Gilpin observer., 1907-08-22

/ DenenC1al 10 the PUBIC.
| Second, because 1t would involve an
expenditure of certainly twelve billions
of dollars to acquire the interstate rail-
ways and the creation Of an enormous
national debt.
"Third, because 1t would place in the
hands Of a reckless executive power
of control over business and politics
that the imagination can hardly con-
ceive, and would expose our popular
institutions to danger.
1.-THE movement of competing rail-
way companies to consolidate arose
originally from fear that the anti
trust act forbade them to make agree
ments as to uniform tariffs. II
they were now permitted to make such
agreements subject to the approval of
the interstate commerce commission.
such a tendency would lose much OF its
force.
Restrain Trusts by Injunction.
Another and perhaps the most ef-
fective method in the past for an un-
lawful trust to maintain itself has
been to secure secret rebates or other
unlawful advantage in transportation
by threat of Withholding business from
the carrier.
This is undoubtedly what has en-
abled the Standard Oil Company and
the Sugar trust and other great COM
binations to reap an illegal harvest
and to drive all competitors from the
field.
"If by asserting complete federal
control over the interstate railways
of the country we can suppress secret
rebates and determinations of other
kinds we shall have gone long way
in the suppression Of the unlawful
trusts.
"Mr. Bryan asks me what would
do with the trusts:
II answer that I would restrain un-
lawful trusts with all the efficiency of
injunctive process and would punish
with all the severity of criminal prosecu-
tion every attempt on the part OF ag-
gregated capital through the illegal
means / have described to suppress
competition.
1.-THE attitude OF the government
toward combinations Of capital for the
reduction in the cost of production
should be exactly the same as toward
the combinations OF labor for the pur-
pose of bettering the conditions of the
wage worker and of increasing his
share of the joint profit of capital and
labor.
Differs With Bryan.
"Mr. Bryan's method of suppressing
unlawful trusts would be to require
every person, partnership or corpora
ton engaged in interstate traffic to
take out a federal license, and by
Withholding such licenses from illegal
trusts he would make them impossible
1t is probable that a statute embody-
ing this plan could be drawn which
! would stand the test OF the constitu-
ton. 1t would, however, have to con-
tain some provision for ultimate ju-
dicial determination of those appli-
cants for license who were violating
the antitrust law, ana thus involve
the same litigation we now have.
zone of the results of the conditions
and evils which l have been describ-
ing has been the concentration OF
men.
Federal action for a federal end
may legitimately have an indirect ef-
feet to aid the states in reforms Pc
culiarly within their cognizance.
when, therefore, the government
revenues need addition. or readjust-
ment l believe a federal graduated in
heritance tax to be a useful means of
raising government funds. 1t Is cas-
lily and certainly collected.
THE incidence of taxation is heav-
| lest Oh tuOSc pest dDic 10 StdHu II, duu
indirectly, while not placing undue re-
striction on individual effort, it would
moderate the enthusiasm for the
,, amassing of immense fortunes.
"A graduated income tax would
also discourage the accumulation of
enormous wealth, but the Supreme
Court has held an income tax not to
be a valid exercise of power by the
federal government. The objection to
1t from a practical standpoint is its
inquisitorial character and the pre-
MUM 1t puts on perjury.
'In times of great national need.
however. an income tax would be of
great assistance in furnishing means
to carry on the government, and 1t is
not free from doubt how the Supreme
Court with changed membership would
view a new income tax law under
such conditions.
Supports RooseveIt's Ideas.
"Mr. Roosevelt believes in the ne
cessity for strong government that
can and will make both rich and poor
obey the law, and he would have the
oscers charged with its maintenance
render due account Of their steward
ship to their masters, the people. Mr..
Roosevelt knows no favorite in mat
ters of lawlessness, be he rich or poor,
corporation president or member Of a
labor union. The courts must be
strong enough to restrain them all.
"Mr. Roosevelt believes our present
government the best possible one for
us. and In every way adapted to the
genius OF our people. He has the ut
most confidence in the capacity of the
people through their representatives
and by the means provided in the con-
stitution by our fathers to remedy the
evils that arise In our material prog
ress.
"Mr. Bryan's whole system Of reme-
dies, on the other hand, for the evils