriction
OF competition from being TO the detrl-
superviSiop n and reeSa aiop W es i STe
vent other abuses in way connected
with restriction OF competition; or these
| abuses. perhaps the CHEZ: although by
no means the only one. is overca pi tlllza- :
! tiOn-generally. itself the result of dis
honest tinO--hpcnnSn Of m .4d
| evils it 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
| to the actual capital invested. and it
| which is a fertile cause of improper re-
duction or in limitation OF wages; it
thrift. and encourages gambling and spec
| ulation; while perhaps worst of al is the
| for harm TO morals and worse than any
| possible harm 10 material interests. and
/ by great dishonest corporations is far
worse than any actual material evil they
| ment obtains. in some manner which the
! wisdom of the Congress may suggest.
| engaged in interstate commerce that is
over the great majoiity of the big cor,
| adequately with these evils.
| The first considera ton to be kept in
mind is that the power should be affirm
ministrative body created by the Congress
| If given to the present Interstate Com
| Interstate Comrierce Commission such
commission should be made unequiv ocally
| government interfering with private bust
| ness more than is necessary. do not
any work which can with propriety be
left in private hands. But neither do
believe in the government fiinrhing from
| overseeing any work when it becomes
evident that abuses are sure to obtain
| supervision. 1t is not my province tc
indicate the exact terms of the law which
should be enacted: but call the attention
| of the Congress to certain existing con
| ditions with which it is desirable to deal
In my Judgment the most important pro
| vision which such law should contain
is that comforting upon some comEeten
| upon the case being brought before it
whether a given rate prescribed by 4 rail
| found to be unreasonable and unjust
| then. after full Investigation of the com
beyond which it shall not be lawful to g
commonly caIled-this decision to go into
review by the courts 1t sometimes hap
high but that Il favored shipper is giVer
too low rate. In such case the commits
already established minimum rate a:
the maximum and it would neeC
by the commission to cure railroad com
panies of the practice of giving imprope
|
the tact that my proposal is not to give
origina tie rates generally, but tn rcsula Il
| a nate already fixed or originated 10y th'
| roads upon COMPLAINT and after investi
CATION A heavy penalty should he ex
| acted from any corporation which fails
! to respect a order of the commission.
| regard this power 10 establish maximum
rate as being essential tn amy scheme O
real reform in the matter OF railway
| regulat ion. The first necessity - To Sc
cure it: and unless il j. granted 10 tn
commission there is little in touch
ing the subject IT all
Continuing. the President earnestly
disclaims any spirit of hostility tC
the railroads, pointing out the bene
fits to be derived by the fair-dealins
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 says:
The question of transportation lies n
| the root of all industrial success. and tn.
1 revolution in transportation which Ia:
! taken place during the last half century
i has been the most important factor in tn,
] growth of the new industrial conditions
Most emphatically We do not wish 10 SET
| the man of great talents refused the re
to see him penaliZed: but We do desire 4
tom. 81 Trnr