New-York tribune., 1907-10-26
FEDERAL REGULATION.
qrsf Conference Asks Immediate
Legislation by Congress.

chicago. Oct. 25-Immediate general legisla-
.,o, bv Congress that will give the federal gov
roent full powers 10 regulate trusts and cor
,-ations was recommended to-day by the com
ttee on resolutions at the National Civic Fed
.-o.ion's trust conference. The report of the
,on,rnittee was adopted read, and il is ex-
,.cted that such pressure will be exerted upon
congress that law will be passed which will
,ossess features that the Sherman antitrust
,,v now lacks. It is insisted by the committee
,hat the ect win curb combinations, but at the
..,oe time conserve their rights and restore
.onadence to the commercial and railroad inter-
ess.
The report provides also for immediate legis-
,s.ion following the recommendation of Presi-
sent Roosevelt and the Interstate Commerce
commission. permitting agreements between
rsilroad corporations on reasonable freight and
passenger rates, subject to the approval and
r,eryision of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission.
The committee believes great good has
.ulted from the enforcement OF the Sherman act
under the administrations of Presidents Har-
rison. Cleveland Mckinley and Roosevelt. but
that the time has now arrived for new and more
far reaching legislation that will accomplish all
fbst the Sherman act has failed TO do under
changed conditions Considerable is said about
changed conditions"
The committee recommends that Congress
without delay" pass legislation providing for a
por-partisan commission-such as was organ
ized In Germany in 1S7O-to consider the entire
srbiect Of e general law that viii preserve the
individual initiative. competitive, and the free
contracts of all industrial relations. The new
lsw. as suggested by the committee will legally
authorize among other things:
"First-National and local organizations Of
lsbor and their trade agreements with employers
relating TO wages, hours of labor and condltlohs
of employment
esecond-Associations made up of farmers. in
tended to secure a stable and equitable market
for the products of the soil, free from fuctua-
tons due TO speculation.
~Third-Business and industrial agreements or
combinations whose objects are in the public
Interest as distinguished from objects deter
-,,rad tn he contrary to the public interest.
..Fourth-such commission should make
thorough inquiry into the advisability OF inau-
e1,rsting a system of federal license. or incor-
poration as condition for the entrance OF
certain classes of corporations upon interstate
commerce and also into the relation TO the pup
lie interest of the purchase by one corporation
of the franchises or corporate stock or announcer
.'on no one of these subjects" says the report
must what has been gained be sacrificed until
something better appears for enactment
National incorporation or license Of interstate
railway systems the committee believes, should
be made possible under a general law Ii so
with the further suggestion thal
in time the federal Incorporation OF rallroHos
on the general lines or the natiohai Oalh ac'
must become obligatory.
The committee recommended. also. that the
movers of examination and supervision of the
department of commerce shall be enlarged, and
hat the bureau of corporations require COM
plete publicity in accounts. operation. freight
rates selling contracts and other details of rail-
road mana cement.
After adopting the resolutions the convention
adjourned sine die.