Evening star., 1907-11-12
LIVELY DEBATE AHEAD
Trust Regulation to Be Dis
cussed in Congress.
ONE OF THE MAIN TOPICS
Proposed National Incorporation
Bill Will Be Opposed.
LARGER CONTROL BY COURTS
Democrats Said to Be Preparing to
Failure to Keep Promises.


or the weary. A long and comprehensive
debate on the regulation of trusts and
corporations is scheduled for the ap-
preaching Congress session. 1t is con-
ceded in administration and congressional
circles that there must he new-no. diff
ferent. legislation on this subject. and. of
course. there will be preliminary talk,
vollrble and voluminous.
Incoming congressman. talking private
ly-. say that financial and antitrust legis-
lation will be the L,ain topics of the ses-
SION and bills galore will be introduced.
It boots not that in some quarters this
will be deemed an inausoicious time to
be1abor the trusts. Let the CALLED Jade
vince" seems to be the slogan, and there
will be no hesitancy to again clap the
saddle on the raw back and ride the
hobby.
The demand. originating with the ad-
ministrat!on for modifica tion of the Sher-
man antitrust law. will start the debate.
1t Is said that the administration has not
met with the success desired in proceed
ings against the trusts under that act.
The adage that "A poor workman blames
his too.s" is not held to apply in this case,
but anyhow the tools are to be changed.
More power to the elbow of the inter
state commerce commission is desired.
The Elkins' rebate clause has proven the
most eff1cacious of all the cures for cor
poration evils thus far. by actual expert
ment It is said, and it has been applied
by the commission. That body is seeking
further authority and Congress will be
asked to grant 1t.
Proposed National Incorporation.
It is said IN congressional circles. In the
course Of unauotabie conversation. that
If the proposition should be advanced by
the administration, as intimated but not
yet scontirmsd. that an interstate corpora
tions should be chartered and the execu-
tive authorized to revoke charters OF
'.sad~ corporations II win be resisted.
Congress-. 1t 10 said. will ba' lonth to vest
In any executive or administrative bureau
the poyer by ipse dixit. to put an fdustrtal
corporation out OF business
Recent experiences. 1t is claimed. In ef-
forts to break up industrial combinations
through the machinery OF the courts.
would indicate the unwisdom OF granting
arbitrary power to crush business by
revocation Of charter. Who would decide
whether the trust was bad trust or a
good trust? One man or group OF
men in a bureau?
The tendency Of Congress, it Is pointe
out, is rather the reverse-to enlarge the
jurisdiction of the courts over such ques-
tions. This was shown in the long strug-
gle over the court review provision OF
the railway rate bill 1t may be that
some Of the corporations will seek ma
tional charters to relieve them of bur-
out there will be vigorous protest
against revocation of charters, once they
are granted
Some of the railroads. it is said. would
be delighted TO have national charters
and get away from state supervision.
nNf IL
had an experience with this proposed
charter revocation. The governor of Ala
bama. exercising arbitrary power vested
in him by the legislature. threatened to
put the Southern railway out OF bust
ness. His action was applauded in some
quarters. but did not appeal to con-
servative sentiment.
What May Be Said in Congress.
In the debates in Congress at the COM
ing session two sides of this antitrust
legislation ard administration will be dis
cussed. The democrats are said to be
getting ready TO taunt the administration
in power with failing to do things
get practical results. The democratic
takers will ask why the administration
has not broken up some wicked trust"
and put some "malefactor of great wealth
in jail.
The democrats say they will point out
that the beef trust is still doing business
at the old stand: that the Standard Oil is
as clipper as ever and getting ready to
make the consumers pay the fine of see
600 600 levied against it. if 1t is upheld;
that the Ice trust was In evidence last
summer and the coal trust is whooping 1t
up now, and so on down the line, with
never a wicked trust baron behind the
bars.
Whereupon, if the administrati
leaders should come back with the sug-
gestion that the laws and the courts
be given arbitrary power, there will
surely be protest and lively talk.
Then the conservatives or reaction
aries" an it please you, would be up
in arms.
An interesting phase of the present
situation. with a possible sigEifica Mt
bearing on the future, is the tact that
some of the men coming in from the
western country bring the statement
that the plain people out there. Instead
OF holding the administration 20 blame
for it's crusade against the trusts, are
shouting in accaim and say that the
panic and money stringencE were
manufactured in Wall street. They
are Inclined to hold the financiers and
corporation captains of the east respon-
sible. and are insisting that Wall street
is proflting by distress brought upon
the country at large by Wall street
men and methods. This view. it is
said. will undoubtedly find expression
in debate in Congress.