Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-10-26
ASK CHANGE In LAWS
National Civic Federation Suggests
Antitrust Legislation.
FAv0Rs AGREEMENT ON RATES
Il Would Allow Uniform Charges
q Under Effective Supervision.
NATIONAL CONTROL OF COMMERCE.
Federal License or Incorporation for
Interstate Traffic Companies.
COMMISSION TO DRAFT LAWS
NOnpartisan BODY similar to Organ
fzatiOn in Germany 10 Suggest
Changes in Interest of
All Concerned.
NATIONAL CONTROL OF CoMMERCl
Federal License or Incorporation fol-
Interstate Traffic Companies.
COMMISSION 10 DRAFT LAWS


who discussed the various topics intro
duced by the various speakers during the
last thre days.
The committee on resolutions presented
it's report as follows:
After twenty years Of federal iegisla-
ton, as interpreted by the courts directed
against the evils Of trusts and combination
and against railroad rebates, beginning
with the Interstate commerce act Of 1887
and the antitrust act Of 1890. a general
and Just conviction exists that the expert
once gained In enforcing these acts aHd
others succeeding them. demonstrates the
necessity OF legislation which shall render
more sure the benefits already gained and
better meet the changed conditions which
have arisen during a long epoch OF active
progress, both In the enforcement of stat
ute law and in the removal of grave abuses
in the management OF railroads and cor
porations. These changes now demanded
are;
"E1rst-Immediate legislation is required.
following the Recommendation Of President
Roosevelt and the Interstate Commerce
commission, permitting agreements between
railroad corporations on reasonable freight
and passenger rates subject in all respects
to the approval, supervision and action of
the Interstate Commerce commission.
.'second-The enforcement Of the Sherman
act and the proceedings under It during tho
administrations OF Presidents Harrison,
Cleveland, Mckinley and Roosevelt have
accomplished great results in awakening
the moral sense Of the American people
and In asserting tn supremacy and majesty
OF the law, thus effectualy refuting the
impression that great " salth and large cor
porations were too powerful for the Impair
a. - I,-s. MI .I.t
has rendered more secure ail property
rights. resting. as they must, under pop
ular government. on universal respect for
and obedience to. the law, But now that
this work is accomplished, It has revealed
the necessity for legislation which shall
Raintain all that the Sherman act was h,'
Sehdedl to secure and safeguard interests
, Il was never expected TO affect.
NonPartisan Commission.
"Aa the next step in executing the deter
mination OF the American people TO secure
m ali industrial and commercial relations
justice and equality Of opportunity for all,
with full sympathy and loyal support for
every effort to enforce the laws in the past,
we urge upon congress without delay TO
pass legislation providing for a nonpsrtisan
commission In which the interests of cap
itai. of labor and OF the general public
shall be represented.
This commission. like a similar commits
sion. which proved most successful III
Germany IN 1870, shall consider the entire
subject OF business and Industrial combina-
tions, and report such proposals as to the
formation, capitalization, management and
regulation OF corporations $50 far as the
same may be subject to federal jursdic-
tlon) as shall preserve individual initiative
competition, and the free exercise OF a free
contract in all business and Industrial re-
lations, ANY proposed legislation should
also include modification OF the prohibition
now existing upon these subjects:
"First-Local organizations OF labor and
their trade agreements with employers
relating to wages. hours OF labor and con-
dition OF employment.
"second--Associdtion made UP of farmers
10 secure an equitable market for the prod
uots OF the soil
'Third-Business and industrial agree
ments or commissioners whose objects are
in the public interests as distinguished from
objects determined to be contrary to the
public interests"
such commission should make inquisi-
tion into the advisability Of inaugurating
system OF federal license, or incorpora-
tion as a condition for the entrance OF
certain classes OF corporations upon inter
state commerce, and also into the relation
to the public interest OF the purchase by
one corporation OF the franchises or cor
porate stock OF another.
ron no one OF these subjects must what
has been gained be sacrificed until some
thing better appear for enactment On
each question this conference recognizes
differences between good men. on all IL
asks a national. non-partlsan commission
TO be appointed next winter TO consider
the question and report at the second
session Of the approaching congress for
such action as the national legislature IN
the light OF this full investigation, may
enact
supervislOn of Corporations.
''Third-The examination. inspection and
supervision OF great producing and manu-
featuring corporations, already begun by
the department OF commerce and labor ana
accepted by these corporations. should be
enlarged by legislation requiring. through
the appropriate bureaus Of the department
3, OF eommerce and labor, complete publicity
IN the capitalization. accounts, operations,
transportation charges paid, and selling
prices Of all such producing and manu-
featuring corporations whose operations
are large enough to have a monopolistic
nnuence. This should be determined and
decided by some rule and classification 10
be devised by the commission already
proposed.
''Fourth-The conflicts between the state
and federal authorities raised IN many
states over railroad rates being now under
adjudication and under way to final and
ultimate decision by the federal supreme
court. this conference deems the expression
Of any opinion on these issues uniting,
and eonhdeutly leaves this great Issue 10
a tribunal which for us years has sue
oessfully preserved the balance between an
indissoiubie union and lndestructble states.
denning the supreme and national powers
% the one, and pnotecting the sovereign
and individual powers Of the other"
The resolutions were adopted as read.
and the ooavention adjourned sine die,